03 Pilot - Oil Light

While driving to work, my wife noticed the oil light flashing on our 03
Pilot with 64k . So, she stopped and checked the oil level and it was
full -- a recent oil change. So, she tried a restart, but the engine would
not turn over. The car was towed to the dealer.

I could only think that -- given a full oil level -- the oil pump had failed
or a sensor was bad. The problem -- a dead cell in a Honda battery which
was only 23 months old. Covered under warranty.

 

Hi,
Could not start = won't crank? In hot climate batteries fail more that
up here in North. Heat is worse for battery than cold.

 

My guess:
A dead cell would cause a voltage drop. Sufficient reduction would cause a
corresponding voltage drop at the oil pressure sensor, which the ECM
probably interpreted as a momentary low oil pressure.

When your oil light flashes (as opposed to simply illuminating), this means
the oil pressure dropped momentarily, then recovered.

Your wife was extremely wise to immediately stop and check the oil level.
Many people would't have been as diligent.

 

In the old days, cars I had were equiped with ameters and oil pressure
guages. You knew what you had.