Modern Vespa

My 1week old 2008 GTS has an... interesting... quirk:

When the key is turned to the "on" position, the electronics do their normal system check. All sensor lights come on and then turn off... except for the oil pressure light, which remains on. However, the oil pressure light turns off immediately when the engine is started. This does not happen all of the time (i.e. sometimes the oil pressure light turns off with the others following the system check, before I start the engine). The oil level is not low.

Is it normal for the oil pressure light to remain on after the electronics finish their routine system check? Should I suspect a short or possibly faulty pressure sensor? A local dealer told me that this behavior is completely normal, but the fact that it is intermittent makes me doubt them. I love the scoot, and don't want to unneccesarily part with it for a week (or more) as a victim of high demand on San Diego area Vespa dealers/service departments. However, oil pressure issues are not something to mess around with. Any advice? Anyone else have this issue?

the oil light should remain on, after the ignition key is turned to on, until the engine is started and then should go out shortly after the engine fires over

I just went out and checked mine since I couldn't remember. The oil stayed after the other lights turned off, then turned off a few seconds after starting.

This part, if true, is actually a problem.

Your oil pressure light should not, repeat not, turn off if the engine is not running.

Damn right. Always check the oil pressure light turns on with ignition - it is a bulb check, so that IF it should come on when riding due to a fault, the likelyhood is that it actually will, thus warning you to stop immediately and investigate.

post deleted by Salima

Thank you all.

I'll have the dealer check the electronics to ensure that the oil pressure light remains on until the engine starts.

Could your oil be TOO full? I assume the oil filter is the original, genuine Piaggio one since the bike is new. I'm thinking the oil may be too full.

What does full have to do with it? The light is sensitive to oil pressure, not oil level. The exception would be if you had no oil, then there would be no pressure.

This is perfectly normal if you understand how the oil pressure sensor and or light works. The oil pressure is monitored and indicated to be low when the light is on. So when the engine is not running, like when the ignition is first turn on, the red light will stay on. Once the engine is started then the oil pressure will obviously build up as the oil pump starts to work by pumping the vital oil throughout the engine. Then the light will go out.

So I would only be concerned if the oil light comes on intermittently as the engine is running. Because either your oil level is so low that the oil is not being picked up from the engine sump for re-circulation through the engine or you have a faulty oil pressure sensor (highly unlikely though). This is true for your car, motorcycle etc. Don't worry... just ride it. Timothy

It does the same thing on a car. If I don't start my car the other lights go off, but the oil pressure light stays on. It's telling you that you have no oil pressure.

As several people have stated, it is doing its job.

or:
- leak somewhere in the circuit before the sensor, even possibly after it
- oil pump is faulty

if the red light goes off with ignition on and motor off, then something is wrong. If this happens intermittently, it will be tough to diagnose and fix.

Try to find a pattern for when it happens (ambient temperature, engine temp. , position of scooter (center or sidestand?) etc.). Good luck.

Key ON and Engine OFF - Light should be ON

Key ON and Engine ON - Light should be OFF

If the Oil Light comes on while the engine is running - chances are certain that your oil level is low. Check it 2-3 minutes after shutting the engine off, while on the centre stand on a flat surface. Should be close to the high fill mark.

99% chance your oil is low
1% chance that it's a sensor or wiring fault, or your oil pump has an issue.

Well if it's too full, could leave some residual pressure in the lubrication circuit (oil circuit, not light circuit) which is also why I asked about the filter ( off brand filters can cause some odd reads....s because they lack certain by-pass valves etc.

Just throwing it out there, OP asked for opinions, and overfull isn't much better than underfull. Otherwise, ride it and don't worry about it as others have suggested as you have warranty.

Maybe you are looking at the engine check light instead of engine oil pressure light.

At my first scheduled service, the dealer diagnosed the problem as a loose wire connection within an hour, and fixed it.

I know we aren't supposed to dealer-bash or -praise here at MV, so I'll send out props to the service crew at hypothetical "Schmoceanside Vespa" for their excellent and rapid work on this problem.

So where was the loose wire connection so the rest of us can check ours?

At the oil pressure switch, perhaps...?

I unfortunately didn't ask whether the loose connection was at the light or the switch. Sorry.

Hi All,
Today I had the same problem with my GTS that dmills had several years ago, the oil pressure light would not always illuminate with ignition on / engine off. The connection on the oil pressure sensor was quite loose, and with the ignition on / engine off I could make the light blink on or off by touching the wire on the sensor. The fix was to gently tighten the "push on" type connector with pliers. Just for good measure I put some "bulb grease" on the connection to prevent moisture problems on such an exposed connection as this one.

The sensor looks like a spark plug, visible just forward of the water pump. You must depress a llittle tab on the connector to remove it from the sensor. The connector made a tight fit when, viewed from the end, it looked like a rectangle and not a trapezoid.

The connector is in a location where it might get strained in some kind of service.

Very important. The check engine oil light is not one to be messed with. I speak from experience although my problem was that it was coming on while riding. Old problem and easy fix and logging onto MV: It was the sesor sending unit that was bad. I am intriged with your problem. Please keep us updated.

Yeah, mine had a loose connection at the sensor, so that sometimes the oil pressure light would come on when I turned the key on, and sometimes it wouldn't. When I started the bike though, the oil pressure light would flash on, then go off. That told me there was a loose connection, which made the light come on when the engine started vibrating. Once I wiggled and pushed the connector to make sure it was on all the way, it stopped flaking out on me.