Oil Pressure Warning Light

[Phil S]

Hi All
well here is another strange one..
having disconnected my clock due to it flattening my old and knackered battery..and it not working properly anyway
l now have the following problem
The low oil pressure warning light fails to illuminate when the ignition is first switched on.
but now if the clock earth that is hanging loose touches earth the oil light comes on.
l have looked at the wiring diagram l have (stag genuine) and can't see a reason
anybody able to shed some light (other than the oil one) on this
or is it to be a rewire of the warning light cluster to sort things out to individual circuits that will not cross feed as the current system is.
Thanks in advance
Phil

[Hughesy]

Sounds like the oil pressure switch on the engine is faulty and needs replacing. Test by removing the wire to the switch and then earth it, the light should come on with the ignition on and the wire earthed. Craig

[StagJonno]

Weird one, Phil. The Oil Press sensor switches the -ve/ground side of the bulb and you must have an earth to the engine as otherwise it wouldn't turn over on the starter.

I'd do as Craig suggested. I'd also look around the wiring behind the dash for any obvious anomolies.

Not sure what difference it might be, but is your wiring early or late? Early has the "Brake" light wired in series with the oil pressure warning light; later wiring has the "Brake" light in parallel with H'Brake warning.

Keep us posted - always interested in strange electrics.

Jonno

[Phil S]

late wiring as the alternator warning light wire is brown with a yellow trace
Phil

[rwdstag]

I have just fitted a oil pressure gauge as not trusting the light
a TR6 one looks best in my honest opinion and easy to fit
i put it where the clock goes and put the clock in the ash tray
Rich

[steve.n]

Ditto Rich, just swapped voltmeter and clock (pressure gauge) position for easier view and left the clock out