when sitting at idle the oil light starts to flicker and stays semi lit. but when i rev it up or start driving it goes off. any suggestions on how to fix it?

 

Oil pressure sensor maybe? Check to make sure you have no leaks, and the oil level is good. Otherwise get any oil pressure sensor. should be around 10 or 15 dollars online.

 

Could be your oil pump dying as well. Do not drive until you replace the sender. Clearance in the pump gets too loose and pressure drops, resulting in poor lubrication and engine damage.
Check level, replace sender, check pressure with gauge screwed into sender location.

No need to actually install guage, just use temporarily as a tool.

 

Did you recently replace your water pump? I suspect the chain tensioner can bleed pressure if it is disturbed.

 

Do you notice the flicker all the time, only when the car is cold, or only when the car is hot?

 

only when the car is hot

 

Like what was stated, could be a faulty oil pressure sensor and/or oil pump.. My hunch is the oil pump..

Good luck and let us know what you find..

 

I would vote more for faulty sensor or low oil. Never heard of an oil pump dying in a VQ. Can't even find a thread on it...

 

thank you guys for your responses . I will try the oil pressure gauge sending unit and see if that works

 

Thats becasue when they die.. they don't just quit like their supposed to.

I suspect my own pump has been bad for many a mile..

 

So how does one know when it does?? I would think that the engine would seize up if its not lubricated and the engine would make noises before it reaches that point.

 

well, i have oil leaks, but it only flickers at start up and i know shes leaking. scan for codes yet???

 

yeah i have the same problem, only code i have is for a knock sensor tho. i think its the pressure sender because i know it leaks and part of the connector is damaged

 

how low is your oil?? maybe the connection to the oil pressure sensor is loose or its covered in oil messing up the signal.

 

I have a 97 Maxima presenting the same described issue. I will post what the issue is.

 

+1, just the initial cold start up. when it's warmed up, nothing. it flickers for barely 1 second. My oil levels were fine, I have a VERY slow oil leak from my RMS. Not enough to even hit the floor.

Going to try that sender unit

 

My issue was that I needed an oil change. However, this was not the first time I went a little longer between changes. It's still off-putting that was all it was.

 

My issue is I have a terrible oil leak lol. WOuld be rare for an oil pump to go bad but I suspect if you have a bad leak like I do, it puts extra wear and tear on it. I know my pressure switch is good because I can hear the engine when the light is on. If the engine is silent and the light is on then your switch is bad

 

Nice you figured it out....

 

Low idle causes the oil light to flicker because the engine is not operating right because the idle speed is incorrect which makes the oil pressure low. Your oil pump is perfect just check your idle speed it should be at 700 rpm in park. That's why when u drive your car away the oil light turns off because rpm increases and oil pressure rises.

 

Thanks for answering this question that's 2 years old...

 

I have the exact same issue, with 240K plus miles, with oil drips, usually if I go too long between oil changes, the light will flicker at ilde speed or slow driving, so I just go ahead and get the oil changed. Prob gonna replace oil switch too.