Hi all, shortly after purchasing a used 2005 Santa Fe 2.7L with 159K miles, the Red low oil pressure light began coming on at idle. Would go away with higher rpm's. Checked the oil level of course, and it was in the middle of the range on the dipstick so not a low oil level issue. Since I had just purchased it a few weeks earlier, I decided to do an oil change. It's August in NC when I did this, outside temps in the upper 90's, so I used 10W40 thinking a slightly heavier oil would help given the high outside temperatures. After about 15 minutes of driving it came on again. To confirm it was indeed low oil pressure, I placed a gauge in place of the oil pressure sending unit. The dealer told me it should idle at 30-40psi. I was getting 30 psi on a lukewarm engine, but as it idled and engine got hotter, it dropped to about 12 psi. I bought a replacement sending unit anyway, but the pressure gauge confirmed that oil pressure was low. The dealer also recommended checking the oil Pickup tube in the oil pan. So, dropped the oil pan. Oil pickup tube and strainer looked good-no blockage to keep oil from circulating. Refilled with fresh oil and filter and then had an AHA! moment. Almost all cars now have 2 cooling fans behind the radiator. One comes on whenever AC is on, the other as needed when the coolant rises to a certain temp.. Initially I could only see one fan, on the driver side of the radiator (sucks air through). Later I discovered fan #2 on the passenger side, but IN FRONT of the radiator (pushes air through). turns out that fan was ok, the AC cooling fan. BUT, the engine cooling fan (driver side of radiator) was NOT coming on. I discovered the terminals on inside of the connector had melted much of the plastic internally(See Pictures) After some testing, I discovered the fan itself worked, but was not getting electricity. Found out Hyundai makes a replacement electrical connector for this fan available at the dealer for about $10. After installing new connector, the engine cooling fan works like it should, and oil pressure is now ok. So moral of the story is, if you're getting a low oil pressure light, and your oil level is ok, check that fan connector too.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
click to see larger images
Hi all, shortly after purchasing a used 2005 Santa Fe 2.7L with 159K miles, the Red low oil pressure light began coming on at idle. Would go away with higher rpm's. Checked the oil level of course, and it was in the middle of the range on the dipstick so not a low oil level issue. Since I had just purchased it a few weeks earlier, I decided to do an oil change. It's August in NC when I did this, outside temps in the upper 90's, so I used 10W40 thinking a slightly heavier oil would help given the high outside temperatures. After about 15 minutes of driving it came on again. To confirm it was indeed low oil pressure, I placed a gauge in place of the oil pressure sending unit. The dealer told me it should idle at 30-40psi. I was getting 30 psi on a lukewarm engine, but as it idled and engine got hotter, it dropped to about 12 psi. I bought a replacement sending unit anyway, but the pressure gauge confirmed that oil pressure was low. The dealer also recommended checking the oil Pickup tube in the oil pan. So, dropped the oil pan. Oil pickup tube and strainer looked good-no blockage to keep oil from circulating. Refilled with fresh oil and filter and then had an AHA! moment. Almost all cars now have 2 cooling fans behind the radiator. One comes on whenever AC is on, the other as needed when the coolant rises to a certain temp.. Initially I could only see one fan, on the driver side of the radiator (sucks air through). Later I discovered fan #2 on the passenger side, but IN FRONT of the radiator (pushes air through). turns out that fan was ok, the AC cooling fan. BUT, the engine cooling fan (driver side of radiator) was NOT coming on. I discovered the terminals on inside of the connector had melted much of the plastic internally(See Pictures) After some testing, I discovered the fan itself worked, but was not getting electricity. Found out Hyundai makes a replacement electrical connector for this fan available at the dealer for about $10. After installing new connector, the engine cooling fan works like it should, and oil pressure is now ok. So moral of the story is, if you're getting a low oil pressure light, and your oil level is ok, check that fan connector too.
- John S., Holly Springs, NC, US