Today, for the first time, my oil warning light is on and the oil pressure is pegged at 5 immediately after i turn on the engine.
Oil level is within range.
The oil pressure gauge does not move unless i actually turn on the engine.
It happened just after i washed the car and so I'm suspicious it's an electrical issue.

Any thoughts what this would be and should i be concerned driving the car in this condition?

Thanks.

 

Read Triple 7's posts on his oil pressure gauge problems..might get a clue there. Let it dry out for a day or two and see if it goes away. Probably a bad or wet sender that's grounding out due to water. Just spitballin' here..

 

777 here....When I checked the connections on my sender, they weren't real tight. With the wires off, I still had a full scale deflection of the gauge with the ignition on. When I grounded that line, the gauge went to zero pressure. I checked the connections on the sender itself and found a short between both pins as well as to the case of the sender. Since none of this makes any sense to me and aftermarket senders have a poor reliability history, I ordered a new one from VDO, a reliable mfr. At some point I just give up and purchase a new component as opposed to trying to figure some of this stuff out. The wiring diagrams make no sense and I have 12 years experience in electronics (but not German electronics). We'll see if I made the right decision when the new sensor comes in.

 

Upon further review (and waiting 2 hours), my light is off and the pressure is back to normal. I think Tiger03447 may have been right... some moisture somewhere shorted something, and now it dried out. Hopefully all set for now. Thanks.

 

The brake fluid level switch can cause the oil pressure warning light to come on accompanied by the parking brake light.

 

Based on this I'd recommend ensuring the wires on the sender are tight and then spraying them with WD-40.

 

Where is the sender located? Thanks.

Actually figured it out. Below the oil filter. Will ck connections and the rubber boots that are on them.

 

Just under the Oil Filter. Jack up the passenger side, turn the front wheel full right and you'll have easy access. Use Jackstands.

 

Well, I received a VDO oil pressure sender today and after a little aggravation, oil and very little room to use an adjustable crescent wrench I changed out the sender. Now I have the low oil pressure warning light that wasn't there before and good oil pressure indications. Check that off the list.

 

Good to hear triple7 !! Now everyone, wins..!!

 

Crows foot socket is the trick to easily replacing the oil pressure sender. Sorry mytrplseven not much help after the fact.

 

The P 9244 special tool for adjusting early 944 tensioners is actually the perfect tool for this job. Have had to use it a couple of times over the years and it's far and away the easiest method. Even better, the wrench is only about $15 from Porsche.

 

I wish I had thought of that. It took me 1/2 hour with a crescent wrench trying to get it tightened, one degree at a time.

 

Was that ultimately the fix? I have the same issue with mine right now with a oil pressure sensor on the dock today.