About Joe Peppe Expertise Answers all automotive paint questions. Can't answer why most body shop managers are related to the devil. No Mechanic questions, please... i do not know mechanic answers.
Experience 1)Experience as autopaint expert - 20 years
2)Extensive training and paint certifications in PPG, DuPont, Sikkins, Diamont/Glasurit, Spies Hecker...stay away from cheap paint like the plague but do like Transtar Clear for some commercial apps
3)Awards and Honors: over 100 national car show paint trophies and awards
4)Past/Present Clients: Rich and Famous and not so rich and famous as long as have rich and famous accident insurance.
Expert: Joe Peppe Date: 4/21/2008 Subject: 2004 Santa Fe indicator light
Question I had a minor fender bender a couple weeks ago. Car is coming upon 3K mile service time. Since wreck, oil indicator light flickers off and on, dimly, then stronger red, then stays on, then cuts off. The engine oil and tranny oil levels and colors are normal. I am thinking something has jarred loose, but I am not sure. Please advise?
Answer I signed up on this website as an auto paint expert so the oil light is out of my knowledge base. However oil light indicator is definitely something you need to investigate SOON or you may find yourself purchasing a new engine! Oil normal color around 2800-2900 miles sounds too good to be true. Is it still transparent? I would start by changing oil immediately and ask for a better quality oil than last time. Who did it for you last time?
My paint expert advise is go to your local Hyundai dealer and ask the service advisor what you told me, letting him change your oil instead of Rocket-Lube or somebody else with kids changing oil of dubious quality. Perhaps he would advise an engine flush,(around $100.00 or so), which may or may not help and if your oil is still clear after 3k dosn't sound like the problem. If oil light keeps coming on after your hyundai service then your service advisor is more knowledgeably involved in the mystery. Oil flush is something he may likely have to do to figure out the problem anyway but i am not sure and he gets paid to figure out stuff like this all the time. I am thinking the dealer may have some measuring tool/device to see if your oil pump is working normally.
Working on wrecked cars for 20 years i have seen lottsa other problems develop. I am not sure if oil pumps or their connections get jarred loose but since cars are not really built to withstand wrecks... anything is possible or it could be coincidence. The important thing is take your Santa Fe in to check it out as soon as possible.
Joe
