Oil pressure

[Trainer6]

I have an oil light on in my GS 550 L and I would like to know what steps to figure out the problem. I hear it could be the light, the sending unit or the pump. The manuals I have show where to find the pump, remove it and check it out, that is all.

Thanks

[hampshirehog]

I would check that the lead isn't earthing before doing anything else. These are low pressure systems and almost never go wrong.

[tkent02]

Engine running too hot due to tuning issues, very thin oil or a very low idle will cause the light to flicker at idle, is yours flickering at idle or on all the time? Is it temperature related? RPM related? If it's on all the time it's likely a wiring thing or perhaps the gear that drives the oil pump is broken. I have a DRZ400 parts bike here which failed when a broken piece of a shift fork got caught in the oil pump gear and broke it.

I guess you need to describe your oil light's action a little more.

[Steve]

I would check that the lead isn't earthing before doing anything else. These are low pressure systems and almost never go wrong.

Actually, the '83 550 is one of the few that has a HIGH-pressure system.

If you have a manual that tells you how to remove the pump, it should also tell you how to check the pressure.
Then you can tell if it's actually the pressure or something with the electrical side.

.

[hampshirehog]

Actually, the '83 550 is one of the few that has a HIGH-pressure system.

If you have a manual that tells you how to remove the pump, it should also tell you how to check the pressure.
Then you can tell if it's actually the pressure or something with the electrical side.

.

My bad. I didn't spot his signature and you are correct Steve.

[Trainer6]

I would check that the lead isn't earthing before doing anything else. These are low pressure systems and almost never go wrong.

Not knowing what I was looking for. I traced a single wire down to a sensor on the oil filter cover. If I disconnect that wire, the oil light will not come on. So now I will have to determine if it is the sensor that is malfunctioning or something else.
When the oil light is on, it is on from from start in the morning. And it is steady on. It does not flicker.

[tkent02]

Well if it had zero oil pressure you would have other problems by now, so it's probably something in the sender itself shorting it out inside. The one you have is more like a car's sensor, more likely to fail.

The ones up behind the cylinders don't fail much, they just spring leaks.

[Trainer6]

I can't tell about the engine running too hot at this moment. I know the light come on pre warm up and does not go out. The light is steady on, does not flicker. The oil and filter is new and proper oil was put in. The clutch was just done recently so the gears inside for the pump "appeared" intact. I had that clutch apart several times because it was my first time so I got a good look at all those innards.

[Trainer6]

Ok that is excellent news. So I will likely have to find a new sensor.

[Trainer6]

If there is anything that puts a damper on buying parts online is shipping. I can find used sensors, which I am not too happy about getting used, but the shipping is more than the part.

[tkent02]

Suzuki sells them.

[Steve]

Suzuki sells them.

Part number 37820-33D10, cost is $22.26 from Parts Outlaw. (Item #16 on the diagram)

They normally have a flat-rate shipping charge of $9.99, but that might be to the "lower 48" only, not sure what it will take to get it to you.

That is also a rather generic switch, looks a LOT like the one I had in my '74 Toyota Corolla.
Might look at your local Queen's Auto Parts to see what you can find there.

.

[tkent02]

I'm thinking the thread looks the same on most any Japanese or European car, but fitting it into the space provided might be tight.

[Trainer6]

This has been very helpful guys. I was able to track down a couple other wiring issues at the same time. Sometimes it is difficult to find problems because the wiring is so tightly packed.