I was wondering if anyone could tell me if the oil pressure switch could cause a lack in power as well as a pecking noise in the engine. It is a 2005 dodge neon sxt....

 

The oil pressure switch is just a sensor to measure the oil pressure inside the engine and if it is below a preset value, it will cause the oil pressure light on your dashboard to come on. That is all it does. if it comes on, either you don't have enough oil in the oilpan, or your engine has already cooked the bearings and/or oil pump to the point where engine failure is imminent.

The pecking sound you hear could just be valve rattle that is common in these engines - especially the higher in miles the car gets. Put a mechanics stethoscope on the valve cover, and see if that is where the noise originates. If so, then you need to adjust the valves and/or replace some lashes to fix it.

If the noise is coming from the bottom of the engine, then it is rod knock and that means the bearings are shot (and you will have low oil pressure too) and needs a rebuild.

Good luck.