STOP! Oil pressure low

Asked by Nicole Apr 18, 2015 at 08:06 PM about the 2004 Volkswagen Passat

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Our 2004 VW passat keeps saying STOP!
Oil pressure low! We've had this looked at
multiple times and the mechanics can't find
any reason for the cause of this. They have
replaced a few things and it runs great for
about a week and then we get STOP! It's
very frustrating to have tor car in the shop
once a week/2weeks!!! The car has the
correct amount of oil in it. Why can't we find
the problem??

11 Answers

143,545

I can only assume they did a pressure check on the engine,that being said,if it is low oil pressure,then it will be a bad oil pump or internal engine problem,i would thing if it was low oil pressure they would have allready replaced the oil pump,but of this has been done,you may have internal engine problems,

11 people found this helpful.
4,385

This car probably has not had the correct specification oil used in it. An oil pressure check will show low oil pressure. The oil pan must be removed to inspect the oil pickup tube, which will be plugged with "sludge". Keep an eye for nylon pieces from the cam chain tensioner too; if present the valve cover will also have to be removed to inspect for cam tensioner damage. After this repair be sure to use oil that meets VW specification 502/505. You need to take care of this or the engine will become ruined as its being starved for oil.

24 people found this helpful.
120

Hey Nicole, Im having the same issue! Did you fix it ? Did you know what was the cause ?

12 people found this helpful.
140

I have a 2005 VW Passat Wagon B5 Edition. And I've come across this issue also. I've possibly found the answer... It's a failing Cam Tension Adjuster. When the engine is loosing it's timing, this is one of the errors that it can come up with. Ordereuroparts.com is where I'm getting the part, including the valve cover gasket and tensioner seal. And im getting a local foreign car shop to put it in. Total: $650 parts + $650 Labor = $1300 (Love It - The dealership was saying $2500 ($1300 same part + $1200 same labor)

14 people found this helpful.
190

Is it accompanied by check engine light with the code for vacuum leak?? My Passat had a blown out pcv valve, so the turbo was pressurizing the crankcase and blowing oil away from the suction strainer, causing the oil pump to pull air bubbles. I replaced the PCV, had Jiffy Lube perform a 5 minute oil system flush and haven’t had an issue for over 6 months now.

19 people found this helpful.
140

I bought a 2010 passsat Komfort with 125;000 miles on it. Once I fixed the oil leaks by resealing the oil pan; resealing the timing cover and the turbo flange the low pressure light would come on after 15 min. of driving and when the rpms was about 1500 which was a slow down to stop or slow traffic on the freeway. I replace the oil pressure switch with a part from autozone. The problem persisted. I the put in an ORM part along with a new pcv valve. Problem solved

14 people found this helpful.
200

My passat is doing the same thing- i have an aftermarket oil pressure switch screwed in the block. It is a one wire harness. I am not sure whether the circuit is always open, until low pressure closes the switch, or vice versa. I have replaced the oil pump and found no sludge on the pickup screen. I checked oil pressure and found 60 pounds, so I am not worried about oil starvation. It is just annoying to have another bliniking light and beepers going off. I am going to try disconnecting the harness to the switch and run it for a while. If it is a normally open circuit, then I will have solved the problem. And probably leave it unplugged for now.

12 people found this helpful.
50

I have 2001 Vw passat that's had similar issues it is at the point right now its sitting and it will not turn over at all, when trying to turn the key over it just clicks. I've been told this may be a starter problem.. I'd really like to make sure before having the starter replaced when it was running before I turned it off and it would not restart the STOP Engine low pressure light beeped and blinked. Could this be an oil pressure sensor issue or is that too simple for the problem I'm having is what I'd like to know. If you find a solution please post and let us know

5 people found this helpful.
50

Might be a head gasket, if it's leaking oil back into the oil pan it wouldn't show any signs. Listen carefully to your turbo it will likely be the first casualty of low oil pressure. Then the chain tensioner will begin to make a noise like a muffled chain saw hitting the inside wall of the engine.

3 people found this helpful.
50

@Cjw1995 Starters that are failing can be tested by hitting them, the gears get stuck when worn so if you wack them and then try to start it loosens up the gears. An oil pressure sensor shouldn't prevent you from starting your car. Be aware complete loss of oil pressure can seize an engine quickly.

2 people found this helpful.
10

If pressure has been checked and present. Likely the pressure sensor is bad...

1 people found this helpful.

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