Oil pressure sensor low in idle

Does the light go off when the RPM's increase? If so, it could be either the sensor or (unlikely) the engine.

If you look on the oil pan (passenger side toward the front side of the pan) you will see the oil pressure sensor. Check to see if it is wet with oil. Also, remove the electrical connector and see if there is oil inside where it attached.

I attached a pic of the sensor. Check that and let me know what you find. Also, let me know if the engine is making any noise like knocking, ticking, and so on while the light is on.


Let me know
Joe

Wow! Thank you for the super fast reply. I will definitely try to check out what you said tomorrow.
As far as the sounds, I'm not sure there is anything too alarming, but I also know nothing about cars. I will try to send a quick video with the sound of the engine while the light is on.
And yes, the light does go off when the RPM's increase. The oil light can sometimes take several minutes after the oil gauge drops. I would say that during those minutes, the pressure just keeps getting just slightly lower, and then the oil light will pop on.

What can happen is related to the sensor itself. I have seen them leak through the sensor into the electrical connector. Because there is a leak, pressure drops. Let me hear it so I can have a better idea if the pressure is actually low or if it is likely related to the sensor.

Interestingly, I had a Hyundai Sante-Fe in about a year ago with the same issue. It had near 200,000 on it and I kept it serviced for the owner since it was new. The light came on when he was out of town, so he went to a dealership that told him the engine was worn out and needed to be replaced. The indicated oil was running down the rear of the engine and wanted nearly $5,000.00 to do it.

The engine had no symptoms of low oil pressure other than the light at idle. I removed the intake (required in this one) inspected the sensor, and I found that oil was leaking from it, through the intake valley and down the back of the engine. It was a $15.00 part.

If there are no noticeable noises, I have a feeling (at least I hope) the sensor is the issue. So, relax, let me hear it, and we'll figure it out together.

Take care and feel free to ask questions if you have them.

Joe

Wow! You saved that person a ton of money. That's awesome.
So is it okay if I send you a quick video I am going to make of what is going on? Can I send it as a YouTube link?
Also, I was able to locate the sensor. So far, I am hesitant to detach the electrical part, but if you don't think it is to worry about, I will go ahead and do that. See the photo attached. Took me a while to find that little thing!

Hi,

It won't hurt to disconnect it. I copied a portion of your pic and circled two things. In red, I don't like the look of the wires. Can you confirm they are not damaged? Also, the release for the connector is circled in blue. Press that as you remove the connector.

As far as a video, you can upload it here. It's done all the time.

Take care,
Joe

Okay cool. I'll definitely do that. Going to try to so that earl next week or hopefully this weekend.
Thank you for sending my photo back with the circles to make thing extremely clear. It does look a little weird. Definitely dirty and I don't know if the wires are supposed to be showing quite like that period that might be normal though not sure.
oh and I got one of those scanners on Amazon. Super cheap one. I took a photo of what it said below.
I don't know, but I'm assuming this is related to the oil pressure problem. A symptom?

Hi,

The code, P0420, is related to the catalytic converter. That code usually indicates the converter needs replaced. The only connection I could even suspect would be if the converter was plugged enough that it is causing an extremely low idle speed. Have you noticed the idle speed to be very low?

Joe

Here's one of the videos I had taken the other day which shows the idle speed in part of it. When I connected the code reader, it said that the rpm's went down to almost 450.

I have a feeling it is the sensor. RPM's are very low which causes the pressure to be lower.

Let me know what you find.
Joe