Technical Year 2000 Mk2 Punto Sporting Low Oil Pressure Light

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Technical Year 2000 Mk2 Punto Sporting Low Oil Pressure Light

deeinlondon

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I noticed today for the very first time my Low Oil Pressure light came on and stay on, on my year 2000 Punto Sporting MK2 1.2 6 speed - I've had the car since new and only do about 2,000 a year as I mainly drive to the train station or go shopping locally. Maybe only do motorway driving once a month.

I last changed the oil 3.5 years ago along with the air filter - Shell Fully Synthetic Oil 5W - 40

I drove the car about 2 miles to the local train station when I noticed the low oil pressure light was on - the car felt fine - same as usual, came back about 8 hours later and the light was on during the drive home, everything felt fine and no unusual noises.

Any suggestions?

Would a change of oil and new oil filter help?

I check the levels regularly and last I checked level was fine - about 3/4 of the dip stick. Car was MOTed only 2 months ago and passed fine.
 
Hi I just had this problem on a punto I just bought , oil pressure light came on when driving it home / I dropped the oil out and you don’t really have to do this but It won’t hurt I also dropped the sump , cleaned it out and took off the oil pickup and cleaned that out / put it all back together (using in end a good silicone as new sump gasket )let dry for 24 hours then as nikrox said a 10w/40 semi synthetic oil and a Mann or mahle oil filter. Only job then is on opposite side of oil filter (same fitting ) there are two sensors you are looking for the one attached by bolt, unclip the plug and unbolt the oil pressure sensor and clean up the plug and sensor with wd40 or replace sensor like I did but clean the plug up before refit . If after all that your sump isn’t leaking you should be in the clear, I went over the top as the oil was really black and dirty , but in your case it sounds like just oil and filter and the pressure sensor is so cheap you may as well replace it as it takes only 5 mins
 
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Well I drained out the old oil and replaced it with Castrol Magnatec Oil 10W 40 and put a new Mann Oil Filter but the Low Oil Pressure light is still on - so ordered a new Oil Pressure Sensor - hopefully that solves the problem - but I noticed if you loosen the old sensor then loads of oil pours out from the oil filter.

Should I just catch and disguard this and wait for it to stop or just try and swap out the sensor as quickly as possible with the new?
 
Hi I just had this problem on a punto I just bought , oil pressure light came on when driving it home / I dropped the oil out and you don’t really have to do this but It won’t hurt I also dropped the sump , cleaned it out and took off the oil pickup and cleaned that out / put it all back together (using in end a good silicone as new sump gasket )let dry for 24 hours then as nikrox said a 10w/40 semi synthetic oil and a Mann or mahle oil filter. Only job then is on opposite side of oil filter (same fitting ) there are two sensors you are looking for the one attached by bolt, unclip the plug and unbolt the oil pressure sensor and clean up the plug and sensor with wd40 or replace sensor like I did but clean the plug up before refit . If after all that your sump isn’t leaking you should be in the clear, I went over the top as the oil was really black and dirty , but in your case it sounds like just oil and filter and the pressure sensor is so cheap you may as well replace it as it takes only 5 mins


BTW how dirty / clogged up was the actual oil uptake pipe in your case?
 
Hi there was a small piece of rubbery crud sitting on pickup grill, not blocking a lot but was there all the same and the oil was filthy black so that stuff was sitting inside pickup , I also noticed that while it was a mahle filter it was on a few years so replaced with new Mann , so I dropped out the old oil and left old filter on , and used plain old petrol as an engine cleaner , I took off the rocker cover and cleaned inside with petrol (block the channels at sides until crud and old gasket off ) then poured 2 liters of petrol into engine and left day or two, then I emptied the petrol and removed the sump , it made it all a lot easier to clean the sump also , I didnt run engine in any way no real need .while sump was off I rustkilled and painted it up , and put on a new pressure sensor with the filter , new rocker gasket , air filter and 10w/40 semi synth oil , it seems perfect now , no leaks and no oil pressure light ,I also tried out that Granville black silicone and while I did leave it for 24 hours to set and really took my time cleaning sump and mating surface on block with a screwdriver , blade , green pad and good old petrol to wipe clean or even white spirits will work fine there , I also found the job was far more pleasant removing exhaust , easy but need to drench wd40 the bolts for a day first , only take top bolts off heat shield and bend back a bit as they shear real easy , mask up gearbox side and pully on opposite side before refit as it will hit slightly going back in with silicone on those areas and very careful not to touch newly cleaned pickup , it actually set really well , I also used it on the 4 corners of new rocker gasket , it set well and seems to be doing the job just fine
 
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Did you use a n engine flush ?...

No I didn't use Engine Flush as I was getting very mixed advice from many people - some said to use - some said not to use and at the time the Engine light had come on so suddenly and the car appeared to be driving normally that the most likely cause seemed to be a failed Pressure Sensor Switch.

Having said that I have now changed the Oil, Oil Filter and Oil Pressure Switch and the light remains on.

