Engine oil pressure light comes on?

Tiny
JEAUXBEAM
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 2.3L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 105,000 MILES
The oil light came on so I put oil in and now it is over full, so it didn't need oil.
What would cause the light to come on if it's got enough oil?
And the engine sounds like it's running rough.
Saturday, January 3rd, 2015 AT 2:25 AM

22 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
That is not an oil level light. Iy is an oil PRESSURE light and it means to shut the engine off immediately until the problem is found. The first step is to do a manual pressure test to determine if the light itself may be faulty. If you truly have low oil pressure, then your problem is serious and internal in nature. This guide can help us fix it

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/high-or-low-engine-oil-pressure

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Saturday, January 3rd, 2015 AT 5:26 AM
Tiny
KAY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 194,000 MILES
I have a 2005 Corolla. Yesterday, as I was driving it died 2 times when I went to stop or turn. Before the second time it started jerking and cutting out. The oil light came on, but there is oil is at the full level. What can be wrong?
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
The oil light will come on when the engine stalls or the idle drops to a very low speed, it will not be an oil problem, get a scan done to check for any unresolved fault codes and have the idle control checked for operation, start here.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KAY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Could this have something to do with the recall on this car?
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
If you have any outstanding recalls get them attended to first.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEEJAY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Does anyone know why my toyota does not wana pull away. The computer says its the vvti gear and sensor, and cam sensor. But they both new. Then when u unplug the battery for 2 minutes and put in back the car drive like iot had no problems only for 5 min then back to normal. Someone pls can you help me
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DPCHAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 110,000 MILES
I have the oil light on when car is stopping when driving and then it goes off. The car also makes this weird noise when the car is stopped. I have also filled up the oil about couple of months ago and I have only driven about 200 mile with the fresh oil. Can you help, what might be the problem?
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,549 POSTS
Have the oil pressure checked with a mechanical gauge.
The oil pump could be bad, the oil pickup could be loose, there could be an oil galley blocked, excessive main bearing clearence etc.

You want to get this fixed ASAP, what kind of wierd noise e.G. Valve clatter/ticking, knocking?
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DPCHAN
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Seem like a ticking noise on the driver side.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TYMATT
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
Just had oild changed on 2004 Corolla with 80K miles. Now oil light comes on after driving for 10 minutes or so and the engine starts to shutter. Oil level is good and no sign of leaks. It runs fine when you crank it and let it idle.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the oil pressure with a mechanical gauge, if normal replace the oil pressure switch. If abnormal could mean oil pump and/or engine bearing.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
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Who changed oil?
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ONELURV
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 164,000 MILES
Previously everything worked fine. With a silent engine and steam usually coming out of the exhaust when the car is started in the morning.
Few weeks back, I started the car but heard some rattling noise from the engine compartment and then the engine oil light began blinking.

I checked the engine oil gauge, it was okay, I changed my oil about 4 weeks earlier with mobil xp 1000 synthetic.

I called my mechanic who now came and unscrewed the oil filter and then screwed it back, the rattling noise stopped and the engine oil light in the dashboard stopped blinking.
I then tried driving the car but as I was driving a little distance, the noise came back stronger and the engine oil light started blinking again, I managed to drive back home slowly with the noise.
My mechanic then changed my oil and fixed a new oil filter but the noise still persisted. He then told me that the noise could be coming from the timing belt, he requested I buy a new roller chain for the noise to stop.
He opened my engine and removed the timing belt ( roller chain with yellow marking) which came with the vehicle from US, thats the first time the engine has ever been opened.
He took some money from me to buy a new roller chain ( this one had no yellow markings on it).
After fixing it; the rattling noise still persisted.
He then unscrewed the oil filter with the vehicle still on, and screwed it back; he said my oil pump is weak because he expected so much oil with pressure splashing on him in the process but that it wasnt the case as the oil that splashed on him wasnt with so much pressure.
He then took some money from me to buy oil pump, saying it will solve the problem.
After fixing a brand new pump ( according to him), the noise came back stronger with the engine oil light constantly showing on the dashboard.
As it stands now; I'm tired and confused that my once sweet and smooth running car is now heading for the quagmire.
The mechanic seems to have run out of ideas.
I have advised him to put back the original timing belt (roller chain) and the oil pump which the vehicle had as I dont think his prognosis so far is successful.

I have also cleaned the oil control valve and filter but yet the rattling noise from the engine persists.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,757 POSTS
The first thing you need is a different mechanic. Only an idiot would loosen an oil filter with the engine running. If you started out with a flashing oil light, there would be no reason to suspect a timing belt/chain.A mechanical gauge should be installed to verify low/no oil pressure. It sounds as though a bit of a tear down will be in order to find out which bearings are now bad
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MOONSTAR16
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
I have a 2001 Toyota Corolla with 140,000+ miles, 4 cylinder, automatic. There are a couple issues, but it started with the oil burning faster than normal, and sometimes it would get really low. It was making a loud rattling noise, but it would go away when I added oil (10W-40 oil) as needed. I found out that I was adding the wrong grade of oil, since it actually requires 5W-30. Since I have been adding the correct grade of oil, the car has started with the loud rattling noise when accelerating past 60 mph, even when the oil level is normal. The oil light has never turned on during this whole issue, and the car temperature is normal. Please let me know you would advise at this point.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,549 POSTS
Try a tank of 92-93 octane gas. If rattling goes away, you probably have a considerable amount of carbon in the combustion chamber, or the PCM is commanding too much advance.

In any case you will have to find the cause of the oil burning.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SAHRRR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 76,000 MILES
After getting the cars oil changed and a tune-up because the oil light kept blinking after 20+ minutes of driving and going on and off when I stepped on the brake peddle, I now have the same problem along with a continuous grinding engine noise. They have replaced 2x's the Valve Cover Gasket and an Oil Pump along with Spark Plugs & Wires, something called a dual chain, upper and lower Gaskets, and removed the engine 3 different times before finding the clamps that hold the oil pump where cracked and replacing the Oil Pump twice. This process has taken 3 months and after getting it back the car runs beautifully and feels like it's new but still has the engine noise and when I drove it for about 40 miles the oil light came on only when stepping on the brakes. Now they are suggesting I need a new engine and are not charging me to do this.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
The lack of oil pressure has caused damage to the main and con-rod bearings. Wear of the con rod bearings would result in noises when engine is operating and the noise would increase when engine rpm is increased.

As to the oil light indicating low oil pressure, worn main bearings would result in pressure loss and the engine requires rebuilding. If replacing the engine is a cheaper option, that would be recommended.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PAT MAGNUSON
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA
Other Category problem
1997 Toyota Corolla Wheel Drive Type unknown Manual 58000 miles

wIen I start car, light comes on to check oil pressure. It then goes off immediately. I took it in to my mechanic and he could find nothing wrong and I had an oil change in Nov. My booklet says not to worry if light goes out right away? What do you think?
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,549 POSTS
Sounds normal to me. Start car, oil pressure light is on for 1-2 seconds, doesn't appear to be a problem.

Make sure you are using the correct oil weight, usually a 5W-30. Heavier oils may take a little more time to turn the light off. Also make sure you are using a Toyota or Wix oil filter.

If you are concerned, have the pressure checked with a mechanical gauge, just to eliminate an electrical (oil pressure sender) problem.

As long as you are not getting any mechanical noise (valve train) I would not be concerned.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:01 PM (Merged)

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