Whizbyu

Just thought I'd share this bit of info about the gravity of a non-blinking CEL vs. a blinking one.
My 99 996 with the blown motor had a steady CE light that came on, and a temperature gauge that pointed from "8" to just slightly right of the "0" of 180, where the temparature is during a DE event. Ambient temp was about 40 F, going at easy 55 mph. I thought to just drive it home. By the time I got home 10 miles later at 55 mph, the oil pressure dropped to 0.5, and that was the end of the motor and the beginning of the $10K motor swap. So, lesson learned, just because it doesn't blink, doesn't mean it's not serious. Any which way it lights up, I'd stop and call a tow truck.

jumper5836

I doubt stopping would have saved your engine. Once she goes, she's gone.

banzai993

the owners manual says that a non blinking check engine light is likely to be an emission or some other similar issue and the car is likely safe to drive. .. as it was explained to me.. the computer could have gotten an error code and a tech needs to clear it.. as long as the oil is all good and the tempertures are all good then it should be "all good"

but agreed.. annoying as it causes the little voice to ping your brain box.

Flashing is no good for sure.

Whizbyu

That's what the mechanic said. It's sort of a "genetic" thing. It's going to happen, regardless of what I did. I still cannot get over how the engine only lasted 67k. That's worse than anything out of Detroit, regardless of performance or looks.

jumper5836

I here yah, but your engine is one of the few.

Tippy

2 things a CEL is........

(1) something for women to worry about thinking there is really something catastrophic with the engine when it is emissions related and

(2) usually lots of money to fix things that Europeans dont have to worry about, thanks EPA and your stupid OBD II

gregorycarl

Check engine light comes on this summer and was close to dealer. Stopped in thinking OMG, it's my turn. Service guy just smiled and said, it's probably emissions blah, blah, blah...just drive it and it will probably go away. He asked, did you just fill it up and then click it three times (gas cap).

I think I would have been an idiot to pull over on the highway and get a tow truck over a twice clicked gas cap. What I'm saying - agree with Whiz. Engines gonna go if engines gonna go.

C4CRNA

Put a code reader in the trunk and print out a code list to keep in the trunk also. You can then check it in 2 minutes and decide to drive it or not. Gives you peace of mind when you're out in th boonies!!

pl

in your case, i don't think cel has anything to do with your engine failure.

ls911

I am sorry this happened to you
It is hard to hear/read about these engine failures, even though it is a small percentage.
Bottom line, it's out there and in the back of my mind as well. The cost of it would not not kill me (knock on wood). The thought of it seems worse (smoking on the side of the road, etc...).

GL in the repairs, hope you come out better than before (more performance maybe?)

banzai993

maybe we should install a light over the engine so we can check the engine light

Whizbyu

Car now has a 2001 3.4 in it w/ 40K miles. Hope it'll last. Can anyone safely say that Porsche actually rectified the problems w/ the RMS, head gasket, and other issues with their early 3.4 motors? I am trying to assure myself that this 2001 3.4 is actually going to make it past 150,000 miles, maybe 10 years from now.
Look, I hate bitching, but did air-colled Porsche owners have as much trouble with their motors as we do with ours? Is the ratio the same? Bruce Anderson always said that the 3.0 SC negine was essentially bulletproof. Does that mean it had very few engine failures?

JDSStudios

Whizbyu
Good questions.
I would be interested in knowing about the ratios also.

Tippy

You obviously just stumbled across this site with those questions.....