Automatic Oil Measuring function

[Funcar]

I have owned my 2002 911 Cabriolet 4 years. I am sometimes bedeviled by the automatic oil measuring function performed by the computer as I am starting the car. I have never been able to determine any pattern. I understand it can be triggered by turning the key to "on" and pausing (without turning it all the way to "start"). That is sometimes true, but conversely, turning the key through "on" to "start" in one motion does not prevent the oil screen from appearing (and preventing the car from starting). Sometimes I do not see the screen for weeks at a time; other times it comes up about half the times I turn the key. When it is misbehaving; If I cancel it with the computer operating lever, it simply reappears when I cycle the key. If I allow it to run its course, it simply reappears when I cycle the key to try starting again. Today I sat in a parking lot attempting about 40 times to get past the screen and start the car. I tried every combination of actions I could think of -including those that had worked in the past - to no avail. (I have tried removing the key; or not removing it. I have tried taking my feet off the clutch and brake, or not. I have tried it while in gear, or in neutral.) Then on one attempt it started.

I have another car I drive that has a totally different clutch feel, so I have sometimes choked off this car while hurriedly pulling into traffic at an intersection. That inevitably triggers this measuring function, so the heavy traffic needs to flow around me as I try to get past this. It is very dangerous and my wife refused for a long time to get in the car with me, and she refuses to even attempt to drive it. So until I can get this fixed, having the car is not nearly as much fun as it should be.

I wonder if the computer needs to be reprogrammed? I have read there is no way to permanently disable this function.

[blueline]

I have owned my 2002 911 Cabriolet 4 years. I am sometimes bedeviled by the automatic oil measuring function performed by the computer as I am starting the car. I have never been able to determine any pattern. I understand it can be triggered by turning the key to "on" and pausing (without turning it all the way to "start"). That is sometimes true, but conversely, turning the key through "on" to "start" in one motion does not prevent the oil screen from appearing (and preventing the car from starting). Sometimes I do not see the screen for weeks at a time; other times it comes up about half the times I turn the key. When it is misbehaving; If I cancel it with the computer operating lever, it simply reappears when I cycle the key. If I allow it to run its course, it simply reappears when I cycle the key to try starting again. Today I sat in a parking lot attempting about 40 times to get past the screen and start the car. I tried every combination of actions I could think of -including those that had worked in the past - to no avail. (I have tried removing the key; or not removing it. I have tried taking my feet off the clutch and brake, or not. I have tried it while in gear, or in neutral.) Then on one attempt it started.

I have another car I drive that has a totally different clutch feel, so I have sometimes choked off this car while hurriedly pulling into traffic at an intersection. That inevitably triggers this measuring function, so the heavy traffic needs to flow around me as I try to get past this. It is very dangerous and my wife refused for a long time to get in the car with me, and she refuses to even attempt to drive it. So until I can get this fixed, having the car is not nearly as much fun as it should be.

I wonder if the computer needs to be reprogrammed? I have read there is no way to permanently disable this function.

That's a undesirable dilemma, for sure. Hopefully someone on Carpokes will have some ideas. Maybe just a defective sensor or a bad connection or ground?

Meanwhile (and especially if no suggestions from others), I'd be at the front doorstep of a good Porsche shop or quality Porsche dealership. That's a potentially dangerous situation if not simply an inconvenient one were you to get stranded.