03996

Had a heart stopping moment about a week or so ago when I heard a beep and saw an alert come on the dash with "oil indicator failure". Looked at the guage and it was at zero. Twenty seconds later it flicked back to life, then did it again about 30 secs later, then cam back to life.

Figured I'd take it easy (engine sounded fine) so limped home and parked it.

Haven't driven the car since (was out of the country) and before I drive it again, thought I'd ask you knowledgeable people what your thoughts are on it.

Les.

wildbilly32

When my 2005 996 C4S did the exact same thing several times on a drive home. It was the oil pressure sending device which is a small "can" relay mounted on top back of engine on passenger(right) side. Fairly easy to change and not very expensive. I hear on here it is a common failure problem. It is exciting when it happens...isn't it!?

03996

"Exciting" isn't exactly the word I was thinking of at the time. I was thinking more about how quick I could get home, without damaging the engine, to get a clean set of underwear!!

wildbilly32

Yeah, I pulled over to catch my breath and check my shorts! I then noticed it said indicator failure not no oil pressure so I drove it home carefully. That was a few years back and after replacement all is good!

kbollaert

I had the same thing happen. Turned out that one of the connectors was loose. Tightened up the spade connector (carefully0, reinstalled with no further problems. It was exciting for a while, though

Looneybin

Yep, common failure, the oil pump is fairly robust
You will likely need a crowfoot open end to get to it from the passenger wheel well

fpb111

Oil pressure sender failure is pretty common. Lives on the right side of the engine near the fire wall. 19mm crows-foot on a wobble extension, access from under the right rear wheel well. The crows-foot needs to be thin, grind it down if yours is too thick.

johnireland

Even better, take the car to your wrench, let him do it (and do it right) while you read some car magazines and have a cup of coffee.