Oil light keeps flashing

Tiny
GREGGERS
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
  • 10,000 MILES
I have a 2004 Volkswagen beetle turbo with a 1.8 and the oil light keeps flashing. First it would flash for a little while and then go off, now it flashes all the time. Please help.
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Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 AT 11:10 PM

23 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
Are you hearing any ticking or knocking when the light is on? If not, then most likely the oil pressure is okay. You can check it with a mechanical gauge and check the oil sending switch. It may be bad.
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Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 AT 11:15 PM
Tiny
GREGGERS
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  • 2 POSTS
No ticking or knocking. Iwas told the oil pickup tube or screen could be clogged, any opionion?
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Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 AT 11:17 PM
Tiny
EXOVCDS
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,883 POSTS
Could be a faulty oil pressure switch. But yes, a clogged pickup
screen is common on the 1.8T engines, especially when the wrong
oil is used.

The good news is that removing the oil pan to check the screen is
quite easy.
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Sunday, February 19th, 2012 AT 12:13 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
If the oil pick-up is plugged, you would most likely hear ticking and knocking.
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Sunday, February 19th, 2012 AT 1:25 AM
Tiny
EXOVCDS
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,883 POSTS
Not necessarily. Since the oil pressure warning switch system
checks for pressure at 2000rpm, you can have enough oil pressure
for a quite engine, but not enough to close the switch at 2000rpm.

I've seen this many times.
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Sunday, February 19th, 2012 AT 1:56 AM
Tiny
EXOVCDS
  • MECHANIC
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Restrictive screen should have been a better word for me to use.

My apologies to the Experts.
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Sunday, February 19th, 2012 AT 1:58 AM
Tiny
PVALENZUELA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 96,000 MILES
The oil pressure light will flash red and buzz when rpm's drop below 1000. When accelerating it will go off.
No check engine light. I hooked up a scanner and pulled code p3081. I suspected the coolant temperature sensor was going bad, because the blue temperature light started to stay on longer than usual.
Any suggestions regarding the oil pressure light? Engine sounds and runs fine. No ticking or loud noises. With 2.0 liter engine (2nd generation). New oil change today with 0w40 mobile 1.
The light was coming on intermittent before new oil change.
Thanks in advance.
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 12:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
You have to check the actual oil pressure with a gauge then go from there. You could have a restricted oil pick up or bad oil pump. That is if the oil pressure is good.
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 12:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BARB64865
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Where do you hook up the gauge to check the oil pressure? We bought a gauge to install but cannot find anyone that knows where to connect it to the engine. My pressure light is coming on in 2nd gear around 2000 rpms. No knocking, noise or anything. New oil. The filters and that tube are good. We bought the car CHEAP because a guy bought his daughter a new car. We know the oil pan had a hole knocked in it and it was replaced and everything was checked when that happened, but now this oil pressure light beeping/flashing is happening.
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 12:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
You need to start a new question that includes your make model year engine size etc. That way other users can be helped looking for the same answer. Also answering another question on someone else's question is too confusing.
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 12:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,544 POSTS
  • 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
  • 35,000 MILES
After driving 15 minutes both red oil light and blue water light go on. Checked both levels-ok
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 12:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Do you hear any knocking from the engine when the lights come on?
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 12:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
EXOVCDS
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,883 POSTS
These vehicles have problems with stock water pumps breaking.

Check the water pump for circulation.... a simple quick check:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thcwatH_BpI

If that is OK, you need to check the thermostat to make sure that it is opening. Find the lower radiator hose and check
how hot it is compared to the top hose. If it NEVER gets hot, then the thermostat is not opening or the water pump is not
pushing fluid.

If it DOES get hot, but the fans don't come on, you need to check the fans. However, fans are not required when driving
at a constant speed... so if it overheats while driving at steady speeds, then it is not a fan issue.

The oil light issue might be related to the overheating... oil gets thinner when it gets hot, so it does not produce the same
pressure.

1.8T engine or 2.0L engine? If 1.8T, you could also have a restriction in the oil pick-up screen in the oil pan.

Thomas
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 12:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
EXOVCDS
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Blue temp light. My bad, sorry!

Ignore the above post.

In my defense. I don't screw-up often! :-)

Thomas
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 12:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MABZ
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 8,500 MILES
I have drove the car for 240 mile and had no problem now I start the car after 10min it starts smokeing it smells like oil its light cloudy smoke.
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 12:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MABZ
  • MEMBER
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 12:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
3 THUMBS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 80,500 MILES
2 Days ago my Oil Pressure Light started flashing and a buzzer sounds. It does this once or twice with no real pattern.
The water coolant light has also flashed with it a few times.
I have checked the level in both the oil and the coolant, they both show full.
The owners manual advises contact the dealer and don't drive the car.
The dealer stated it might be low oil pressure or the sensors are bad.
Any thoughts on what it might be?

If it is say the oil pump, what is involved in replacing it?

Thank you
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 12:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
Hi there,

I would have both sensors tested, and get the oil pressure tested with a master gauge, this will give a true indication as to the engine oil pressure.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 12:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JOE REDD
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
I have a'98 New Beetle, 2.0 liter engine manual trans.
Knocked the oit plug out & ran the engine dry of oil. The engine heated up but did not seize. Replaced the plug, filled it with oil & Lucas additive to quiet the valves & it fired right up. Runs well with normal power but the oil light keeps coming on (pressure?) It is filled to the proper level with oil & all else seems to be ok. Can you sugest anything?
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 12:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Cam and rod bearings
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 12:32 PM (Merged)

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