I have made a video showing the car running on the new oil, filter and switch and perhaps people can take a look and see what they think, will post shortly.
 
Advice is just that...we all have an opinion,and usually experience's that inform those opinions.
I have used engine flush on a lot of cars over the last 37 years of diy car work. BUT I respect others opinions.

What oil grade did you use?..
 
Advice is just that...we all have an opinion,and usually experience's that inform those opinions.
I have used engine flush on a lot of cars over the last 37 years of diy car work. BUT I respect others opinions.

What oil grade did you use?..

I put in Castrol Magnetec 10W 40
 
This is a video I filmed after putting in the new Castrol Magnetec 10W 40 Oil, New Mann Oil Filter and New Oil Pressure Switch. I think that the car engine noise got a big louder in the time it took me to find my camera.

[ame]https://youtu.be/w_EyMN_h1pQ[/ame]
 
Hi there was a small piece of rubbery crud sitting on pickup grill, not blocking a lot but was there all the same and the oil was filthy black so that stuff was sitting inside pickup , I also noticed that while it was a mahle filter it was on a few years so replaced with new Mann , so I dropped out the old oil and left old filter on , and used plain old petrol as an engine cleaner , I took off the rocker cover and cleaned inside with petrol (block the channels at sides until crud and old gasket off ) then poured 2 liters of petrol into engine and left day or two, then I emptied the petrol and removed the sump , it made it all a lot easier to clean the sump also , I didnt run engine in any way no real need .while sump was off I rustkilled and painted it up , and put on a new pressure sensor with the filter , new rocker gasket , air filter and 10w/40 semi synth oil , it seems perfect now , no leaks and no oil pressure light ,I also tried out that Granville black silicone and while I did leave it for 24 hours to set and really took my time cleaning sump and mating surface on block with a screwdriver , blade , green pad and good old petrol to wipe clean or even white spirits will work fine there , I also found the job was far more pleasant removing exhaust , easy but need to drench wd40 the bolts for a day first , only take top bolts off heat shield and bend back a bit as they shear real easy , mask up gearbox side and pully on opposite side before refit as it will hit slightly going back in with silicone on those areas and very careful not to touch newly cleaned pickup , it actually set really well , I also used it on the 4 corners of new rocker gasket , it set well and seems to be doing the job just fine


I was planning to drain the oil today or tomorrow and remove the oil sump (and clean it) and have a look at the oil pickup tube and clean it out if it looked clogged.

However I've just been under the car to have a closer look at the oil sump and it seems the oil sump on the Punto looks harder to remove then I first thought - there appears to be at least two bolts that cannot be reached with a straight ratchet
 
This is a video I filmed after putting in the new Castrol Magnetec 10W 40 Oil, New Mann Oil Filter and New Oil Pressure Switch. I think that the car engine noise got a big louder in the time it took me to find my camera.

https://youtu.be/w_EyMN_h1pQ

A friend of mine thinks the pickup tube may have cracked which might explain why the light came on all of a sudden?
 
I wonder could the bolts on it be loose 2x 10mm , there’s something jumping around somewhere / maybe put the ear to sump / rocker and timing cover/ by the way you can get to all the bolts if there’s a cover on gearbox side remove it at the bottom / small ratchet and try a few different 10mm bits and one will fit it’s pretty easy to get off , the tricky bit is breaking the bond with sharp scraper etc, not sure of the oil pump would make a similar noise if knackered is oil reaching rocker cover with much force ?
 
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I wonder could the bolts on it be loose 2x 10mm , there’s something jumping around somewhere / maybe put the ear to sump / rocker and timing cover/ by the way you can get to all the bolts if there’s a cover on gearbox side remove it at the bottom / small ratchet and try a few different 10mm bits and one will fit it’s pretty easy to get off , the tricky bit is breaking the bond with sharp scraper etc, not sure of the oil pump would make a similar noise if knackered is oil reaching rocker cover with much force ?


I'm not sure which 2x10mm bolts you are referring to? Could you explain a little further please.
 
One other question I have is if I totally disconnect the wire going to the Oil Pressure Switch should the light on my dashboard turn or or off?

because I tested this and with the wire disconnected the light comes on. (key in ignition turned but engine off)

Some websites seem to suggest this shouldn't be the case and that the wire to the switch might be grounding somewhere on the body?

I test the original switch with an electrical meter and it seems in a resting state the switch completes the circuit and when you apply some pressure to simulate oil pressure it breaks the circuit - does that sound right?
 
Also can anyone tell me if the Year 2000 Fiat Punto MK2 16V 1.2 Sporting Oil Pump and oil Pickup Tube looks like the one in this photo?

I've seen other photos which say they are for the same car but the pickup tube looked totally different

Screen-Shot-08-31-19-at-11-14-PM.png
 
Hi I’m referring to the two bolts that attach the pick up , mine is a 2003 1.2 8v il try and upload
 
IMG_0130.JPG
 

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