Oil Pressure Switch

Heyup people.
Replaced my oil pressure switch for the dash warning light yesterday as the one i had was leaking everywhere. I got one from Euro Car Parts but the warning light doesn't illuminate when the ignition is switched on, but illuminates when the engines started and then stays on all the time. It also keeps the Handbrake warning light on at the same time for some reason?? Any ideas ??

Indidently its the sender at the top just behind the dizzy, the old one had a black barrel, the new one is a white colour and it has a blue wire connecting onto it.

how many pressure switches have you got on the back of the block? which year car?

when i done mine there was two, i put the wrong rated on in the wrong place, causing the light not to flash when the ignition was on.

pic for some reference (ignore the chocolate blocks they long gone)

You need to replace like for like. The switches have different pressure settings, one about 0.3bar and one about 1.8bar from memory, but also one is normally open and then shut under presure and the other closed and then opened when the oil pressure increases. Sounds like you have installed the wrong type.

Not sure how its effecting the hand brake light? Note this is also the brake fluid warning too. Is there plenty of fluid in reservior? Did you knock the wiring on the cap when fixing the oil switch?

bucket said

how many pressure switches have you got on the back of the block? which year car?

when i done mine there was two, i put the wrong rated on in the wrong place, causing the light not to flash when the ignition was on.

pic for some reference (ignore the chocolate blocks they long gone)

Thanks for the responses fellas,
Mine seems different to yours looking at the photo, i only have one sender unit on my block (Same place as the one on the right in your photo)

I checked the Brake Reservoir as a precaution, and all is fine, but when the engin es running, if you earth out the blue sender wire on the block the oil light and brake light come on together (With the handbrake off)  :dontknow:

yes you need to check the pressure rating on the old one, and the new one. the 0.3 and 1.8 bar switches work opposite to each other, so if you got the wrong one that'll be why!

the genuine vw white ones are 1.8 bar and blue/brown are 0.3 bar. dont go by the colour if pattern as they can be anything. oh, and i wouldnt buy pattern rubbish either, genuine vw ones are cheap!

Thanks John
Ill have a further look into it at the weekend, i think I've been given the 1.8 BAR.

Thanks Guys

Hi I'm going through the old buzzer and flashing light problem at the mo and have found reading this has helped me with my investigation lol so thanks  

Hi Is the high pressure switch above the oil filter and the low at the front of the head?

Asavar Kul said

Hi Is the high pressure switch above the oil filter and the low at the front of the head?

Yes high pressure sensor above the oil filter and the low pressure sensor is on the side of the head above the gearbox.