Oil light blinking, what can it be?

Manny if you don't already have it, the 5th gen service manual is here: http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/...onda-vfr-service-manual-optimized-bookmarked/

The manual shows the oil pressure test being made using an inline adaptor plate that fits between the oil filter and the engine.

The oil pressure switch is shown at the bottom of the V, under the throttle bodies.

I have to say based on your symptoms, this does sound a lot like truly low oil pressure, or a switch that has gone bad but still switches at a higher pressure.

 

Cad, thank you so much, this is a huge help. I appreciate it! Lets see if I can get this tested.

 

Does anyone know where I can find the Oil Filter Block Adapter Sandwich Plate locally? I ordered one, but will take forever to get here. Trying to get the pressure tested as per manual:grey:

 

Not sure how tuff it is to get to the pressure switch. If you can get to it easily then put in a manual pressure oil gauge. You might have to put a brass adapter fitting on first.

If you have low oil pressure then you either hurt the main bearings or a good possibility it's the oil pump. Sometimes a piece of dirt will get embedded on the pressure relief seat and hold the ball off the seat a thou or two. Hopefully its the switch. You should have at least 15 to 20lbs pressure at idle.

 

Grey, I hope you are right about some dirt getting embedded. I have been working and haven't had a chance to remove the throttle bodies. I was doing so when I got home and got dark really quick. Question, do I have to do anything to the throttle bodies after I remove them? I got as far as removing the air box. I may go to Honda and see if they have the attachment that goes between the oil filter and motor, before I remove the throttle bodies. I still don't want to believe its the bearings, but then again anything is possible. Bike only has 17,000 miles always has had oil with the right amount. Hoping you are right about the pressure relief valve. If Honda doesn't have the attachment, I will take it to a trust worthy shop and have them take a look at it. I will keep everyone posted. I turned it on just to see if the light would go off, and it blinked a few times, like it was trying to go off, but stayed on, so I turned it off after a minute and a half. Motor sounded good, no funny noises, no smoke, idle was about 1200. We shall see. I still can't believe there is no video out there of someone replacing the switch on a 5th gen VFR. Anyone from Central Texas????:frown:

 

So did you locate the oil pressure switch, have they moved it from where it was fitted on the earlier ones?

 

Norm, where was it located before?I located it on paper, from the Crankcase diagram and the manual, but I still couldn't see it. I believe its far down the right side where the V is. I just couldn't see cause it got dark and my flashlight was not good enough to see. I am sure there has to be an easier way. The crazy thing about this, is how would I test the pressure if the throttle bodies would be off? I figured out how to test the switch, if I can get it out. Here is the diagram. #6

 

Not a particularly good diagram, mine is located right hand side, on the outside, above and to the right of the clutch cover, very easy to get to, just remove the right fairing

 

Norm, wish it was that easy, I was able to locate it. Its behind this bolt. Under the coolant hose. Here are some pictures. I decided to do all the work myself instead of taking it to a shop. Worst case scenario, I buy a motor and drop it in. I am going to video the process so maybe it can help someone else going through the same thing. I will post my videos hoping it will help someone else. It will be learn as I go, so if there is any advice from anyone here, I would appreciate it very much. Crossing fingers its the switch or the pump. Stay tuned.

 

What an absolute bitch to get to, what were they thinking when they designed that

 

Manny,what an absolute bitch to get to, what were they thinking when they designed that. Can you get to the coolant hose screw from behind the mount? If you can get the hose off then you may have to make up a spanner to get the switch out, much better than pulling the motor. Good luck with it

 

That's exactly what I was thinking! Crazy thing about testing the pressure through here is that, after I take everything off, I have to put it back to turn on the bike. :distress: I was hoping someone had an easier way to do it. I went to Honda to buy the attachment that you use to check the pressure and they had to order it. The dealership didn't even have the tool. The guy was going to loan it to me, but no luck there. So I decided to just do it. In the mean time, I have been looking for a motor just incase!
I looked through the forums about some guy who has somewhat similar symptoms, but he never explained how he fixed it or what the results were.

 

Alright guys, I finally got the sandwich adapter plate for the oil pressure gauge. Shouldn't be hard to use. I also did a video that I will load up as soon as I figure out how. So in the process of hooking it up, I put it up in a ramp so the oil would spill as much as I took off the oil filter. Set it all up and turned it on. The oil pressure read about 5 or so, but the red light went off after I turned the bike on. I thought, maybe when I took off the oil filter, I burped the oil system. (Something I read on the internet from Yamaha, Kawi, Cbr) Some had the same issues but cleared it that way. I looked at the gauge and not more than 5psi needle just stood there. I gave it some throttle and the pressure didn't not move much, maybe 2psi. The red light did not come back on. Man I am confused. So I thought, let me unhook everything off and put it back the way it was. So I did, I also realized that I may have had too much oil. I swear I had check it. This time I triple checked. So much that I decided to be a little lower than the top line mark. I turned the key to on, red light on, then I turned it on, and the red light went off. Never came back on, on idle. So I took it for a ride. Worked great no light, until it flash once between 4000rpm and 3000 rpm for a second then went away. I cruised on third gear at 4000 rpm and no light, I took it to 6000rpm no light....as soon as I shifted down through 4000rpm and down to 3000rpm the light flashed again then went away. I took it home and parked it. It idled and no light on. I let it warm up to 220, that's when I would see the light flicker just a bit, but then would not come back on. I am thinking of checking the pressure again. I must have been doing something wrong. I was told if its the main bearings the light would be on at idle. I am thinking its a switch going bad, or the screen pick up might have something to do with it. I will do some more testing tomorrow. I have videos of everything, I will try to edit some of it and see if I can get it on here. If this attachment sandwich plate doesn't work, I will have to go the other route. Through the switch. That's going to be a pain. I feel like it might be the switch or wire. Any thoughts anyone? I will try to post some pics later tonight. As of right now, the red light turns off when I turn it on and it idles.

 

Manny not good, the 2 things are verifying each other, light is telling you low pressure, gauge is telling you the same thing, the pressure switch is probably set to go out at about 5psi and that is the sort of pressure the gauge is telling you that is there, blocked/restricted pickup could be a cause

 

You need to stop running the engine and check the pump, relief, and pick up. This is a very rare issue and the problem should be very obvious. Do not run the engine further.

 

Norm, wouldn't the red light be on at idle if it had low pressure? I think I didn't let it warm up to 176. However, I believe you are right about the switch and possibly blockage. I am going to wake up early tomorrow and try everything again, except I am going to test the pressure where the switch is. It's going to be aN interesting day. This will give me a chance to test the switch and also the pressure. This will give me a piece of mind. If the pressure is good, God willing, then I do have a new switch for it to install. Then all I have left is to check the pick up and the old pump and relieve valve.
I will be recording this on video. Crossing my fingers, I was excited when I saw the light go off, until I tested it around the neighborhood.

 

I agree Toe, I am going to go through everything tomorrow morning. I bought the switch, and relief valve just incase. Crossing my fingers. I am editing the video so I can upload it. Hope it will help paint this usual situation.

 

You are welcome to bring the bike over, with beer, and we can dig into it together. I am very curious what has gone wrong.

 

I would take you up on it if I lived in Cali! I would bring a keg! :drinker:

 

For gods sake man, stop running the engine, drop the sump and check the oil pickup screen, relief valve, and strip
the oil pump to look for obvious reasons for the pressure to be low.

Running the engine like that is the same as making a patient having a heart attack run laps around the block to see if they will arrest.

Maybe it's different in the US but I was taught never run an engine with a possible oil pressure problem until you had found and corrected the cause.