Oil light coming on and off in a 1998 Pontiac Grand Am here in Canada

PSIT

MEMBER
1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM
200,000 MILES

Well we wanted to go to Edmonton from Vegreville, and in the midle of the way going there, the light was on, my boyfriend stopped the car to check the oil, and everything was ok with the oil, good color etc, but light was still coming on and off, so we decided to go back, and now, we are just wondering if could be the cold weather or something is wrong with the oil pump or we need to clean the motor and change the oil after, could something out there, help us please? We will appreciate that a lot. Thank you so much

3 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

You need to make sure it's not the change oil light soon light first it will normally be yellow if it is then it's ok to drive. If it's the oil pressure light, have it manually checked with a manual guage for pressure. If the pressure is good then you 'll probably need a switch. The pressure should be about 20 psi at idle at aleast if it's lower then there may be something wrong with the pump/bearings.

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Saturday, December 31st, 2011 AT 3:29 PM

PSIT

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thank you so much for your prompt reply I need to ask you some questions we are not from Canada and not familiar if there are there stores here like auto zone, Advance auto, where you can have them check your ECM and scan any code or check the function of the oil pressure switch or sensor, Also if I need to checked the oil pressure manually I know I need a. Oil pressure gauge a d of course I can buy it some where in here I am not really sure where I should screw the the gauge maybe in the left side of the engine this is a 3.1 liters envine v-61998 pontiac grand Am GT 4 soles, I was thinking malle could be a good idea too buy an additive to celan the engine which you added and run the envine for 10 minutes then change the oil and hoping maybe the oil pressure could be better sincera the engine was running fine before not sure the cd temperatura of ALberta affected the engine freezing some components since this car stayed mostrar of the time in Michigan and the engine needs a block heather too, some guys told me the Cold temperature could have affected the engine. Please gibe me your advise and let me know your professionL opini� n on how to Conect the oil pressure gauge. And I forgot to mention we did not run the car for 2weeks maybe if could be Affected by the weather. Thank you so much and I hope to hear from you when you have a chance, thank you again happy NEW YEAR to you and your love ones wish you the best

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Saturday, December 31st, 2011 AT 6:29 PM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

I'm not from canada either but it may be cheaper just to have one of the service guys there check the car. That way you don't need to get a guage, etc. They can check it for you as they will have the stuff. Where i've got the two arrows drawn check near there for a place to tap into the oil if you want. Only touble beig NEw Yrs nothing will probably be open today or tomorrow, check a phone book or if you are at a hotel ask them for a repair or parts store to check this.

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