Does your vehicle have an aftermarket gauge?  If so, the light may not be hooked up -- mine wasn't.  Seems that some folks consider the light to be redundant if there is a gauge, and kill it.  But in answer to your question, yes, the sender could be bad, or the wire could be bad (or loose).  DMc

---- Mike Riley <mkriley@FUSE.NET> wrote:
> 85 vanagon  has no oil light at all even at key on.  Would a bad sender stop the light on check.
> Too cold and wet here to mess with the sender now. Any suggestions
> thanks
> mike