Failure engine oil indicator ? oil sender unit replaced

I�m hoping someone can give me some help with this one � I have a 2002 C2 w/ 31k miles on it. I�m getting the failure engine oil indicator message on the dash. I did see other posts about this and it looks like in most cases installing a new oil sender unit and cleaning up the wire connectors resolves this issue. I did just that, ordered a new sender unit from Pelican and installed it and also cleaned up the connectors with electrical contact cleaner. With this work completed I still get the same warning message on the dash. The warning message comes up when the key is in the on position with engine not started. Once the engine is started the warning light stays on until I manually turn it off with the steering wheel column lever. The oil pressure gauge 0 to 5 is working correctly going from 3 to 5 when the revs come up. If the sender unit was bad or the wiring from the dash to the sender unit had issues wouldn�t the oil pressure gauge not be working correctly? I first saw the warning message after starting the engine for the first time after doing a bunch of work on it over the winter. I did the LN IMSB, RMS, coolant flush, oil/filter, engine degrease, etc. Oil level is � way between high and low on dip stick, using mobile 0w-40. I have an actron cp9575 basic scan tool and this is not showing any codes. I guess I need to find someone with a more advanced scan tool like the durametric. What am I missing?

There is another sensor deep in the engine that measures the oil temp and level. I suspect that's what failing in your case instead of the oil pressure sensor. What was the exact warning msg and light/symbol. Did your oil pressure read 0 momentarily when you had the old sensor?

"Failure Oil Level Indicator" with a picture of a an oil can to the left of the text. I don't believe the oil pressure read 0 momentarily w/ the old sensor but not 100% sure. What is this other sensor called, do you have a part number? thanks

Yea, the oil level is not measured by the sensor you replaced. The oil level and temp (combined in one piece) is #21 here http://www.autoatlanta.com/porsche-p...-05/104-05.php It's a bit of a pain to replace it I heard.

Thank you - researching this now. Anyone else have to replace one of these "oil level sender" units? What causes it to go bad? Installation details must be in my Bentley manual.

Did see some other posts where members had to replace the oil LEVEL sender unit but didn't find any follow up to those posts or a DIY for this procedure yet. One post says its a PIA and you need to remove intake manifold. This is the oil LEVEL sender not the oil pressure sender (which I already replaced) and there is good DIY instructions for.

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You're welcome. Yea, I saw those posts before and remember it's a pain...I searched Renntech just now and can't find any instruction either. Let us know how you make out. The oil level sender is not a commonly failed item although they do fail. Mine was replaced by the dealer when the car had only 25k miles or so. No reason or rhym.

Ok, found a photo for you post #10 here. The top most sender. May be at least you can check the wiring and the connection first. https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...-996-mkii.html

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One thing sticks out to me and that's when you did an engine degrease etc.. did something get disturbed, disconnected or saturated in degreaser? The reason I ask is I had a degrease done on a cadi which I had a couple of years ago and afterwards I found that the cruise control had stopped working. About 6 months down the road the cruise control magically started working again. Now I asked myself, had some sensor got wet during the degreasing procedure, and did it eventually 'dry out' and start to work again? Hey just a thought. Hope you get things sorted out...

Certainly could have been the degrease that caused the issue. I've got 700 miles on the car and a month and a half drive time since that "Oil Level Indicator" warning came on so if something needed to dry out it has had plenty of time to do so. Looks like I'm going to have to replace the Oil Level Sensor at this point, got one on order now. Don't see any documentation in the Bentley repair manual on how to do this so I'll keep searching online. If I don't find anything I'm sure I can figure it out. I'll document the process and post it back here on Rennlist. If anyone has info on how to replace the oil level sensor I would appreciate it. thanks

