3.2 oil pressure light flashes on & off

[pikelakesho]

Anyone seen this problem: engine runs fine, but after warm up while driving oil pressure light will flash on from time to time, and you can hear some slight valve train noise when light is on. Problem comes and goes. Am not driving at highway speeds anymore, and very little around town because of problem. Any ideas? As simple as a oil pump failing, or a sign of a much bigger problem (bad cam bearings, clogged oil passages, etc.)? Engine has about 100K miles on it; 60K/100K service history is unknown, but probable never been done.
Thanks !!

 

[sdpatt]

Most likely worn connecting rod bearings. You can get the Clevite CB1435P bearings from NAPA for $44.94. The installation has been documented several times here on the Forum (use the search feature in this topic). For rod bearings at that relatively low mileage, the engine must have had a weak oil change history. What brand and weight of oil are you using? Well right now, that's not thick enough.

 

[Mike Kopstain]

You may also want to make sure the engine is idling at the correct RPM (700 - 800 RPM). Even if that was the cause of the problem though, if you got noise, those rod bearings are ready to come out.

 

[SLOSHO89]

I would say either rebuild the motor or put in a good running 3.2 motor.

I think that putting in new rod bearings is a half @$$ fix to a much larger problem. I can see it as a preventative maintanance thing, but not a fix.

I would guess that your oil pump isn't that great any more because it will wear when the motor is low on oil pressure.

Efren

 

[RTStabler51]

Its half assing it? How? If there is no other damage?? Replacing the rod bearings is a viable fix and will give you thousands of more miles in your SHO.

SLOSHO89:
I would say either rebuild the motor or put in a good running 3.2 motor.

I think that putting in new rod bearings is a half @$$ fix to a much larger problem. I can see it as a preventative maintanance thing, but not a fix.

I would guess that your oil pump isn't that great any more because it will wear when the motor is low on oil pressure.

Efren

 

[billh]

I think that first of all, I would verify the oil pressure of the engine. Back in the "not so good old days" electric oil pressure senders had a habbit of failing and giving false low pressure warnings. I would screw a gauge into it and see just how much oil pressure you have to work with.
Later
Bill

 

[ILLSHOU]

I had the same problem, EXACTLY. They never even diagnosed it to a pinpoint. I was told that an engine rebuild was the best way to go as the rod bearings may only be a temporary fix, if something else is wrong. Down the road they could end up pulling the engine more than once, which would be quite expensive, so i opted to take their advice and rebuild it. If i had gone with a different 3.2 (swap) I could be buying into problems all over again. The price givin to me for a complete rebuild, was 4k, and although i had to scrape the money together i think long term ill be better off. My car only had 60k miles on it, but i know it didnt have regular maintenance or preventative maintenance done...no 60k service or otherwise. Also it was used to tow a boat...Regaurdless of what anyone says or does, i think that is ridiculous. Anyway if you take it somewhere and get a professional opinion let me know what they say, and good luck. Maybe i was taken over the coals i dont know. In any case the rebuild wont hurt, as long as they do it correctly. It will be coming with a 12k mile/ 1 yr warranty, and the price isnt bad all things considered...I hope to have her back for the end of the month...

 

[ACV1081]

ILLSHOU:
I had the same problem, EXACTLY. They never even diagnosed it to a pinpoint. I was told that an engine rebuild was the best way to go as the rod bearings may only be a temporary fix, if something else is wrong. Down the road they could end up pulling the engine more than once, which would be quite expensive, so i opted to take their advice and rebuild it. If i had gone with a different 3.2 (swap) I could be buying into problems all over again. The price givin to me for a complete rebuild, was 4k, and although i had to scrape the money together i think long term ill be better off. My car only had 60k miles on it, but i know it didnt have regular maintenance or preventative maintenance done...no 60k service or otherwise. Also it was used to tow a boat...Regaurdless of what anyone says or does, i think that is ridiculous. Anyway if you take it somewhere and get a professional opinion let me know what they say, and good luck. Maybe i was taken over the coals i dont know. In any case the rebuild wont hurt, as long as they do it correctly. It will be coming with a 12k mile/ 1 yr warranty, and the price isnt bad all things considered...I hope to have her back for the end of the month...

$4k is a lot of $... I'm doing the 3.2 into my 91 and I doubt I'll have $2k in the whole rebuild including redoing the 3.0 heads and a full 60K with plugs wires and the bit. I believe Ryan Cutler(from WI) had Courtney's( a reknowned SHO mechanic) swap a 3.2 into his with everything new for a little over $2000... but whatever makes you at ease. I like the fact I've seen everything that has been done and bought the parts I shopped around for. In all reality I can't believe a shop is just randomly doing the rebuild unless they've had SHOs before. If they haven't I sure as **** wouldn't want to be their guinea pig(no offense.) shrug

 

[ILLSHOU]

I dont know if they have done an SHO before, but they are an import specialist...They have a good rep. They are offering the warranty with it so if anything goes wrong it should certainly happen in that year period. 4k is alot, but im paying for labor also which isnt cheap. When you pay someone else to do it, thats how it is. It wouldve been great to have someone help me with the rebuild, but i dont have the time, and i dont know anyone from the boards too well as of yet. There doesnt seem to be anyone really all that close with expertise, the closest "specialist shop" i know of is in RI..My other option was FORD...and they wouldve charged more, and sometimes they know even less about the SHO even though they made them. Believe me im not thrilled with the cost, but i didnt know what else to do....