My issue is almost the opposite of what I have see posted concerning oil pressure issues with the 996.


I have an '01 996 C4 Cab that made my heart stop yesterday...and not in a good way. When I started it cold, the oil pressure read between 1-2 (cold) and the needle did not respond to the throttle at all. I shut it off immediately and waited a few seconds and tried it again. With the key in the "On" position, but not started the needle went to 1-2. When I started it, the needle didn't move. I am hoping this is sensor issue, or that the gauge has somehow failed. Is there a way to test the sensor or gauge without buying a new one? Or am I missing the real problem?

 

Almost certainly the sender or the gage is the problem. Generally if oil pressure problems are even suspected the first step is to measure the actual oil pressure with a reliable gage.

Porsche doesn't call out a cold idle oil pressure. My data sample of one, my 2003 Turbo, with a cold engine oil pressure at cold idle is "4 bar".

I know of no way to test the instrument cluster gage or the sensor/sender but I bet a real Porsche tech would have some way of testing both of these.

Let me add you might have some success in "fixing" the problem by finding the oil pressure sensor/sender and gently disconnecting it from the harness then connecting it back again. Be sure you are gentle and that the connection is secure. There might be a catch/latch that needs to catch in order to ensure the two connectors are completely/100% connected.

My thinking is there is some surface corrosion at the connector that the disconnect and connect remove.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. That is what I was hoping the issue was...and what I think it is. This morning I went out to see if it was still acting the same way, and was relieved when it didn't. Started up cold reading almost 5, and after a stop at the convenience store, was happy to see a semi-warm pressure of just over 2 at idle and normal increases in response to throttle increases. So I will order a replacement sensor and plan on never having this issue again.

 

Sender issue, if you were truely that low, a lite comes on.