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Subject:of oil lights and pressure switches
From:Charles McGehee
Date:Tue, 25 Sep 2001 18:10:51 -0700

A few daus ago we started on a short trip when suddenly the oil light began
to flicker at highway speed.  We weren't far from home, so we turned around
and came back.  Before panicking I replace the sender which is on the
cylinder head on the driver side and which, according to Bentley, is a .3
bar job.  He shows a second one in front which he says is for models after
1986 (mine is an '85).  Test drive; no flickering at highway speed but now
the light goes on at 1000 rpm or so, bright and constant -- no
flickering.  Both of these occurred abruptly -- absolutely no history of
problems.  No gradual deterioration.

I read the articles on the vanagon.com home page and they talk about two
sensors, a .3 bar and a .9 bar without raising the issue of year.  The ETKA
seems to show two switches, but the schematic is so confusing I can't tell
what it shows.  Parts stores show two switches for 1985, a .3 bar and a .9
bar.  I'm concerned to know if they sold me the right one since  I would
think that a .9 in a .3 hole would tend to show low pressure when
everything was okay, right?  Or am I off?

So, my questions for now are:  how many oil pressure switches does a 1985
wbx have and how can I tell if the part store sold me me right one for the
passenger-side cylinderf head?

Also, I'd like to check the oil pressure but I don't have a gauge.  Are
there any cheap ones available?

Charles
'85 Westy