Oil pressure light - random flicker

[mikseymono]

SO, oil pressure light on the instrument cluster (oil can picture) has been flickering over the last couple of weeks. Not a constant blink like an indicator, more like a random flicker….sometimes a hard red…sometimes a soft one…..like an electrical problem. Have not used car much in the last month…weather…maybe four 10 min journeys at best….yesterday, I changed the Oil (Castrol GTX Ultraclean 10w40) OEM oil filter and put on a brand new OEM Oil Pressure sender. Oil pressure on cold starts pegged at 5 then after 15 mins it goes to around 3.4 on idle…so not far off Clarks guide.
Took it for a spin today…upon start the oil pressure goes to 5 and sure enough the oil pressure light starts to flicker……after 3 mins…light goes away…drive for another 15 mins….light flickered once during this time and that was it.
So…a bit strange. I can’t seem to get it to come on with acceleration/braking etc..it has a mind of its own...I have checked wires from sender and ensured good contact to the sender to both the connections and have also checked back to under the manifold area. I have an oil level sender on the sump and the wires look ok…but unsure how to test that.

So, a bit strange and random. It really seems electrical rather than a mechanical fault…just can’t trace it. I guess in the grand scheme of things if the car is pulling well, with good oil pressure, no obvious leaks all is OK…just this flickering light is annoying...

Any pointers greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

M

[mikseymono]

quite a few reads.......anyone feel brave enough?!

[thom4782]

Ok, I'll bite

Without looking at the wiring diagram, this sound like poor grounding in the circuit (1st choice) or an intermittent short.

[9FF]

It will either be a loose connector at the sensor or almost certainly your grounds that need cleaning, especially MPII.

[mikseymono]

Thanks....cleaned MP II and took off oil pressure relay and cleaned that up too.....more tomorrow before I test it out.....