[QUOTE="Robert"] - I have a 1982 Yamaha XJ650 Maxim. The oil level light came on an won't go off! The oil level is ok, and this happened after the bike was parked. Didn't come on while riding. I wasn't able to turn up any info in my repair manual as far as checking the circuit. Question is....should I replace the oil pump and/or oil level switch and assume that will solve the problem?- The oil pump is not the problem when the oil _level_ light comes on. - Could it be some wiring problem?- Theoretically, yes, but the oil level sensor Yamaha used in the eighties is fragile and unreliable, so that's most likely the problem. Unfortunately, they are quite expensive. To test, disconnect the wire as close to the sensor as possible. If the light comes on when you leave the wire unconnected and goes off when you connect the wire to ground, your wiring is OK, and the sensor is the problem. The sensor contains a small glass reed switch. Needless to say, vibration, temperature changes and age will eventually cause the glass to break and the sensor to fail. The failure mode can be either open or closed, but can also change between different failure modes. It can even work properly periodically, depending on how the broken bits rattle around inside the sensor. The glass parts are sealed inside a brass casing, so they will not get into the oil. I don't know your bike specifically, but on some bikes, you must remove the exhaust system to get to the sensor. It is inserted into the oil pan from below. My solution to the problem: Ground the sensor wire permanently and check the oil level frequently. [/QUOTE] "My solution to the problem: Ground the sensor wire permanently and check the oil level frequently." this was my initial thought.....ride as is and check the oil level wit every fill-up. My brother planted the seed in my head that it could b the oil pump. The Clymer manual isn't very forthcoming on ways t check if the oil pump is working properly, or how to test the sensor. The sensor isn't the easiest to get to, but I won't have to remove th exhaust. I'll just put it up on a stand so I can get under it
