General Discussion Discuss your Oldsmobile or other car-related topics.

Oil pressure light

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old April 28th, 2020, 04:43 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
bw1339's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 543
Oil pressure light

I'm going to revive the oil pressure light in my '66 Toronado (had to have a gauge). What confuses me is that the pressure switch that I have is not normally closed (no continuity between connector and switch body with engine off). I was under the impression that these lights had the ground switched by the pressure switch, so the switch was closed with no pressure and opened over a certain pressure. Am I over thinking it?
Thanks.
bw1339 is online now  
Old April 28th, 2020, 06:03 PM
  #2  
Registered User
 
Sugar Bear's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,353
When the switch closes it completes the ground circuit and the light works. When the engine produces roughly 5psi oil pressure it opens the circuit turning the lamp out.

The low setting for on/off is why many folks use gauges as you want to know that there is low oil pressure long before 5 psi.

Good luck!!!
Sugar Bear is offline  
Old April 28th, 2020, 06:07 PM
  #3  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
bw1339's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 543
Originally Posted by Sugar Bear
When the switch closes it completes the ground circuit and the light works. When the engine produces roughly 5psi oil pressure it opens the circuit turning the lamp out.

The low setting for on/off is why many folks use gauges as you want to know that there is low oil pressure long before 5 psi.

Good luck!!!
Thank you. Shouldn't I have continuity in the switch from terminal to body with no pressure?
bw1339 is online now  
Old April 28th, 2020, 06:54 PM
  #4  
72Cutlass S
 
gs72's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 1,083
jump the two wires in the oil pressure switch connector together. With the key on the light should light. If it does your switch is bad. If it doesn't light you are going to have to diagnose the open in the circuit. To answer your question, yes with the engine off you should have continuity across the Oil pressure switch.
gs72 is offline  
Old April 28th, 2020, 08:23 PM
  #5  
Administrator
 
oldcutlass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poteau, Ok
Posts: 41,081
Originally Posted by bw1339
Thank you. Shouldn't I have continuity in the switch from terminal to body with no pressure?
Yes there should be continuity with 0 pressure.
oldcutlass is offline  
Old April 29th, 2020, 12:38 AM
  #6  
Registered User
 
Ozzie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: S.E. Louisiana, so far still in U.S.A.
Posts: 1,613
It sounds like it's probably time to change to another switch.
Ozzie is offline  
Old April 29th, 2020, 11:23 AM
  #7  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
bw1339's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 543
Thanks guys.
bw1339 is online now  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
slade69
Electrical
9
March 23rd, 2017 08:14 AM
jpc647
Small Blocks
12
February 9th, 2017 06:13 PM
sjv328
Small Blocks
3
March 17th, 2016 07:40 PM
Sampson
General Discussion
2
September 26th, 2013 06:11 AM
Redog
Eighty-Eight
13
July 20th, 2011 04:10 PM



Quick Reply: Oil pressure light



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:20 AM.