Fiat Pininfarina 2000cc 1984

[Brojab]

Hello I am from San Diego California and I just bought this Fiat. Unfortunately the day after I bought it I went to get it smoged and it lost all oil pressure then died. Had to get it towed to my place then went to try starting it again after another hour and it works but eventually after 10 minutes would die because of the oil pressure. I used a lot of my savings to buy this and I dont have the money right now to fix it. If I cannot get it fixed I will most likely send it to the junk yard.

[18Fiatsandcounting]

... it lost all oil pressure then died. Had to get it towed to my place then went to try starting it again after another hour and it works but eventually after 10 minutes would die because of the oil pressure.

You don't need to send it to the junk yard, and it's possible that it's something fairly easy to fix.

When you say it lost oil pressure, do you mean the oil pressure gauge went to zero, or the low oil pressure warning light came on? I don't know about 1984 models, but there is a "feature" in earlier years where the fuel pump shuts off if the oil pressure gets too low, and of course the engine stops at that point. It's to protect the engine in case it looses oil pressure for whatever reason, and to shut off the fuel pump if the car is in an accident.

The problem is that the oil pressure sensor goes bad over time, and it gives false readings. Sometimes the car will start OK, but then after the engine warms up, the pressure drops (normal) but the flaky sensor gives a bad reading.

I'd start with checking both the pressure gauge sensor and/or the warning light sensor, depending on which you have. It also would be a good idea to change the oil and filter, and since we're in the summer months, use 10W-40 or 15W-40 oil. Maybe even 20W-50 temporarily as this will help keep your oil pressure up.

-Bryan