Oil light blinking.

[awesomeVDub]

So for the past few days my oil light has been blinking intermittently. Not constantly but for a few min here and there. Today on the way home from work it was blinking for probably 8 out of 18miles. I checked the oil level and it is full.

Is there something else I should be looking for to cause this?

Thanks

[woodardman]

So for the past few days my oil light has been blinking intermittently. Not constantly but for a few min here and there. Today on the way home from work it was blinking for probably 8 out of 18miles. I checked the oil level and it is full.

Is there something else I should be looking for to cause this?

Thanks

hey the fox has the obd 1 so unlike the newer cars that tell you codes the fox blinks a light so many times to indicate a problem watch and count how many times the light blinks and id say check the oil filter tightness and look on the internet or the fox repair book for light codes it may be the pressure sensor hope this helps

[woodardman]

So for the past few days my oil light has been blinking intermittently. Not constantly but for a few min here and there. Today on the way home from work it was blinking for probably 8 out of 18miles. I checked the oil level and it is full.

Is there something else I should be looking for to cause this?

Thanks

TRY this link hope it helps i read it briefly
http://faculty.ccp.edu/faculty/dreed...h/vw_blink.pdf

[woodardman]

or this

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...D1-blink-codes

[novws]

I've owned four Foxes and the oil light has blinked in every single one of them.

[myboxyfox]

My oil pressure light has been blinking for a year now, but I'm too lazy to pull the sucker out The problem lies within the logic control module, which stops being logical after 24+ years, go figure~

I hooked up a mechanical oil pres gauge and have fine oil pressure, I think most do, unless the pick up screen is clogged or you have the wrong oil filter on or something....

[QuantumSyncro]

If the module fails you have to pull the cluster, but if it's one of the senders that's pretty simple, there's also a test for checking the senders, at least I remember reading about it in the Bentley I think...then again it might have been in the Mk2 Bentley also.

steve

[ziddey]

At what revs does it blink? Idling? Steady cruising? What weight oil are you using?

[awesomeVDub]

At what revs does it blink? Idling? Steady cruising? What weight oil are you using?

It happens in all gears at steady cruising. I'm using 10w30

[j-boogie253]

It happens in all gears at steady cruising. I'm using 10w30

Foxes require 20w50

[woodardman]

Really??? ive always used 10w-30 ill try 20w-30 and see if its better

[j-boogie253]

Really??? ive always used 10w-30 ill try 20w-30 and see if its better

20w50

[woodardman]

lmao my bad

[awesomeVDub]

Well. I haven't changed the oil yet. It was changed 2wks before I bought it and I only added a small amount of 10w30 after the light started blinking.

[ziddey]

Ah yes, you just bought your Fox. Was it straight from the PO or some sort of middleman dealer? My first Fox was donated by the PO and sold by some broker. He was proud of the fact that he gave it a tune up with new oil. I bought the car and was halfway through with my 350mile trip back home when the light started flashing. Talk about a panic.

Pulled over, checked the dipstick. Pulled out my phone and checked the internet (talking about really slow GPRS internet). Drove it home and changed the oil to 20w50 and it never came back.

With winter around the corner (although I guess it doesn't get THAT cold in Vancouver), it may not be a bad idea to go for 15w40. Shell Rotella is usually decently, and the diesel oil has extra detergents. Good stuff.

[awesomeVDub]

Ah yes, you just bought your Fox. Was it straight from the PO or some sort of middleman dealer? My first Fox was donated by the PO and sold by some broker. He was proud of the fact that he gave it a tune up with new oil. I bought the car and was halfway through with my 350mile trip back home when the light started flashing. Talk about a panic.

Pulled over, checked the dipstick. Pulled out my phone and checked the internet (talking about really slow GPRS internet). Drove it home and changed the oil to 20w50 and it never came back.

With winter around the corner (although I guess it doesn't get THAT cold in Vancouver), it may not be a bad idea to go for 15w40. Shell Rotella is usually decently, and the diesel oil has extra detergents. Good stuff.

Ok. Thanks

[dinoboom]

Hi! Sorry to hear of this issue. I will share with you what I've experienced after owning two Fox Wagons and a blinking/buzzing Oil light.

There are two pressure sensors. One on the oil flange and one on the top rear engine block next to the firewall. One controls the light and the other controls the buzzer.

In my experience replacing both sensors at the same time is a wise thing to consider, But this more often than not is the issue. I replaced them many times with VW and after market parts and it didn't seem to matter. I have (3) three pairs/spares sitting around doing nothing.

To the best of my knowledge there were some "defective" chips/boards [flaky] within the dash board cluster. That ended up in a random group of Foxes. A bad ground of some sort may be related?

Upon the suggestion of a knowledgeable trustworthy FOX owner and mechanic. I took the wire off the oil flange (which controls the buzzer) and grounded it to the body [where ever]. Sometimes just disconnecting and reconnecting the wire at either place will fix the issue. Could be for a few minutes hours days or months. "It's Flaky" and typical of electrical/electronic issues.

The oil sensing system put into the Foxes were over designed and overly sensitive to all kinds of things including but not limited to humidity/heat/cold and measured in bars.

Sometimes I have the lower oil flange wire grounded and some times I don't - whatever gets rid of that annoying buzzing sound. I know full well the consequences of these choices/actions.

Experience has taught me that more than likely there is no problem. And even if there was I have so little confidence in the Oil sensing system giving accurate information. I tend to ignore it.

Replacing the oil with Rotella 15-40w which I run year round and I live in Vermont is a good choice. Originally used more in diesels.

So, in your case if it is in fact just the light and not the buzzer. I would think replacing both sensors, but especially the upper one would help and may solve it for you. And you won't have to worry about it I Think?!? There's no 100% guarantee's here as far as I know.

Hopefully if nothing else this will give you some direction and more importantly "Peace of mind." ALL things considered in the world of cars and technology...this is a grain of sand on the beach.

The Foxes are a great little car regardless. Drive it and Enjoy it...

Sinceremente, Raphael

[toast_king]

im pretty sure my fox has had 5w30 in it for years. do you think putting 20w50 would stop the light and also help with the wicked ticking im hearing?

[j-boogie253]

im pretty sure my fox has had 5w30 in it for years. do you think putting 20w50 would stop the light and also help with the wicked ticking im hearing?

Most definitely! Change your oil and put in 20w50

I recommend nothing less that 15w40. I used to run 15w40 Chevron Delo all the time but my current Fox motor is shot, so i use 20w50 and a thickener....

[ziddey]

considering it's october and you're in MI, rotella 15w40 would be a good choice (or delo)

[toast_king]

considering it's october and you're in MI, rotella 15w40 would be a good choice (or delo)

thanks for the advice! just found a 55gal drum at o'reilly's for only $829.99! or maybe i'll just get a gallon for $14...