Vauxhall Cavalier oil light remains on

Car: Vauxhall Cavalier
Variant: 2.0 SRi 16V
Model Year: 1995
Categories: Engine & Drivetrain
Car has done 136k miles. Oil light has been getting slower (~4 secs) to go out when car starts for a few months. Now it doesn't go out - bottled it at 10 secs. Checked oil level which is at max. Removed oil filler cap, started car and quickly checked and no oil splashing around top of engine so turned off quick. Believe it's the oil pump which is more work / cost than car is worth to replace. Are there any other possible causes or known oil problems with this car eg do oil pumps normally fail on Cavaliers after 130k miles?

Thanks in advance for advice.
Posted: May 9, 2009 (15 years ago)
ive not ever known the pumps to fail even at that sort of mileage would recommend you do a oil and filter change as you could have a blocked oil filter and it is the cheapest option for starters do this and see how you go it should cure the problem straight away for you
Posted May 9, 2009 (15 years ago)
Good idea, but I've now changed the oil and filter to no effect. Any other common problems that this could be? Presumably, there must an oil pressure sensor that is used to light the oil light on the dashboard. Are these known to fail? Presumably, they would fail safe.

I've seen mentioned elsewhere that there is sometimes a wire mesh filter in the sump which can get blocked. However, I can find no reference to this in the Haynes manual. Anyone know if these exist on Cavaliers and if they are known to get blocked.

Thanks again for any input.

Posted May 10, 2009 (15 years ago)
is yours the 8v engine if it is the the gauze that you are looking for is located in the rocker cover top these are common for getting blocked in the corsa 8v engines as you say and the oil pressure switch could be duff like you say these are a single wire located near the oil filter usually but refer to you haynes manual to be sure also just make sure that the sensor is not earthing out against the engine as this will put the oil light on perminantly
Posted May 11, 2009 (15 years ago)
sorry just read the heading you have the 16v engine check the other things i mentioned then come back to me and i will try to help you out the cheapest way poss
Posted May 11, 2009 (15 years ago)
Just to close this problem. It turned out to be the oil pressure sensor and now works fine after it was cleaned up at the garage and cost just an hours labour ie about £30 incl VAT.

Thanks for the help.
Posted Jun 2, 2009 (15 years ago)

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