Orange flashing oil light [Resolved: new loom]

[MarkW-T6]

Had an orange flashing oil can lit up today just after setting off, oil level checked ok. Happened a couple of times then stopped. Happened again after about 20 mins slowing down on the motorway to exit. Noticed oil temp reading was missing as well (just showing dashes). Van is a 2016 Highline, 1.9 diesel. Had a chat with google and it seems it ‘may’ be the sensor, so, can anyone shed any light on the following
1. Is it possible it is the sensor?
2. Does the same sensor monitor the oil level and the temperature?
3. Is it a DIY job to replace the sensor if faulty? Or, is it something I need to take it in to a garage to get it looked at?

 

[DaveD]

So oil level OK, when was oil and filter changed and if you didn't do it yourself can you be 100% certain the filter was changed?

 

[Loz]

Sounds like sensor to me, it’s not the first.

 

[MarkW-T6]

Last service which was some time ago, it’s on a long life plan at the moment. I checked earlier and I think it’s about 190 days to the next service. Not doing the miles it’s done in the past so will probably change the service plan next time.

 

[MarkW-T6]

Time to change the sensor

 

[MarkW-T6]

Well, that was easy enough. Didn’t fix the fault though. Looks like it could be a wiring fault?

 

[MarkW-T6]

New loom fitted, problem solved. Not sure why the original has failed, there’s no physical damage to the outer plastic cover or to the cables but when tested there’s no continuity on the centre pins. (Hindsight moment, as a Spark, should have checked that first!) There is a 90 deg elbow at the connection to the sensor in the sump, can only assume that there’s a pressure break at this point (4 years, 55k miles). The elbow is a cover/clamp for the protective plastic over the cable, the new loom has a straight cover/clamp. VW upgrade?

 

[Robert]

Water ingress inside of sensor plug/socket setup caused contact( or contacts) corrosion and therefore bad connection.
Did you notice any greenish stuff on your connectors(pins)?

 

[MarkW-T6]

Water ingress inside of sensor plug/socket setup caused contact( or contacts) corrosion and therefore bad connection.
Did you notice any greenish stuff on your connectors(pins)?

No, all clean. I had inspected as much of the cable as possible (didn’t have access to trolley jack at the time), removed at sensor end and plug checked before changing sensor. couldn’t fully get to the other end. No obvious damage. When removed, fully checked all along and both plugs, no corrosion or obvious damage anywhere. There is, as said, a sharp bend at the sensor end which isn’t on the new loom. Even though there was no sign of any damage I should have tested the cable first. It didn’t help that the fault was intermittent, sometimes warning light showing, sometimes no oil temp. The vans on a long life service but not doing lots of mileage so it was a chance to have a go at changing the oil (been in 18 months) which turned out to be a lot easier than I had imagined (last oil change I did was on a 1973 Ford Escort )

 

[Zorb]

New loom fitted, problem solved. Not sure why the original has failed, there’s no physical damage to the outer plastic cover or to the cables but when tested there’s no continuity on the centre pins. (Hindsight moment, as a Spark, should have checked that first!) There is a 90 deg elbow at the connection to the sensor in the sump, can only assume that there’s a pressure break at this point (4 years, 55k miles). The elbow is a cover/clamp for the protective plastic over the cable, the new loom has a straight cover/clamp. VW upgrade?

Hi Mark yes I know it's an old post but do you remember where the loom came from? I've been told there's no loom available so it had to be made from pins & wires & bits. It's a yellow wiry mess under my T6. Cheers

 

[MarkW-T6]

@Zorb Hi, got it from ebay. The one I found was from a different seller and the part number ended in ‘C’ but this is available on eBay now. Don’t know if this matches yours?

VW Transporter T5 10-15 2.0 TDI Oil level sensor harness 7E0971411A | eBay

(Engine, Gearbox, Door etc.).

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Zorb]

Thanks Mark I saw that one and think I might take a gamble on it. It's been eaten again so I repaired it today and put some flexi conduit over the wires to try and stop it happening but I'd prefer a proper bit of loom as a spare. Cheers.