OIL warning light

[jack.pe]

Hi Guys,

I have a 1200 GS, 2004 year and I have just found a buyer.
Today I took the bike out and the warning light for oil came on, I topped up the oil, restarted and it went out. I have checked and the level is definitely fine through the siteglass and measured as per the manual but the oil warning light has now come on again. It seems that when first started it comes on and will stay on (even for 20 minutes riding) but if I switch the bike off and restart a couple of times eventually the oil light goes off and stays off.. I assume the oil pressure sensor must be faulty?? any ideas? if it is the sensor is it easy to change?

Obviously I won't hand it over to the new buyer till the problem is fixed but just worried if it might be bigger than jsut the sensor??

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

Your being pretty brave assuming its a sensor fault. I would check you actual pressure before going any further. It might well be a faulty sensor but it could also be a sticky pressure relief valve on the pump and you actually have little or no oil pressure.

 

[Miz]

May not be the pressure sensor, I would check the wiring to the sensor to make sure there is not a short (cable chafing), try unplugging the cable to the sensor and see if the light goes off..

 

[harry]

I think this is more likely to be a Oil Level Sensor problem, maybe temperature related. I'd change the oil and filter and I think your prob may disappear.

 

[jack.pe]

I think this is more likely to be a Oil Level Sensor problem, maybe temperature related. I'd change the oil and filter and I think your prob may disappear.

Thanks but why would changing the oil and filter fix anythting??

 

[jack.pe]

Your being pretty brave assuming its a sensor fault. I would check you actual pressure before going any further. It might well be a faulty sensor but it could also be a sticky pressure relief valve on the pump and you actually have little or no oil pressure.

How do I check the pressure?

And the reason I assumed it to be a sensor fault is that once the light is on it stays on, even if the bike is run for a while but if the bike is then switched off and on once or twice it disappears for good..?

I have jsut come back from a 30 minute gentle ride, light was on initially, rode up the road, switched bike off and on and it was still on, then did it again and it went out for good, will try it again once it has been sitting for a couple of hours and see what happens. Might have to drop it off at mechenics though..

 

[Kremmen]

When you consider that most oil switches activate at around 0.3 - 0.5 bar (7psi) and with the fact you have riden it for 20 minutes, it is highly unlikely that you have oil pressure problems.

It sound like either a sensor or wiring matter to me.

Saying that the first step i would take would be to couple up an external gauge, if the pressure reading is per spec 6.5bar and you are selling the mount I would replace the sensor.

Regards

 

[Miz]

Hi Guys,

I have a 1200 GS, 2004 year and I have just found a buyer.
Today I took the bike out and the warning light for oil came on, I topped up the oil, restarted and it went out. I have checked and the level is definitely fine through the siteglass and measured as per the manual but the oil warning light has now come on again. It seems that when first started it comes on and will stay on (even for 20 minutes riding) but if I switch the bike off and restart a couple of times eventually the oil light goes off and stays off.. I assume the oil pressure sensor must be faulty?? any ideas? if it is the sensor is it easy to change?

Obviously I won't hand it over to the new buyer till the problem is fixed but just worried if it might be bigger than jsut the sensor??

I'm a bit worried about the statement "even for 20 minutes riding", if the oil light comes on, you are supposed to stop the engine immediately and sort out the problem, riding for 20 minutes with possibly no oil feed around the engine, glad I'm not just about to buy a 1200GS

 

[Kremmen]

Unless the engine oil hasn't been changed for umpteen thousands of miles changing the oil won't make any difference, likewise the filter should by pass if it becomes blocked.

 

[harry]

Unless the engine oil hasn't been changed for umpteen thousands of miles changing the oil won't make any difference, likewise the filter should by pass if it becomes blocked.

Beg to differ, some Oil Level Sensors work on a float in a cylinder principle and when oil is sticky/dirty, stick. New oil oftens cures this.

 

[jack.pe]

I'm a bit worried about the statement "even for 20 minutes riding", if the oil light comes on, you are supposed to stop the engine immediately and sort out the problem, riding for 20 minutes with possibly no oil feed around the engine, glad I'm not just about to buy a 1200GS

Let me give more background, this first manifested itself a couple of months ago, I was a few miles from home and the oil light came on, I jsut assumed the oil neded topping up and elected to ride home at low revs and hope for the best, it took me around 20 mins to get home and for all that time the light stayed on. I then did not get the chance to use the bike till two days ago when I topped up the oil, initially the light still stayed on but on switching the bike off and on again it went out and I assumed that was the problem fixed. But as I said today the light was on again untill I switched the bike off and on a cople of times, again it then went out and I rode the bike for 35 mins and then another 35 mins home, engine running fine, temperature fine.

I would not sell the bike if I thought there was a possiblity of anything being wrong and will get confirmation (and get this fixed) by a mechanic before handing it over, however the random nature of the light only being on for a short time at start up and then going off once the bike has been restarted a couple of times would surely point to a sensor failure would it not?

 

[jack.pe]

I have just come back from a 30 minute gentle ride, light was on initially, rode up the road, switched bike off and on and it was still on, then did it again and it went out for good, will try it again once it has been sitting for a couple of hours and see what happens. .

Ok, after resting for two hours the bike did the same thing, light went on on first starting, tried to switch off a couple of times but stayed on for 3-4 mins, then rode up the road and switched off and on again and it then went off permanently again..and I rode home (another 30 mins).

 

[mechcanico lee]

Do the 04 models have a sensor for low level aswell as a sensor for oil pressure (is it the low level warning coming on) if it was oil pressure that was the fault and you have been riding it for a good few miles the engine would probably be knocking its nuts off by now, more likely a sensor or oil switch fault.
Also sometimes the low level indicator will come on when cold but if you ride the bike and the oil expands and goes further up the measuring sensor it goes off again
just a thought mind or as the prophets of doom would say "just scrap her"

 

[Steptoe]

Just replace the oil pressure switch - if you had no oil pressure the engine would've let you know straightaway.

 

[Steptoe]

, riding for 20 minutes with possibly no oil feed around the engine, glad I'm not just about to buy a 1200GS

You wouldn't be able to ride for 20 minutes with no oil feed

You stick to worrying yourself about your own bike.

 

[Miz]

You wouldn't be able to ride for 20 minutes with no oil feed

You stick to worrying yourself about your own bike.

That's me told, in future before I make any posts I'll get you to proof read them first

 

[jack.pe]

Just replace the oil pressure switch - if you had no oil pressure the engine would've let you know straightaway.

Great news Steptoe, much appreciated! I've actually been trying to get hold of you through the website as I wanted you to check the bike, might still get you to replace the sensor for me as i can't find the workshop manual to see where it is located. Call you on Monday.

Cheers

Jack