Amber warning light stays on

[Pgcassar]

Hi
I've got a 1966 convertible which has been fully renovated before I bought it. But recently the amber light which I presume is for the oil pressure is remaining on, so I'm worried. Would you kindly help please.

[blues2rock]

Minors have two warning lights for the lubrication system, a red one which warns of low oil pressure and an amber one which is intended to indicate the need for a filter change.

If it is just the amber lamp which is coming on (and staying on above idle rpm) you may need an oil and filter change. If the oil and filter have been changed recently it might just be that the wire that leads from the instrument cluster to the filter housing is chaffing somewhere.

Unless recently done, change the oil and filter and see if that makes a difference.

[Pgcassar]

Thank you for the prompt response.
Sounds like a good plan.
I'll get the oil and filter changed and see if that clears it.
Much obliged. Keep well.

[bmcecosse]

Errr - not quite right - a car of that age has TWO orange lights. One warns of dangerously low oil pressure (ie DO NOT continue to run the engine) and the other warns of a blocked filter. So - when you switch on the Ign - what lights do you see? A red (IGN) light and an orange (Low oil pressure) ? When you start up - do they both go out, and stay out? And perhaps the OTHER orange light comes on? If so - that indeed indicates need for an urgent oil and filter change. If however the first orange light stays on - then there could be a serious problem. First check of course is oil level! Is there plenty in the engine? Second check really is to try another oil pressure switch and if possible - also fit an oil pressure gauge which well tell all!

[chesney]

Note both lamps for the oil system are orange (as standard). Red is ignition warning.
When you put the key in the first position (ie ign) you should see a red light and an orange light. That's oil pressure and ignition, test by pulling the wire from the oil pressure sender switch and seeing if it stays illuminated.
Do not run it if the oil pressure light is continually on.
Is there any oil in it, when was the last oil and filter change?

[blues2rock]

Well I am very embarrassed.

PM sent to person posing the question.

Actually had to go out to my garage to confirm!

[alexmcguffie]

Once you are happy with which lamp is which, check their functionality by disconnecting them from the relevant place on the engine and the lamp should go out. Connect the loose wire to a ground and the lamp should illuminate. This will prove you don't have a wiring problem.

You can also use this method to work out which lamp is which

How many miles have you done since you bought it/last changed the oil?

[Pgcassar]

Hi Guys
There are two amber lights, one on the left by the 20mph mark and one on the right by the 80mph mark.
Both come on when I turn the ignition key on. When I start her up, the one on the left goes off when I rev it past idle. So it is the one on the right that is staying on all the time. Apologies for any confusion.

[chesney]

The one on the left should be oil filter as standard (?) so maybe swapped round to oil pressure at some point in its life.
What do you mean it goes out when you rev it? Is the idle speed set correctly? With a cold engine certainly, the oil pressure light should not be flickering at all.
The other light, from what I've read I wouldn't look too far into it, many owners disconnect them. Mine is disconnected as a spin on filter is fitted. Try an oil and filter change, and clean out the filter sump and housing. These switches, however, are rarely reliable.
I would be more concerned if the left hand lamp is flickering!

[Pgcassar]

Ok thanks again.

[Pgcassar]

Hi again.
I've disconnected the oil pressure switch and turned the ignition on and the light on the left went out. Which should mean that oil pressure should be ok. But correct me if I'm wrong.

It looks like the one on the right is for something else. Now if it's for the oil filter where would the connection be please and is there a way of checking this.

Notwithstanding I will change the oil and filter as well as a precaution, even two I've done around two hundred miles since I got it.

[chesney]

The switch for the oil filter is on the oil filter housing, under the dynamo/alternator. It comes from the loom, with the dynamo/coil terminals
Even if you've had it for only 200 miles, you don't know when the oil and filter were last changed, it's wise to change them if the car is new to you.
So, does the left hand (oil pressure as you've proved) light go on of the engine is running? I'd prioritize an oil and filter change before driving again.

[alexmcguffie]

To test the blocked oil filter switch wiring, remove the wire from the top of the filter housing and with the ignition turned on touch this wire to a ground point on the engine (one of the filter housing studs for example). There won't be any sparks etc to be concerned about.

You will need someone in the car to watch the light unless you have very long arms! The switch in the filter housing is a very simple spring loaded ball bearing.

[Pgcassar]

I noticed there's a connector attached to the top of the oil filter housing and found that when I disconnect this the light on the right goes off, which means that the one on the left is the oil pressure and the one on the right is the oil filter.
I noticed that the car has too much oil which doesn't help as I think there must be about a litre too much oil in the engine.

[Pgcassar]

Thank you on end all for all the support. Really appreciated.
I've also got a new addition, which is a 1964 Mini Traveller Woody which I'm in the process of doing up, but that's another story.

Again thank you very much.

[bmcecosse]

My oil pressure light is the left-hand one. It should go out immediately on starting the engine - without need for any revving...and you should never see it again until you next go to start the engine. The right hand light is for blocked filter...now this only comes on when the filter is very seriously blocked (I have never seen mine on...) so if this is now ON - it either means the switch built in the filter head has failed, OR - the filter is horribly blocked. Excess oil (how did that happen?) is not a good thing - but neither is it the cause of this problem. Change the oil and filter asap - 20W 50 oil. And make an oil pressure gauge a top priority. If the filter is blocked - we have to wonder who 'restored' the car ........

[Pgcassar]

Double checked and the one on the left does go out when just starting the engine. Too much oil my fault as I checked it on a slope. Idiot springs to mind but we learn by our mistakes.
Oil and filter will be changed pronto.
Much obliged for all your help.
Cheers.