February 4, 200422 yr Had to dig Willy (87 turbo 5 speed wagon) out today to run some errands. Been buried under a foot of snow for a couple weeks now. Motor to the bank and have to sit for five maybe seven minutes, notice the rad fan light come on. On for a while and off, back on - normal sitting idling operation. Snow worries. Leave bank head for post office, mile down the road dash digital voltmeter says 10.9 v??? Sun glare kept me from seeing the classic Subaru light show stop lamp, brake and charge lights were all lit. Quick look over the other gages all fine but OMG the oil pressure is bageled - big egg - zero??? Knew the answer immediately. Too EZ sorry. Your guess is welcome, answer in 12 hours
February 5, 200422 yr a dead alternator wouldnt explain the oil pressure being at 0. Sounds like a belt to me... either slipping/loose or completely broken.
February 5, 200422 yr I wouldn't be suprised if it's just a loose ground wire for the instrument cluster.
February 5, 200422 yr Would not be instrument cluster related, unless there are 2 problems at work. Skip's digital voltmeter that he referred to is an aftermarket part. It is totally independent of the car's factory wiring.
February 5, 200422 yr Skip, Perhaps you sliced off the oil pressure sending wire and fan belts/wires when you were shoveling out the snow or maybe they got caught on the snow and pulled off as you were driving out? Rick
February 5, 200422 yr Or... if a belt broke, maybe when it came flying off it unplugged the oil sensor?
February 5, 200422 yr That CAN happen. I had a serpant belt come flying off last week because some idiot (me) put the water pump pulley on backward. It ripped the oil pressure tube off the oil pump as it flailed around.
February 5, 200422 yr From Skips post, he didnt say if the car died. I'm going for a shredded Alt belt that took the wire off the oil sender. Rob
February 5, 200422 yr Author AND THE WINNERS ARE Rick O almost Flow M came in first SubeBrat close second and the T-bone hit it right on the cranium. Good job guys. and Good observation skills were demonstrated here, you all get my kudos. the 0 oil pressure was missed by some, oil pressure is independant of the alt. belt. except... The belt shredded and as the bits flailed around, it pulled the spade connector at the oil pressure sender unit apart. Once again well done Sir Loins. Now remind me again, a) why we change belts and put the used one in the boot? why Subaru uses two belts - one for the H20 pump and one for the alt. This could have left it DIW (Dead In the Water) c) and why the Subaru tool kit has a 12 and a 14 mm wrench??? Thanks for the responses one and all.
February 4, 200521 yr Hey Skip, how's it going? It's been exactly 1 year since you posted that riddle. Good one, too. Have you had to dig out your Subaru from any snow this Winter? 8-) Our '86 GL Wagon is covered with mud from the thaw we've had here in eastern Oregon. Good thing the car is brown in color, anyway! Later, Rick
February 4, 200521 yr Wow, deja vue all over agian Wish we had snow we had to dig out of :-\ Wish I had a sube to dig out. End of the month I will be back in a roo again.
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