Oil light blinking before ignition??? and cold start issue

[JackPong]

Hello, new here. Been lurking for a while, this forum has been a great help in getting my 1991 Scala (K-jet) into nearly tip top running condition in preparation for my mates 40th birthday trip from Cornwall to Granada and back.

Couple of questions.

Oil light on dashboard has started blinking

turn electrics on. battery light turns on for a few seconds then turns off, coolant light flashes a few times then turns off, oil light used to turn on then go out with batt light. Now it has started blinking and continues to until engine is started, then it turns off.

Car drives fine, oil level is midway between marks. Any idea what might be causing this?

Next

Cold starting is a problem. Guessing its fuel pump related... should the rear pump turn on when electrics turn on or at ignition?

So far: cleaned metering head, gap seems ok. Cleaned throttle body, nice and shiny. Cleaned CSV through with carb cleaner, nice cone, electrics fine. New dizzy cap and rotor arm. New spark plugs. This has improved performance but not cold start.

Thanks
Jack

[Lukeh17]

Hi Jack,

My car does exactly the same as yours and I haven't had any issues with it doing this. As soon as I start the engine the light goes out. I don't think there is a problem to this but wait to see if any of the others know if this is a problem. Hopefully not otherwise with have to work on mine!!!

Cheers

Luke

[mark1gls]

For the fuel pump running when you turn the ignition on it depends on what relay you have fitted, some do some don't.
Mine does not as I've got a VW relay No.62 (I think) the aftermarket ones do prime but they fuel system should not need to prime to start the car.

[JackPong]

Thanks for the replies

Luke, I'm not sure if it's always done this or has just started doing it. Certainly hadn't noticed it before, I might be getting twitchy due to long journey ahead...!

Could someone clarify the behaviour of lights on dash before ignition?

Am I right in thinking the oil light is a low pressure warning?

Mark, thanks for the info, might try bridging relay to see if priming system helps. Car starts on the button once warm. When cold it occasionally fires up then immediately dies and needs turning over several times with some throttle pumping to get going.

Read a lot about this problem, currently working through this guide http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=99852.0

[Tim_R]

Yes, you are correct, it's a low oil pressure light.

The oil light should keep flashing until you start the engine as neither sensor has any oil pressure. Once started the light should go out.