'93 Grand Am 3.3L check oil light

This light comes on intermittently, regardless of engine RPM's
Is this warning for oil pressure, or oil level? Engine oil is topped off at full mark. I do notice a sensor on the side of the oil pan, and my oil pan is pretty badly dented on the bottom. Could the dented pan be causing this?

Your check oil light, mainly level. If the pan is dented as you describe, either the sensor or the wiring has been likely damaged.

1] Watch your oil level!!!!!!!!!

2] If you can, unplug the harness to the sensor, spray clean it and the sensor contacts.

3] Look at the wiring for bare wires, breaks, etc.

4] If none of the above are helping clear the light, then get a new sensor.

Hope this helps.

Re: Check oil light 3.3L G/A; Thanks...I was mainly concerned that it might be oil pressure, not level, as so far, this new to us car hasn't used any oil. Will check the items you mentioned.

You might also need to change the oil pan, if its dented badly enough when the oil level drops when you start the car it will trip the light. I'm not sure what the pans on the 6cyl motors are made of, but on my quad 4 its aluminum..

yeah, ski is right, I failed to mention that, thanks ski.

Not a problem. Another issue with a severely dented oil pan, did it hit the pickup tube for the oil pump? And does the pan leak?

U go, ski, dayum, that is a dayum good thinking there!!!!!!!!! LOL. Seriously, yeah, if there a crack or slow leak, oil could very likely drop just enough or get shifted just enough that the sensor can't read.

yeah, ski is right, I failed to mention that, thanks ski.

Thanks for the replies. The pan doesn't leak, but I'm not so sure if the oil pick-up tube is affected. About where in the 3.3L pan would the pick-up tube sit? Haven't had a chance to clean the contacts on the sensor yet or check wires to it.

On the 3.3, the oil tube is found on the side of the block within the pan.

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/0e/50/76/0900823d800e5076.jsp
Scroll down a bit, to find the 3.3

On the 3.3, the oil tube is found on the side of the block within the pan.

Thanks Knifeblade for the link. I wasn't aware that Auto Zone had that kind of info on their web site. My pan was hit hard so I've got to wonder what condition that pick up tube is in.

NP, it a cool site once you know it tends to follow the Chilton's and Hayne's layouts sections, with a bit more info. than the manuals give.

It usually easier to give a link with pic.'s, than try to struggle through a text explain at times.