Oil pressure malfunction

[Guest]

I had an interesting moment on the M3 on Friday.
I was driving along at normal cruising speed, when on the OBC display I had a picture of an oil can appear with the text "Indicator faulty".
The guage had been working fine, but then after a couple of secs dropped to zero, then went back up to 5.
I was trying to make up my mind whether this meant there was an elertical issue with the sender, so that the guage was wrong, or whether I might actually have an oil pressue issue (=panic!).
There were no red lights on the display, which I thought was a good thing.
When I stopped (about 3 mins later), I checked the oil level, which confirmed what I thought and it all seemed OK. There is a separate warning if the oil level measurement is faulty and it does not use the same guage, so I guess it is still reliable.
There was a check warning on the OBC, but after stopping and starting the car, this disappeared.
The only difference I can see is that the pressure gauge points to 2 at tickover and reaches 5 before 3000rpm, so it is over-reading.
It still runs OK.

I'll see if someone will look at it on Monday. Maybe there is a loose wire, or the sensor has failed.

 

[Guest]

In case anyone is interested, the OPC was not overly surprised - they say they had a few fail. They will order a new sender which should take a few days and they will call me when it arrives.

You can't get to it very easily, which is what I expected. They need to remove some of the gubbins on the top of the engine - not sure if it is just the airbox and bits, or if the some of the intake system has to be moved.
Anyway, it takes about 1.5 hours to do (plus about 1 hour to cool down before they can work on it).

When they do it, I'll see what the part costs (for future reference). Should all be under warranty.

It is confirmed it can be driven without any issue, although I will need to rely on the warning lights in case there is a real oil pressure problem in the next few days.
In the current damp humid weather it is going quite well.

While I was there I checked on how long I can extend the warranty for - they say 125,000 miles now, and that it is underwritten by Porsche now, i.e. their own warranty.
I also asked what the official position was with regard to any little tweaks, and it is clear that this invalidates the warranty. Therefore, once you make any change, you are on your own,or at least dependent on the tuner.

 

[tallmat]

Helpful advice Stuart - thanks.

Good job its a warranty case - some OPC's would charge you for the hour it takes to cool down!

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: tallmat
Good job its a warranty case - some OPC's would charge you for the hour it takes to cool down!

[] I thought this myself...when I read Stuarts post..[]

 

[Grant]

Stuart,
I haven't been on the website for a while, but popped in today to see your post.
Just out of interest I have had this problem since new, the car has had new relays, earth straps, wiring, an alternator and even a complete new instrument pod which was expensive (special leather & silver dials!), all have been covered under warranty, but I still get regular failure of the oil pressure guage, this seems to also link to excessive battery drain. The OPc assures me it is guage issue, not a problem with oil pressure, lets hope they find it eventually & I hope yours doesn't turn out like mine!!!
Cheers
Grant

 

[Guest]

They're going to fit a new sender on Friday, so I'll let you know if it makes any difference. I'm not all that bothered about it, but I know if I don't get it done quickly I'll not get round to it and it'll be months.

I also noticed the passenger seat does not go as far back as it used to (unless I am going mad). So I have also asked them to see if there is something stuck in the runner.

 

[Guest]

Went to the OPC today. I said I would wait for them to fit the new sender (I went for a walk and looked round some bookshops).
As mentioned before, they said it would take 1.5 hours and that they needed to allow it to cool down.
I waited for 15-20 mins to hand over the key, then went for a walk and came back after 75 mins. The car was still where I left it.
After waiting for a further 45 mins or more, I was then informed they could not fix it, they had ordered the wrong part.
So including travel time, I wasted 4 hours.

Since the guage is still working, just over-reading, I have decided to wait until it is next serviced to change it (about 3-4 months time).

At least they looked at the passenger seat, so it now goes back fully.