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MG Midget and Sprite General - Oil light scare

so I'm chasing a Ferrari down a country road (no, I didn't have a hope, but fun anyway) when the oil light suddenly comes on! I have a 1979 1500, no oil pressure gauge, just the "idiot" warning light. I panicked, pulled over immediately, waited for the car to cool and then checked the oil.
Oil level was good, same as when I left home, only 2 hours earlier. It seems that a dash support bracket had come loose, slid over to the speedo and created an earth to the oil light. Phew.
gusangora

2 options:

1. remove the bulb
2. fit a pressure gauge and worry about the reading for the rest of your days.

;) A

PS I gave chase to a 911 whilst driving my wife's Triupmh 1500 around 1980 (yes, I know!!); quite different result to yours tho... a new piston and shell-bearings sorted it out.
Anthony Cutler

Put in a mechanical oil pressure gauge.

I've had the light come on twice now in my '79 1500 and it definitely is cause to change one's knickers! :)

Turned out to be a bad sensor both times. A Tee fitting where the switch goes allows for the gauge. I put mine in the speaker grille of the console, but it can easily hang from edge of the dash next to the console.

PS: I was doing the same with a Lotus and was doing a good job on the twisties when my wife put an end to the fun. :(

Lee
Lee Fox

<< A Tee fitting where the switch goes allows for the gauge. >>

I have just that, however be advised: the longish brass nipple (3"?) that I first installed for the tee fatigued and broke over time, presumably from the weight of the mechanical sensor upon it. Caused quite a mess, both in the engine bay and in my pants... The short (close) nipple currently installed for the purpose seems to be taking the stress well.

Richard "chased a Porsche once in the twisty bits with my MGB, yeah that worked out well" Reeves
Richard Reeves

I also took the "fit a tee and a gauge" approach, and it's worked great for years. The only problem was when the pressure tube chafed where it runs through the bulkhead and leaked a bit, but that was easily sorted with a new tube and a rubber grommet.

I hung the gauge on the bottom edge of the dash, as seen here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/safety_fast/3878237880/in/set-72157622081163601/lightbox/

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

This thread was discussed between 27/10/2011 and 31/10/2011

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