Already got two problems

Westy · 04-30-2004, 05:15 PM

The tach seems to stick up around 3800 to 4000 RPM..Almost seems like it is sticking against something. Could be the heat up here causing expansion, but I don't know. Any thoughts?

Also, the oil tank gauge doesn't work. When I start the engine it jumps around from full to empty, but then stays there. Seems the gauge is getting juice, but it ain't reading the sensor. And just where is the sending unit?

Thanx, Brian W.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

are you talking about the oil level guage? Reading them is an art, and you need to realize that they are only accurate when the car is warm, and is idling on a level surface. Even then until you get "calibrated" (by noticing the guage, and manually checking the oil with the dipstick) take it with a grain of salt.

And that also leads to the next point: you check the oil on the 911 with the engine warm, idling, on level ground. DO NOT OVERFILL. The level should be between the two marks. Even if it is at the lower mark (which generally will result in the oil guage not even registering) there is plenty of oil in the system.

Then when you're ready, do your first oil change. And have a LOT of rags...

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

oh yeah...and don't drop the dip stick into the oil tank.

Westy · 04-30-2004, 05:27 PM

OK, checked the oil, it's fine, but the gauge is pegged at the top. It ain't working. By the way, already dropped the dipstick into the tank. But this dipstick is smart. Can you say "Six-finger". Great two dollar investment.

jgporsche · jgporsche's Garage

Sending unit is in the oil tank, take a look in your passenger side, rear wheel well. Not hard to replace, but it rearly works. I never trust mine.

Should be able to pick up a tach on E-Bay to trouble shoot. I did the white guage up-grade or down-grade depending on preference on mine. The guages are faily easy to pull apart. Doubt that the needle would stick on the face, maybe internally? There is a tech site that helps. Good Luck!

jason2guy · 04-30-2004, 05:31 PM

sometimes over time the guage face bends inward, due to heat and who know what else. had the same prob. north holly speedometer fixed it up.

the oil level guage prob sounds like a bad sender or a short between the sender and the guage.

jdowty3 · jdowty3's Garage

I'm not sure about the Tach but I have experience with the oil level sender. Someone posted recently that they pulled their oil level sender and found some of the rivits had loosened up causing a jumpy guage. Check the wires first. The guage pegged at the top means the circuit is open just like pulling the sender wire off. I replaced mine and that fixed a similar symptom.

vash · vash's Garage

brian, i dont even look at my oil level gauge. mine is all over the place. it looks easy to change, if you want to go that route. but in wouldnt worry too much about it.

sorry i cannot help with the tach. let me know if you want me to find you a salvage unit if that is the case.

allaircooled · allaircooled's Garage

I had the same exact problem with my tach until it died completely. I wish I had a pic to show what problem was on the inside. I think the glass was on backwards because it was concave in. The needle got stuck every once in a while in the same range you mentioned and finally burned out a spot on the whinding inside the tach. I just bought one off ebay not too long ago for $11. Works great.