Oil Level gauge not working-1985 911

[69porsche]

I just got back my 85-911 from the shop and my oil level gauge is not working. Drove a few hours and the needle never moved(actually flickered). The light turns off when I start the car, the car just got back from the shop, there is oil in it as I checked yesterday and today I pulled the gauge back to see all wires intact.

Any suggestions?

[zedsn]

See if it came disconnected in the engine bay.

[69porsche]

Originally Posted by zedsn

See if it came disconnected in the engine bay.

any pics of location?....I could not find the location in my books and could not find it in my search engine

[zedsn]

I don't have your motor. I have a 2.7 and mine is a single wire right side and is back by the chain covers.

[Techno Duck]

You can see the level switch in the attached picture. Look behind the passenger rear wheel and you will see it on the car, make sure the wires are still attached. Should be two wires; one connected at the center and another on a spade connector of one of the five nuts.

[69porsche]

Originally Posted by Techno Duck

You can see the level switch in the attached picture. Look behind the passenger rear wheel and you will see it on the car, make sure the wires are still attached. Should be two wires; one connected at the center and another on a spade connector of one of the five nuts.

Jon,
Thanks-will have to check it out in the morning, will let you know.
Gordon

[Starless]

Mine is a 3.0 but when mine flickered as you say, I cleaned off the ground (?) in the rear passenger wheel wheel, added some oil, ( it was a bit low) and all was good.

[69porsche]

Originally Posted by Starless

Mine is a 3.0 but when mine flickered as you say, I cleaned off the ground (?) in the rear passenger wheel wheel, added some oil, ( it was a bit low) and all was good.

Will the tank contact leads be in the vertical as pictured above? good idea on cleaning the grounds when I am there.

[GH85Carrera]

My oil sender does not move unless the engine is hot enough to open the front cooler. If the dip stick shows the oil at above the minimum mark and you still get no movement on a hot engine, check the sender.

That picture shows a nice clean tank and connector. If your 85 is like mine, and gets driven it will be crusted with road grime.
If the wire is connected, taking out the sender is pretty easy, but you will want to get a new gasket. Use some cleaner, a brush and flush with water to clean up the area first. Undo the nuts and remove the sender. Then you can move the sender up and down and see if the Ohms change. It is all super easy to do.

[69porsche]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

My oil sender does not move unless the engine is hot enough to open the front cooler. If the dip stick shows the oil at above the minimum mark and you still get no movement on a hot engine, check the sender.

That picture shows a nice clean tank and connector. If your 85 is like mine, and gets driven it will be crusted with road grime.
If the wire is connected, taking out the sender is pretty easy, but you will want to get a new gasket. Use some cleaner, a brush and flush with water to clean up the area first. Undo the nuts and remove the sender. Then you can move the sender up and down and see if the Ohms change. It is all super easy to do.

Stupid question---Do I have to drain the oil to replace/insert a new sender and does the sender float have to be calibrated?....I see my connection, I will disconnect and clean contacts, yes they are dirty but they were held tight. So I will trouble shoot basics first Thanks

[Trakrat]

Mine did the same thing.. found out I was about 6 quarts low!!!!!

[T77911S]

remove the wire and the needle should show max, ground it and it will show min.
verify the gauge to the dipstick. engine running and hot.

I did a thread on cleaning the sending unit but cant find it.
my gauge does not "work" until engine is warm.

[Drisump]

Originally Posted by 69porsche

Stupid question---Do I have to drain the oil to replace/insert a new sender and does the sender float have to be calibrated?....I see my connection, I will disconnect and clean contacts, yes they are dirty but they were held tight. So I will trouble shoot basics first Thanks

I haven't had the need to take out the sender on my 85 but I would think that my 993 would be similar. It is a float system like your toilet tank. The plug should be above the static oil level on the oil tank. In terms of calibration, because it's a simple float system, and kind of bend in the arm effects the accuracy on the gauge. So as far as I know the really the only way to do it is after installing the new unit, drive it until warm and should have a predictable level shown.....and if reading low, take the sender/float out and bend the arm slightly down....if high, the opposite. I did this on my 993 and the gauge is now reasonably accurate but it used to never show the proper reading. My 85 is dead on with the dipstick and ideally this is what you should be shooting for. Cheers

[RLJett]

I came across this thread the other day as I was searching how to change out the gasket. Should answer your questions on how to remove the sender.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/958649-changing-oiltank-swimmer-gasket-when-installed.html

[proporsche]

Hi Gordon..most of the time the sender is not sending the correct info is simple.There is a cork gasket and it does go bad-becomes thinner.This way the sending unit gets grounded.
Do as suggested..take the ground wire and with the ignition key on, touch the ground (the tank for example) with it,the needle should go down to zero.If it does you unit is most likely ok.
You can lift this side of the car a little and remove the oil level sending unit and replace the cork gasket.That is all.The gasket goes on only one way.So while you are ready to install, put it on the unit it self and then slide it on the tank. Use washers under those little nut.Make it tight but not too much so you do not crack the cork gasket....
Ivan


Hi Rob ..thanx i could not find this one;-)
Ivan

[914efi]

I found a broken very fine wire in the resistance track on my in-tank sender. I was able to resolder it. I used a microscope to see and fix it.

[69porsche]

Gents,
I removed the sender wire and the gauge showed max, grounded the wire and it went low. I just ran the car for about 7 plus miles --enough to get the engine and temps up to par. Not once did the gauge even move---After getting back home with the engine running, I checked the oil and I found it to have sufficient oil on the dipstick--more on the lower end of the stick, but still not low enough not to have the issue I have.

[69porsche]

Originally Posted by RLJett

I came across this thread the other day as I was searching how to change out the gasket. Should answer your questions on how to remove the sender.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/958649-changing-oiltank-swimmer-gasket-when-installed.html

Thanks for the thread!

[69porsche]

Originally Posted by proporsche

Hi Gordon..most of the time the sender is not sending the correct info is simple.There is a cork gasket and it does go bad-becomes thinner.This way the sending unit gets grounded.
Do as suggested..take the ground wire and with the ignition key on, touch the ground (the tank for example) with it,the needle should go down to zero.If it does you unit is most likely ok.
You can lift this side of the car a little and remove the oil level sending unit and replace the cork gasket.That is all.The gasket goes on only one way.So while you are ready to install, put it on the unit it self and then slide it on the tank. Use washers under those little nut.Make it tight but not too much so you do not crack the cork gasket....
Ivan


Hi Rob ..thanx i could not find this one;-)
Ivan

Ivan,
Thanks for the info, I will order the cork gasket and associated hardware and see if that does the trick-will keep you posted.
Gordon

[69porsche]

So here is dilemma, I already ordered the cork gasket.....should I also order the sender unit....or hold off and see how the cork gasket solves the issue.