Advice for an Intermittent Oil Warning Light Issue

[Toasty-Electron]

Hello everyone,

I've recently acquired my first 944, and I am thoroughly enjoying the experience so far. There is one issue that has presented itself that I wondered if anyone had advice for.

When first driving the car from cold, everything works as it should, however if I turn off the engine to pop into a shop for 5-10 minutes, when starting the engine I'm met with the red '!' symbol and the engine oil light on. These will then stay on for the duration of the drive, oil pressure is where it should be and the oil level in the engine is fine. If I leave the car for half an hour or more, the warning lights don't illuminate. If anyone has some advice or a possible solution I would be very grateful. Thank you.

 

[AndrewCS]

Welcome ...

Oil pressure sender / cabling faulty ?

Porsche Classic Genuine Parts Catalogue - Porsche Great Britain

 

[Toasty-Electron]

Yes, what Andrew said... Take a look at http://www.clarks-garage.com/ Garage Shop Manual / Electrical / gauge troubleshooting.
There's a test procedure for the oil pressure sender / gauge.

 

[dlknight]

You might want to check the oil pressure with an external oil pressure gauge / sensor as well to be on the safe side.

Reason I say that is that you mentioned it is fine from cold but then you get the warning after stopping the engine and starting it again from warm.

The oil pressure relief valve can get clogged up on the 944 and the seals go brittle with age and fail causing oil pressure problems.

 

[scam75]

I'm reading this as your low oil warning light and accompanying (!) , and not your low oil pressure warning light at the bottom of the oil pressure gauge. If so.............

It might simply be you need to top up your oil. I find when you need 0.5L top up, my light comes on, and sooner on a hot engine. From cold you don't get the warning (you will soon if you continue to let it need more and more topped up), but on a hot start with thinner oil you do. Topping up the 0.5L you need would sort your problem! You are at the tipping point where the cold level read doesn't trigger the low oil level sensor, but a warm read does. It only reads this on start up I believe, hence possibly your issue and a cheap fix!

If it is not that, then read what the other guys say!

Stuart

 

[Kongsodoken]

I had the same issue
add and bit of oil light goes out but kept on happening after lots of searching
turned out to be the circuit board inside the instrument pod
simple fix if you can find a spare board

 

[scam75]

Mine religiously came on when it needed a half litre top-up, always put it down to the sensor. Having not lost any oil since my engine rebuild 4k miles ago, my warning light has not been seen!

Used to go through half a litre of oil every 500 odd miles. Half out the exhaust and half scattered around the engine bay for rust protection! Changed days............