Idiot light when I brake

[sikbyrd350]

My wife has been using my Legacy since her Miata has been in the shop. We got her Miata today, so as I'm driving the Legacy back from the shop, I notice that if I brake too hard, the oil pressure light comes on. I'm just about 200 mile away from an oil change, is this anything to worry about? I mean worry about more so than just having to do a normal oil change. I have a 99 Legacy L with 111,000 miles on it. Thanks.

[T_F_E]

Oil light does not mean time to change oil, when the oil light comes on you need to get oil in that car now. Having it come on with the brakes seems weird to me though could be something electrical? Check your oil level to to be sure.

[sikbyrd350]

Oil light does not mean time to change oil, when the oil light comes on you need to get oil in that car now. Having it come on with the brakes seems weird to me though could be something electrical? Check your oil level to to be sure.
I'm gonna check the level in the morning because it was pouring and dark when I got home. I agree that it is very strange that it only happens when I brake hard and not all the time.

I do know that the car isn't leaking oil because I check out parking spot twice a day for any stains, or if it is leaking oil, it's burning up on the exhaust or some other hot component because there are no stains.

[T_F_E]

It only occurs when you brake hard though? Not if you just barely trip the brake light switch?

[Huffer]

if you brake hard, you cause fluid to move forward... oil is a fluid.

Much like if you have low gas level and corner hard right, the low light goes out because the fuel level has "risen".

Check oil level and top up as necessary...then get back to us so we know how you got on.

[ScaryFatKidGT]

yea i think huffers got it when your brake the oil is pushed forward slightly and the oil level senser must be near the back

unless breaking is making some electrical thing hit against something and short out?

[kirbyy]

if you brake hard, you cause fluid to move forward... oil is a fluid.

Much like if you have low gas level and corner hard right, the low light goes out because the fuel level has "risen".

Check oil level and top up as necessary...then get back to us so we know how you got on.

Heh, thats what I was gunna say! You beat me to it :smt006 as always lol

[sikbyrd350]

well, I just checked the oil level, and although I've done this hundreds of times before with some degree of accuracy, I'm seriously doubting my skills right now. There was barely any oil on the stick. I'm gonna bring the car the whole 2 blocks away to my mechanic for an oil change today and have him take a look at the sensor.

[Huffer]

He won't be able to look at the sensor without dropping the oil pan.
If the oil level is low, fill it, check for leaks, go for a drive and see what happens.

[decke48]

what it sounds like is when you break hard the oil pump pick up gets some air causing the idiot light to come on.
a couple things can cause this. low oil, or broken baffles in the oil pan
if you fill the oil to the full mark. does this still happen?

[sikbyrd350]

In my morning stupor, I failed to notice that I parked on a fairly steep speedhump in my complex causing the oil to flow to the front of the car. It didn't happen this morning on the way to work, nor did it happen when I dropped the car off to get looked at during my lunch break. I had the shop do the oil change I needed in 200 miles(figured might as well) and took the car out for a drive after work and it hasn't happened since. My guess it that the oil was a little low, and after my wife's hour+ commute yesterday, the old hot oil would just allow air into the pump like decke48 said. After all, stranger things have happened. Thanks for your input everyone

[patrack92314]

ya u are probally low on oil. the light is on after an oil change too until the oil is flowing through th block . so u need to add oil and kick ur self for letting ur car run low on oil

[Plays_with_Toys]

If the light was coming on, I doubt you were "a little low" on oil. For what it's worth, the amount of oil between the low and full marks on your dipstick is one quart. The 2.2's take 4.2 quarts (not sure about 2.5's). So if you don't have any oil on the stick you're more than a quart down on oil.

[sikbyrd350]

ya u are probally low on oil. the light is on after an oil change too until the oil is flowing through th block . so u need to add oil and kick ur wife for letting ur car run low on oil

fixed :grin:

[danci1973]

Do we actually have oil level sensors?

D.

[T_F_E]

I would assume it is an oil pressure light

[decke48]

Do we actually have oil level sensors?

D.

i dont believe subaru has put oil level sensors in any of there prodution cars. just an oil pressure switch