| Author | Message | ||
| Peter Connolly (Mondial_32_aus)
Junior Member Username: Mondial_32_aus Post Number: 72 Registered: 8-2001 |
My 87' Mondial 3.2 does this too but for me it is always a signal from the dipstick indicating that the oil is a little low. I had Ferrari in Sydney service the car at 57428Klm and replace the oil. At exactly 58488 Klm I took it back to them and they added exactly 300ml of oil to bring back to the same level. Now at 59500klm the oil light came on again and I added about 1 litre (probably too much but still OK). I believe that these enines will drink anywhere from .5 to 1.5 litres of oil per 1000 klm, it is normal. PRESUMPTION OF HOW IT WORKS Included is a circuit diagram for the dipstick, you will notice that when the oil level is ok that the dipstick passes current thru the resistor thus current limiting or making the voltage drop, when the oil goes low the extra heat in the engine bends the bimetal strip in the dipstick so that the resistor is bypassed and current flows with no resistance. The correct test procudure would likely be to use and ohm meter to measure the resistance and then appy heat maybe via a hair drier or heat gun and note if the resistance changes. PC  | ||
| Peter K. (Bubba)
Junior Member Username: Bubba Post Number: 91 Registered: 5-2002 |
Checked the dipstick today. Oil level looks normal. Removed the sensor and put it back in again. The red light does not come up. Guess it was a loose sensor connection after all. | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 1215 Registered: 9-2001 |
yes it does come on if the sensor is not attached to the top of the dipstick. | ||
| Eamon A Blaney (Eamon)
New member Username: Eamon Post Number: 6 Registered: 8-2002 |
The purpose of the oil warning light is to let you know that the oil level is low ! I think that this is a possibility. BTW whatever oil is used in the service should be used when topping up. | ||
| Peter K. (Bubba)
Junior Member Username: Bubba Post Number: 88 Registered: 5-2002 |
Eamon, I haven't touched the dip stick yet. Will try and see. If it turns out that the oil level is low, can I just top it up with the same oil as that used in my service? I really don't want to spend the money on a full oil service when top up will do. | ||
| Eamon A Blaney (Eamon)
New member Username: Eamon Post Number: 4 Registered: 8-2002 |
Mabey I am stating the obvious but are you sure that the oil level dip stick is pushed fully home in the dipstick tube ? My oil light came on after I accidentally unseated the dipstick while bleeding air from the themostat housing. | ||
| Steve Magnusson (91tr)
Member Username: 91tr Post Number: 913 Registered: 1-2001 |
My bad -- I thought Peter meant the zero pressure warning light in the gauge. | ||
| Peter K. (Bubba)
Junior Member Username: Bubba Post Number: 85 Registered: 5-2002 |
Yes, Tom, I am referring to the red light next to the shifter. According to the manual, you should check the engine oil level when the engine is warm right? | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 1214 Registered: 9-2001 |
am I mistaken but isn't he talking about the red light in the center consol next to the shifter? if so it means you oil is low, some go though a quart or so every 1k miles - check it out | ||
| Peter K. (Bubba)
Junior Member Username: Bubba Post Number: 84 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hmmm...OK... Unfortunately, I am mechanically challenged in cars. So, I will just take it down to the shop that serviced it and have them fix the problem for me. This issue should be covered under the warranty of the service they did. | ||
| Steve Magnusson (91tr)
Member Username: 91tr Post Number: 910 Registered: 1-2001 |
Peter -- the oil warning light pressure switch is a NC switch that gets opened when a minimum pressure is reached. As Brian s. said -- replace the pressure switch if the analog OP gauge shows a reasonable reading. (Without an evil ECU in the picture) It's really, really unlikely that an incandesent bulb can fail in an "on" condition so the light stuff in the gauge (i.e., the bulb, +12V supply) is probably OK. To check: take the wire off of the pressure switch, with the key on (engine not running), touch the wire to a ground -- warning light should go on, lift the wire -- warning light goes out. | ||
| Brian stewart (Eurocardoc)
Member Username: Eurocardoc Post Number: 354 Registered: 11-2001 |
Either the sender or guage is bad, suspect the sender first. | ||
| Peter K. (Bubba)
Junior Member Username: Bubba Post Number: 82 Registered: 5-2002 |
My 86 Mondial was serviced less than 1000km ago. I took it out for a spin this morning and noticed that the engine oil light is red. What does this mean? The oil pressure looks normal. Thanks! |