Oil pressure warning

[mollysdads]

My 2004 vw sharan 130 has stood for 8 months I recently decided to put it back on the road, so cleaned all the brakes etc. I then started it and let it warm through a bit then when I revved it to 2000rpm a warning came up oil level workshop! I stopped the engine checked the oil level which was ok so then started it again after a while I revved it to 2000 rpm and it came up with oil pressure stop motor. The oil was quite dirty. Could this just be strainer in sump or could it be coincidence that the oil pump has packed up?

[brianh]

It has been known if the oil is particually bad for it to fill the sump up with gunge, I'd suggest your best bet would be to run the engine at idle to let it warm up, then drain the oil while its still hot and see if its any better with fresh oil. Alternatively you could drop the sump off and clean it out and see if that helps any, but you might get away without dropping the sump if your lucky.

If theres too much solidified gunge in the sump then the oil can't refill the sump enough, and it ends up sucking all it can out of the sump. It would have to be fairly bad to get in that state though.

It may also be that the oil pressure sensor is playing up, though I'd expect you to find it was worse at idle if that was the cause, or that it was leaking.

[mollysdads]

Thank you for your quick response. I started this afternoon, warmed it up, drained oil and decided to drop the sump got as far as trying to undo the two bolts at the gearbox end (the ones that are sort of off set) all others are loosened but I am struggling with getting the socket or allen key on to them. Does anyone know of an easier way? Will try again tomorrow and I will keep you informed of my findings.

[Audiman]

Have a look at this video. It should be the same sump as the Galaxy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vStzu9I17Bg

Use allen key as shown in the video

[johnnyroper]

If itââ,¬â,,¢s anything like the A3 with 1.9pd engine I had the 2 gearbox end are not the easiest to get on.

If I remember correctly Turn engine over until cut out in flywheel lines up with bolt then you can get on to it,once first one is out turn engine to line cut out with other bolt.

[mollysdads]

Only got back to it this afternoon. Removed sump and surprisingly it was very clean, removed strainer and it was also clean apart from 3 circles of swarf which I assume will have come off the threads of the sump plug hole, the circles appear to be a very similar size.
I left it at  that to give myself time to decide what to do. In the meantime I had a word with a friend who's son once owned a golf and he'd had similar problems just after changing his alternator, guess what I have just changed my alternator after it went and blew the 3 amp fuse in the secondary fuse box. So my question is can there be any connection between oil pressure warning and alternator packing up?

[brianh]

What brand of alternator is it that you've now got fitted? Not RTX by any chance?

[mollysdads]

I am not sure. If I can see the label I will double check  tomorrow. I seem to think it is Lucas.

[brianh]

I'd suggest your next port of call should be to check the oil pressure sensor - They are usually fairly cheap so may be best to replace it anyway, but check the wiring leading to it at the same time just in case thats where the problem is.

Reason I asked about the RTX question is they have been linked to strange errors in the past (alternator workshop messages and similar) and don't have the best reputation for quality either. They are cheap though (possibly a bit too cheap!)

[mollysdads]

Thank you. Last night I ordered an oil pressure switch.will pick it up tomorrow. I had a chance to look at the car today to find out where the pressure switch is, down to the right of the oil filter looks like a pig to get to.Hopefully will get a chance to strip it out tomorrow. I have convinced myself that it is an electrical problem I think I need someone to plug it in and see what fault codes are stored. Mechanically I can do most things but when it comes to electrics and more so computers I am lost.

[johnnyroper]

Just be aware there at 2 switches on PD engines

Brown or blue depending on age is low pressure monitoring.

White is pressure monitoring over 2000rpm.

Also did you change oil filter as they can cause the problem over 2000rpm if it is clogged.

[mollysdads]

Can I ask where is the other one, I could only see one? The one I found was down to the  right hand side of the oil filter and it was brown which is the one I ordered when I build her back up the filter will be changed.

[johnnyroper]

If I remember correctly it is in the engine rather than filter housing. Seem to remember it being timing belt end,but it has been a while since working on a gal and I have a crap memory.

[mollysdads]

I  have had a look at the car this afternoon and I can find only 1 sensor it appears to be in the engine block at the right hand side of the oil filter housing I can not see any sensor on the timing belt side. It is a brown one. There is another sensor that is brown that is going into the gearbox at the front, not sure what that is for. I believe my engine is the ASZ version could that make a difference? I have just checked on gsf and euro car parts websites and it would appear to only have one oil pressure sensor listed. Thank you all for your help.

[johnnyroper]

Maybe the asz only uses 1 then,I just assumed all PD limps would be the same. Apologies if I have mislead you

[Chrispb]

The sensor to the right of the filter is the crankshaft position sensor, the oil pressure switch is on the left side of the oil filter housing, the cam sensor is hidden by the plastic covers (cambelt cover)