1999 Cirrus making grinding noise

New to the message group. I have a 99 Cirrus LXi with about 95,000
miles. The other day I noticed the oil pressure light flicker on
while idling at lights and then go out when I accelerate. I checked
the oil and it is a good level. I am going to be changing the oil
this weekend I believe and see if that corrects that problem. The
reason I am posting today is more because of my drive to work this
morning. While driving I would hear a swooshing noise (almost like
hissing) and the power drops and I feel the car slow down slightly
while the noise is there. It came and went intermittently the entire
way in (an hour drive). Once I got to the parking garage at work, it
went from a hissing type sound to an actual grind-like noise while
driving slower up the ramps in the garage. It would lose power and
almost stall out. I got to my parking level and left car idling while
looking and listening under the car. It did lose power and the grind
noise happened once and then stopped. I also noticed what I think is
the oil filter had drops of oil on the bottom of it. Not sure what
would cause that or if it is related to the noise or something
completely different (hopefully not). I had to get into work so I
turned the car off and am now looking for advice on what to look for
or do. With some guidance on what to look for I am fairly good at
doing the work but have problems identifying the problems themselves.
Thanks for any help you may be able to give.

 

I would suggest a vaccum leak, and that your low oil pressure light is
simply because the idle is low due to the vauum leak - nothing wrong
with the oil pressure. The oil filter leaking is probably just that -
the oil filter leaking - not related to the light.

How long since your last oil/filter change? You say you will change
your oil this week end. Great. Before you loosen the filter, try
tightening it a little to see if it is simply loose, which would explain
the dripping (or perhaps there is a leak higher up that is making its
way down).

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

 

Bill Putney wrote

Good advice Bill. I would also take a look at and replace the oil pressure
sender switch which is directly above the oil filter on the V6 Cirrus.They
have been known to be a problem and leak.

Lou

 

Thanks to both of you for your suggestions. I will let you know how
things turn out. As for your question Bill on the last oil change...
it was about 4-5 months ago and is well overdue since I put a lot of
highway type miles on the car weekly (about 4-500 easy). I mean to
change it more often but that little thing called life quite often
gets in the way. Again, thanks for the advice and I will run with it
from here.