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2002 KJ "Check Oil" light.
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Author:  YJ Nate [ Mon Nov 07, 2011 10:42 am ]
Post subject:  2002 KJ "Check Oil" light.
So, My wife's LIberty was overdue for an oil change. So this past weekend i did both her Liberty and My Cherokee.

Used 10w-30 (if anyone's keeping track) because thats what the owners manual for the Cherokee told me when i was buying oil. Didnt have the manual for the KJ with me. I just went an grabbed the owners manual from Jeep's site, and it says 10w-30 is ok, but 5w-30 is preferred.

So, drained the oil, and not as much as i expected came out.. Like, a lot less. Like i said, it was overdue for a change, but as far as I know it's not leaking, or burning oil.. I noted this as something to keep a closer eye on in the future.

So, i did the rest of the oil change, started it up at the end as i always do, let it run for a few minutes, and checked the oil level. All appeared as expected, motor sounded as it always does. Done.


The next day, my wife took it out on a short trip (15 minutes or so) and about 10 minutes in, the Check Oil light came on, and stayed on. She was almost where she was going, so i had her park it, and told her not to take it anywhere until I could get there to look at it.

I drove over there, and again checked the oil. It looked a tad high. If you look at the dip stick, there's the "safe" region, and an upper and lower line. The oil was about half an inch above the upper line of the safe region on the dip stick.

Ok, so it's a little high. Doesnt make a lot of sense because i put just as much oil as I always do in there (5 qts). It was sitting for a few hours before i got over there to look at it, so it was cold.

I started it up, and let it run for a few minutes. No light. but i only had it running for a bout 5 minutes, and i didnt drive it anywhere.

Checked the oil again after i ran it, and it was a little lower than before, now within the "safe" region.

We drove it home, and sure enough, about 10 minutes in, the light came on again.


So, might it be the weight of the oil i put in it? Might it be that the oil is just a little over full? Or am i dealing with a sensor gremlin? I read a post online somewhere about someone having this exact issue, and it turned out to be the oil pressure sensor... It seems really odd that this would happen right after an oil change though, if it were the sensor.

Ideas?
Author:  Liberty02sport [ Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 2002 KJ "Check Oil" light.
Check the connector to see if any oil is seeping into it on the oil sending unit. My '02did the same thing and the sensor was the problem. Replaced it in less than 20 min. and everything went back to normal. If you unplug it and oil comes out that could be where your missing oil went.
Author:  gtommec [ Mon Nov 07, 2011 2:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 2002 KJ "Check Oil" light.
also just to avoid any confusion the lamp is not a "Check Oil" light. it is a low oil pressure warning lamp.
Author:  YJ Nate [ Mon Nov 07, 2011 10:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 2002 KJ "Check Oil" light.
gtommec wrote:
also just to avoid any confusion the lamp is not a "Check Oil" light. it is a low oil pressure warning lamp.

Ok, sorry for using the wrong terminology. I didn't bother to look it up in the owners manual. Just assumed.


So, if its a Low pressure light..
1. what happens if the pressures too high? :P
2. This might stand to reason. Oil pressure is usually higher when the motor is cold, and then lowers as the engine warms up. So this could be why it's happening after 10 min or so of driving.

Tonight i drained the oil out, and put in some 5w-30 that i had sitting in my cabinet. It didnt help. I started it up and let it idle for a bit and the light came on.

So, this doesn't seem like a sensor problem to me. I mean, sure, its possible. I'd expect a bad sensor to act differently.


I tried to rent an oil pressure guage tonight, see if maybe i could get a useful reading out of this, but no go.

So, is it unsafe to drive? What else should i check? All that's left would be the oil pump, the pickup, and the sensor itself.. Right?

Advance auto wants $50 for the sensor. I'd just replace it if i had the money, but unfortuately its not the best time for that financially. Could be a few weeks until i have the money. Puts my wife out of a car until I can get it fixed though.
Author:  tjkj2002 [ Tue Nov 08, 2011 12:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 2002 KJ "Check Oil" light.
The best way is to actually have the oil pressure tested with a mechanical gauge that screws into the pressure sensor port(in place of the sensor).Those gauges can be had at Napa,Carquest,and harbor frieght for fairly cheap($20-$40).Alos look very closely at the pressure sensor(above the oil filter) for any signs of leakage,unplug it and check for any oil in the connector.Any oil found it may just be a bad sensor as it's known to happen but more then once at my work it has been a leaking/bad sensor and actual low/no oil pressure also so it's always best to confirm you actually have the correct oil pressure first,more so if no leaks found.


Sure $$$ might be tight but $100 now is better then $3000 for a engine next week.
Author:  YJ Nate [ Sun Nov 13, 2011 9:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 2002 KJ "Check Oil" light.
Just an update on the situation.

I mentioned that i'd drained the oil and replaced it with 5w-30. Here's what followed that.

The next day, we had the same issues, the oil light came on more than once, though now it wasnt staying on, it was coming on, it seemed, when the vehicle was warm, and idling, not while the motor was being taxed. And at one point the trans temp light came on? Which was really odd.

After that my wife parked it for 6 hours or so, and then drove it home. On the way home, no lights, no warnings, nothing. And we havent seen one since! We've driven it a few times since then, usually short trips. We havent taken it out for anything long because we're leery about it. Only time will tell i suppose.

Did the change in oil help? Did it take those few little trips the day after to take effect? Or is this really just a dieing sensor?

And wtf is with that trans temp light?!
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