Oil light

[mikew8760]

Hi guys (and gals?)
My wife has just bought an 02 plate 206 automatic. (This is to replace her previous car - same type - that had a trashed engine because some 'mechanic' forgot to fill up oil and oil light didn't work, but that's another story!)
On picking up the car from the dealer first thing we notice is that oil light doesn't work - aaaaarrrrgh!! So dealer has had this fixed, including the gizmo that activates the flashing odometer digits. But the mechanic (different mechanic!) says the bulb must have failed so the oil light still doesn't work.
A couple of questions now spring to mind;
1. If the oil pressure drops to a dangerously low level will there be any warning?
2. I thought dashboard lights were all LED's these days and 'never' fail.

Is there any way I can check the light, apart from ripping out the dashboard? We are a bit paranoid about this after scrapping a perfectly good car for the sake of a 10p bulb.....

[john_h]

from what i understand the 307 and 407 are all LED's. so it will stand to reason the 206 is aswell. LEDs do have a lifespan of around 10k hours. so it is very rare you see them not working.

i would say your best bet is to keep checking the oil, using the dipstick once a week and before long journeys....takes 2 minutes.

if the pressure drops, there should be a warning on the MFD but then it will be too late. thats the same as the oil light on the speedo.

if anything you should get the car hooked up to planet to check the oil pressure sensor.

[mikew8760]

Thanks for quick response. According to the mechanic he has (supposedly) replaced two parts, one for the oil warning on the odometer display at startup - which now seems to operate correctly, i.e. no flashing digits. The other seems to be a separate part for the oil light - which is why I am puzzled as to why still no pressure warning light. We have the Haynes manual, but for the earlier models, but I am led to believe that the oil pressure sender is the same on the later models. Is this so?

[davidireland]

Originally Posted by mikew8760

Thanks for quick response. According to the mechanic he has (supposedly) replaced two parts, one for the oil warning on the odometer display at startup - which now seems to operate correctly, i.e. no flashing digits. The other seems to be a separate part for the oil light - which is why I am puzzled as to why still no pressure warning light. We have the Haynes manual, but for the earlier models, but I am led to believe that the oil pressure sender is the same on the later models. Is this so?

These work differently. There is no oil pressure light but it will come on if there is a problem.
What was flashing on the dash?
Seems like you scrapped a car for no reason unless you did an oil pressure check and it was down!

[mikew8760]

Thanks for the reply, but I think you misunderstand. The previous 206 ( T reg.) only had an oil pressure light, but my wife never noticed that it didn't light up at startup! In fact the only thing wrong was that the wire had been 'accidentally' knocked off the sender. When it finally used up the last drop of oil it sounded like a can of rocks that even a can of STP wouldn't cure!
The current car, (02 reg.) has the odometer digits that show, I think, the oil level. (I say 'I think', because the user manual description is different.) But I would be happier with a warning light; I can't afford to keep local car dealers in business......

[bettyswollocks]

Do you mean the oil light is something like these -

_ _ _ _ 0

0 0 0 0 _

[davidireland]

Originally Posted by mikew8760

Thanks for the reply, but I think you misunderstand. The previous 206 ( T reg.) only had an oil pressure light, but my wife never noticed that it didn't light up at startup! In fact the only thing wrong was that the wire had been 'accidentally' knocked off the sender. When it finally used up the last drop of oil it sounded like a can of rocks that even a can of STP wouldn't cure!
The current car, (02 reg.) has the odometer digits that show, I think, the oil level. (I say 'I think', because the user manual description is different.) But I would be happier with a warning light; I can't afford to keep local car dealers in business......

T reg means absolutely nothing to me! What year was it?
To be honest I think you should be checking the oil level between services.

[Wardy]

Originally Posted by davidireland

T reg means absolutely nothing to me! What year was it?
To be honest I think you should be checking the oil level between services.

T reg was between 01/03/99 and 31/08/99

[mikew8760]

Originally Posted by bettyswollocks

Do you mean the oil light is something like these -

_ _ _ _ 0

0 0 0 0 _

Sort of! Originally it was all little 'o's flashing. (The book shows only bottom segment of all digits flashing for sensor fault.) Now it's been fixed it's all big '0's not flashing with the word 'MAX' at the right hand side. This seems OK. But there is no little icon of red oil can lit up at startup.
Is it possible to check this indicator, e.g. by grounding the sender connection?

[mikew8760]

I think I spoke too soon regarding the repair to the oil level fault! Yesterday the display was behaving rather like it did before, with flashing odometer digits.
I get the distinct feeling that I'm being ripped off and made to look a fool. The repair was to be done under the dealers warranty, so no charge to me, but I don't think the mechanic has actually attempted to fix anything - leaving the dealer to fob me off with fairy stories.

Can someone tell me if the oil level sender is in the sump?
And is there a separate oil pressure switch for the warning light?

I'll need to get Mr Haynes book for this model......watch this space.