Update on this issue: Again it's a 2002 996 C2 w/ 30k miles. I started having the message "Failure Oil Level Indicator" on the dash after replacing RMS and doing LN IMSB. I've recently replaced the oil level sending unit (long rod shaped unit on top of the engine, its a PITA) and I am still getting the message on the dash "Failure Oil Level Indicator" when I start the car and it stays on until I hit the OK. I have a Durametric and there are no codes listed for the car. Does anyone have information on how to check continuity on the wires from this oil level sending unit to the dash? What plug/wires on the back side of the dash should I be checking? If I had a Porsche dealer in the area I would bring it to them to have them check it with the factory scan tool. Local Porsche dealer for VT is Washburns and they said they only have a Durametric. The Automaster used to sell Porsche and their next appointment was mid October (only have one guy who does Porsche) but my concern is that they might not have the proper equipment to diagnose this issue either. I have been driving the car without issue. The check the oil level frequently and it is spot on. Any help you can provide would be appreciated. thanks -Adam OilLevelIndicator.jpeg OilLevelIndicator2.jpeg

I am curious...when you turn the key on but do not start the engine, how many bars on the oil level indicator light up? Does it give you the countdown and show the oil level? Since you have replaced (now) the oil level sender unit and oil pressure sender unit, the problem has to lie elsewhere. Have you checked your fuses? From some research, it may be something wrong with the gauge cluster. I'm not 100% sure but it could be an original fault code stored in the DME and only a clear of that code can be done by a Porsche dealer. I think I would head that direction first. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply DBJoe996 When I put the key in the on position but don't start the car and try to check the oil level I get the same warning message "Failure Oil Level Indicator" (i.e. I cannot check the number of bars as it doesn't let me get that far, no countdown). I have checked all fuses up under the driver seat / dash area. I have not got into the fuses in rear yet. Does anyone know if there is a fuse between the oil level sending unit and the dash, and if so where it is? Hoping for an original fault code stored in the DME so I can just have the dealer reset it...if my dealer still has equipment to do this with.

did you resolve this please I have the same problem

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Have not resolved it yet but will be working on it over the next few weeks (winter project in VT). In addition to what is already listed in the my post for what I have tested I also sent the dash out to verify that was not the issue. Dash = good. Next will be to trace the wires from the dash to the sensor on top of the engine. This is the only thing left that could be the issue. There has to be a short in this wire at some point.

Hi. Did you make any further progress with this as I also have similar problem. I plugged in a new sensor without installing in the oil tank expecting to get an oil low reading but the new sensor was also causing the oil failure indication. I have checked the wiring through to the engine bay multi plugs and the continuity is good. When measured one of the two wires is ground and the other has approx 0.3v present so they both appear to be connected. I am suspecting a problem with the cluster but would be interested to know what other tests you have undertaken.

I know it's an old post, but my oil level failure light came on today. Anything come of this? Or more information appear in the last four years?

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Have you check the oil level via your dip stick?

I would hesitantly guess it might need to be programmed. Mine is bad too, I just live with it for now. Anyway, I had to R&R the fuel sender and it seemed to work fine but when the fuel dropped below half a tank it showed that it failed. Porsche confirmed at must be calibrated and now all is well. Based on that experience you might need to get it calibrated by Porsche. Either way, let us know how this plays out. Thanks!! Jay

I have. It�s dead center, right where I filled it to 1000 miles ago. The dash reading matched the stick perfectly until yesterday when I got the same error message as the original poster. Ive started it four times since then with the same error message. Was hoping the op had figured his out by now. I hate throwing parts at a problem blindly.

Thanks Jay, if I don�t get any more feedback I might have to do that. Need to get my brakes bled too as using my Motive to flush didn�t fix my soft pedal. Guessing air in the ABS.

Well found the problem. Rodent damage! Insurance covered it under comprehensive with a $200 deductible.

Thanks for the update. Another reason I keep two cats around!

Rat70fj, where was the rodent damage? Just asking, since I have this same problem on a Targa that was stored outside for a year. I replaced both wiring harnesses due to fire damage, and replaced the oil level sensor and pressure sending unit with new OEM. I still get the failure message. The wires are not exposed to the outside air except on top of the engine and at the X59 connectors. Is that where your damage was?

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The harness damage was in the engine compartment, passenger side, about halfway between the rear of the engine compartment and the firewall. My insurance covered it under comprehensive. so no accident and cheap deductible. I felt pretty lucky.