Electronic interference with warning lights

[Stomps]

Hey,

Got a bit of a strange issue.. i've never had this happen before and never heard of it happening before either..

I was driving my celsior down Roe Hwy in Perth the other day heading towards a mates place.. got near his offramp and noticed my oil light came on... it stayed of for about 10 secs then switched off.. i got to his place and checked oil etc.. all sweet.. just had a fresh oil change not too long ago..

Then the next day, driving down the same stretch of Roe Hwy, just before getting to his offramp, oil light comes on... stays on for 10 secs ish then off again...

Again, yesterday.. same bit of road, light on for about 8 secs... (i was going faster) then off..

There is nothing special about the bit of road, not uphill, not a sharp bend or long sweeping corner.. so basically nothing that would cause the oil pressure to actually drop..


What is different is that there is a large amount of power lines near that bit of road and a power substation.... as well as some sort of tower for a nearby commercial airport...

There is nowhere else in Perth that i have driven which has caused this, under the same driving conditions..

what i want to know is: is it possible for anything like this to cause interference with the cars sensors... has anyone heard of this happening before or had it happen...

WTF??

cheers

Stomps

[river]

Hi,

The only way an external interference could affect your warning lights is if the external source was belting out a lot of power - especially considering your warning lights are hard-wired and earthed.

If this is indeed the case, where the tower (I'd assume that to be more of the culprit than HT wires) is pumping out quite a few watts of power in whatever waveband, and it is affecting your warning lgihts, then I'd dare say there'd be a lot more "lighting up" going on in your brain.

I strongly suggest that if you frequent this piece of road that you wear a hat made out of alfoil (or put a steel saucepan over your head) and connect it via a jumper cable to the chassis of your car. Perhaps also, as added security and to dissipate any excess energy from the tower, that you also place a light bulb in your mouth. It will glow when the radiated energy from the tower strikes you, but will quickly drain away by illuminating the bulb.

seeyuzz
river

[Stomps]

yeah it sounds strange i know.. there is nothing else i can think of that can explain it.

it may not be sensors themselves but my dash... its pretty dodgy..

in either case... its got me fucked..

stomps

[Stomps]

Hi,

The only way an external interference could affect your warning lights is if the external source was belting out a lot of power - especially considering your warning lights are hard-wired and earthed.

If this is indeed the case, where the tower (I'd assume that to be more of the culprit than HT wires) is pumping out quite a few watts of power in whatever waveband, and it is affecting your warning lgihts, then I'd dare say there'd be a lot more "lighting up" going on in your brain.

I strongly suggest that if you frequent this piece of road that you wear a hat made out of alfoil (or put a steel saucepan over your head) and connect it via a jumper cable to the chassis of your car. Perhaps also, as added security and to dissipate any excess energy from the tower, that you also place a light bulb in your mouth. It will glow when the radiated energy from the tower strikes you, but will quickly drain away by illuminating the bulb.
seeyuzz
river

dont worry, i wear an armadillo helmet when driving in that area..

Stomps

[MWP]

Maybe your oil pressure is borderline?
Oil pump might be on the way out?

[Stomps]

why would it only happen in one place in perth though?

i drive about 20k's to work each day.. same driving conditions.. only when i use that bit of road that it happens.. its like clockwork.. i can predict when it will come on...

Stomps

[river]

Hi,

Well... if it is in the same spot then it must be aliens?

Here is a pic of one taken... possibly near where you drive each day...



seeyuzz
river

[Stomps]

i knew it.. bastards.. as long as they keep their probe away from me its all good..

i should report your posts as this is the tech section and everything in here is serious business

maybe i should write in..


Stomps

[river]

Hi,

i should report your posts as this is the tech section and everything in here is serious business

You're right. I'll send a robust PM to river.

seeyuzz
river

[oldcorollas]

try atopping along that section of road, and see if light stays on.. seems logical way to sort it

oh and take a fluoro tube with you, see if it also lights up

[Stomps]

try atopping along that section of road, and see if light stays on.. seems logical way to sort it

oh and take a fluoro tube with you, see if it also lights up

yeah.. ill have to give it a shot.. problem is the last few times i've driven there i've been in a hurry...

Stomps

[andrew_mx83]

try taking the armadillo hat off and see if ur eyes light up like the oil light.

if they do then clearly u need a 'dillo dash mat

[PlacentaJuan]

if the oil level/pressure is borderline then a slight signal interferrance is more likely to be able to push it over the 'trip point' for turning on the warning light.

try stopping at that section of road (is possible) and letting the car idle and see if the light stays on.

also get an oil pressure guage?

like river said you would need a lot of energy to send a false signal through the wiring, but depending on how the sensor works, its condition etc, a small amount of interference might be enough to set the sensor into its 'low pressure' mode.

try changing the sensor also that might be easier.

[Mr Ed]

+1 get a gauge.

[CrUZida]

Stomps, is it the oil LEVEL light (orange), or oil PRESSURE light (red).

If its the level light, that is magnetically operated I believe, which could go some way to explaining it.