hello folks,
the jetta was put in the shop 11 days ago to have the oil pump or the sensor replaced in addition to front wheel bearings and hub rotor. prior to car going in oil pressure alarm/light would go off unless i was @ or above 3200rpm & i would experience a slight loss of power. was told by shop mechanic that the oil pump was holding pressure and didn't recommend replacing. when i suggested the sensor he acted enlightened! he later informed me that the oil sending unit was the culprit and that he would change the oil when he replaces the unit. so, 10mins after my brother left the shop today he said the alarm/ light went off again but once he reached 2400rpm everything was fine. when we arrived at home a few miles later, i called the shop to speak to the mechanic. to no surprise he was baffled. he said that he "drove the car for fourty miles and nothing came on", then reassured me that the pump was holding great pressure and that the sensor was not cleaned but replaced. he stated that maybe a wire is "touching somewhere" and that he would take care of it first thing monday and that i "would not have any problems driving it until them". afterwards i wanted to drive it hard on the interstate to see how it would respond. i drove 80-85mph for 2mi, once i reached the exit ramp i let off the accelerator and the oil pressure light & alarm go off yet again and stayed on the entire 2mi back home. this time atleast there is no loss of power. i inspected the oil filter and it appears to be the old one. i also inspected the oil on dipstick and it doesn't appear to be new oil. i know that oil remains in the engine after a change and is mixed with new but the oil is a deep brown color and it doesn't have that just changed feel to it. anyway, tonight i wanted to take it out again but this time i let the car warm-up first which seemed to help. i drove it for approximately 4mi in stop & go traffic and the alarm/light only went off, once around the 1800-2000rpm range.
after laying out 780.00 for the parts and labor, i am not a happy camper right now but i'm not ready to label the garage crooks either. i would really appreciate any input from those smarter than myself so i can be better informed when i go back to the shop.
thanks.