[VolleyChick]

Just started today when I was putting the brakes on to stop. When I started up again it was off and stayed off as long as I was moving. Once I put on the brakes or sit and idle it starts flashing. Any ideas? Thanks for any help!

 

[Hammerhead]

Low oil , bad sending unit, low oil pressure.

 

[VolleyChick]

Low oil , bad sending unit, low oil pressure.

Thanks, I will check the oil tomorrow in the daylight - and hope its low. The other options sound like a dealer trip.

 

[Joemsj51]

Thanks, I will check the oil tomorrow in the daylight - and hope its low. The other options sound like a dealer trip.

Hoping to see it low could send you to the dealer also.

Why aren't you checking your oil level regularly? Pull the dipstick every 500 miles.
I hope this isn't the beginning of the end, for your engine. Your engine will die quickly, if constantly low on oil.

When run low, the four cylinder engine models are very sensitive and finicky. Change that oil with 5w30 every 4k. If yours is the 1.6 engine, use 5w40 oil.

 

[bwdz75]

By the time you see the oil light flicker a few times unfortunately you probably killed it by running it low on oil and losing oil pressure. Do not start it without checking the oil and if you add some get some thick 10w40 and I hope it lives for you.

 

[RickM46]

Sad story: A lady co-worker of mine bought a new Toyota Corolla; never checked the oil; never had it changed; didn't know that checking/changing the oil was necessary; ignored the oil light; ran it empty; surprisingly got 30K miles on it before it seized; thought adding oil would cure the problem; too late for molten metal; wound up buying an engine from a wreck at a junkyard and had it installed to the tune of $3000+; after that, changed the oil every 3000 miles.

 

[Kerig3]

Sad story: A lady co-worker of mine bought a new Toyota Corolla; never checked the oil; never had it changed; didn't know that checking/changing the oil was necessary; ignored the oil light; ran it empty; surprisingly got 30K miles on it before it seized; thought adding oil would cure the problem; too late for molten metal; wound up buying an engine from a wreck at a junkyard and had it installed to the tune of $3000+; after that, changed the oil every 3000 miles.

Did she first blame Toyota? 😉

 

[VolleyChick]

Hoping to see it low could send you to the dealer also.

Why aren't you checking your oil level regularly? Pull the dipstick every 500 miles.
I hope this isn't the beginning of the end, for your engine. Your engine will die quickly, if constantly low on oil.

When run low, the four cylinder engine models are very sensitive and finicky. Change that oil with 5w30 every 4k. If yours is the 1.6 engine, use 5w40 oil.

Actually I had no idea I was supposed to check my oil every 500 miles, I was never told that, but I certainly can do it.

 

[VolleyChick]

Sad story: A lady co-worker of mine bought a new Toyota Corolla; never checked the oil; never had it changed; didn't know that checking/changing the oil was necessary; ignored the oil light; ran it empty; surprisingly got 30K miles on it before it seized; thought adding oil would cure the problem; too late for molten metal; wound up buying an engine from a wreck at a junkyard and had it installed to the tune of $3000+; after that, changed the oil every 3000 miles.

I change my oil as recommended, sorry for your co-worker.

 

[VolleyChick]

By the time you see the oil light flicker a few times unfortunately you probably killed it by running it low on oil and losing oil pressure. Do not start it without checking the oil and if you add some get some thick 10w40 and I hope it lives for you.

Yeah, no. I didn't kill my car because the oil was low.

 

[VolleyChick]

Wow, you guys are a tough crowd, I take good care of my car and not one response was even close to what the actual problem was.

 

[RickM46]

Didn't mean to be so hard on you - folks just trying to help. Just to level set the discussion, have you pulled the dipstick to check the oil level?

 

[Kerig3]

Wow, you guys are a tough crowd, I take good care of my car and not one response was even close to what the actual problem was.

These forums tend to attract many less-than-transparent new members who only use these forums to air their grievances, and when pressed with serious questions about the car's history beyond their ranting, they usually never return. These forums are full of threads started by these so-called "one-and-done" members. It's nothing personal. 😉

 

[Ohgood]

Just started today when I was putting the brakes on to stop. When I started up again it was off and stayed off as long as I was moving. Once I put on the brakes or sit and idle it starts flashing. Any ideas? Thanks for any help!

that's an oil PRESSURE light, not volume.

in other words, your engine is toast

 

[eGAK009]

Actually I had no idea I was supposed to check my oil every 500 miles, I was never told that, but I certainly can do it.

Look in your Owner's Manual, under required owner maintenance. Requires checking the engine oil level every gas fill up, or about every 300 miles.

 

[Joemsj51]

These forums tend to attract many less-than-transparent new members who only use these forums to air their grievances, and when pressed with serious questions about the car's history beyond their ranting, they usually never return. These forums are full of threads started by these so-called "one-and-done" members. It's nothing personal. 😉

Thumbs-up

 

[Mopar1969kr]

Just started today when I was putting the brakes on to stop. When I started up again it was off and stayed off as long as I was moving. Once I put on the brakes or sit and idle it starts flashing. Any ideas? Thanks for any help!

If you havent got an answer yet for this you can try what fixed mine. I have a 2009 rio with the 1.6, this is my work car and racks up miles quickly so i decided to go cheap on oil filters, that was a bad idea. Normally i used fram and had a pretty intermittant flickering oil light at idle. This is only after the engine is fully warmed up and was really random. I just tried a cheap walmart "supertech" filter (got a bunch cheap at a discount store) anyway, started car and was fine until engine warmed up then would have the flickering light at idle almost constantly. I tried oil pressure sensor as well but had the same results. I put on a "wix" filter and issue went away immediately. If you change your own oil or have it done somewhere i would try this brand of filter first (about $11 at oreilly auto). Pretty cheap test to see if it fixes your issue.

 

[GeoSoul]

If you havent got an answer yet for this you can try what fixed mine. I have a 2009 rio with the 1.6, this is my work car and racks up miles quickly so i decided to go cheap on oil filters, that was a bad idea. Normally i used fram and had a pretty intermittant flickering oil light at idle. This is only after the engine is fully warmed up and was really random. I just tried a cheap walmart "supertech" filter (got a bunch cheap at a discount store) anyway, started car and was fine until engine warmed up then would have the flickering light at idle almost constantly. I tried oil pressure sensor as well but had the same results. I put on a "wix" filter and issue went away immediately. If you change your own oil or have it done somewhere i would try this brand of filter first (about $11 at oreilly auto). Pretty cheap test to see if it fixes your issue.

Or just buy an OEM filter calibrated to the correct oil flow rate & equipped with correct pressure valve. They are cheap and using them can possibly make a warranty claim easier.

 

[RickM46]

I ALWAYS use an OEM filter on my engines - from my John Deere to my Soul to my Nissan Frontier and on every vehicle I have owned; well worth the extra $; no worries.

 

[CDawgKiaBuoy]

Please Volleychick, tell us what it was.