Oil pressure switches leaking and then failing

jaffa · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Karma :

I've had three failures of oil pressure switches on my Monster in 2 years (6000 mils).

The same thing happens each time:

1. The oil light will sometimes have a dim glow, can be seen at night, but still comes on fully when the engine is off and goes out (or very dim) when the engine is started. Oil pressure tests ok with a gauge.

2. Oil starts to leak from the electrical connection on the switch (not the sealing washer or the join between the metal and the plastic but where the cable actually plugs in), very slight at first and gets worse over several hundred miles.

3. Eventually the switch fails & the light stays on (almost) all the time, the pressure still tests ok with a gauge.

My dealer says the switches are at fault but I can't help feeling there's an underlying problem and it's coming up to the end of the warranty.

Anyone has similar issues or know what's causing this.

Thanks.

MattEMulsion · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Karma :

From what you have described it sounds like the switches are badly made and faulty. Other than trying to source an alternative manufactured pressure switch, there is little you can do apart from keep replacing them. With regards to the warranty, if you buy a switch and it fails again within twelve months, then you can take it back and demand a refund/replacement.
____________________
Yamaha YZF-R6

jaffa · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 22 Jan 2005 Karma :

I would agree if it were one or even two switches but I've had three fail and they all came from different sources, the original one fitted to the bike in the factory, one from the local dealer and I also bought one online which I've just replaced with another dealer part.

That seems to rule out a 'bad batch' & they can't all be faulty as I haven't found anyone else with this problem, if it was common surely I'd be able to find something on the web.

Any other theories would be much appreciated.

impaler · Crazy Courier Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Karma :

The back of this month's Bike magazine has a buyers guide for the 748 and one of the things it says is that traditionally they ate oil pressure switches until Ducati started sourcing them for another manufacturer, so perhaps it is just crap design after all?
____________________
Monster m600
Web, blog, Bikepics page
An optimist will tell you the glass is half full. The pessimist, half empty. The engineer will tell you the glass is twice the size it needs to be.