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Any ideas....C4S not starting/oil level dropped overnight!

Steve B

Well-known member
Joined
27 Aug 2009
Messages
189
Hi guys,

Yesterday evening I was driving home from my kids swimming lesson. I was sat stationary at some traffic lights, engine was idling normally and all appeared well. Then all of a sudden the engine just stopped! No funny noises or other symptoms, it just stopped dead.

I had my fault code reader with me so I plugged in and there are no fault codes present at all. When you try to start the engine it cranks normally and the tacho need moves up so I think the crank sensor is okay but it won't start.

I had the car recovered home last night and this morning I started to check out the fuel pump relay and fuel pump. I bridged the relay and you can hear the pump whirring at the front of the car. However it still won't start so maybe the pump isn't delivering the correct pressure.

I was about to continue looking at the fuel system when I noticed that this morning the oil level display is now only showing one bar above minimum! Yesterday before it broke down it was definitely up to maximum. I checked using the dipstick and this also now indicates the oil level has dropped. So the question is where has about 1 litre of oil gone overnight when the car has been sat on my driveway?! I've had a good look underneath and around the engine and everything appears to be dry so I don't think it's leaked out anywhere.

I'm most concerned about the mysterious disappearance of the engine oil. Up until I noticed this I thought it would be a new fuel pump / filter/ relay and it would be back running but I'm concerned something more serious has gone wrong. Any ideas would be gratefully received.

Many thanks,
Steve
 
I would think in terms of a dead Relay initially, my 993 did exactly the same except no oil loss. replace Relay with a new one and see if it works. Oil is odd certainly, try simple first.
 
Certainly sounds an unusual one.....

Like asterix, I suspect the two things may not be related. Am not an expert, but am sure one will post shortly....

My initial thoughts:
As the oil-level dash readout is in segments, you may have only just been into the full segment, then today you may just be into a lower segment, so it may not be as much oil 'lost' as you think.....(very badly explained, it was the best I could do).
Had the car sat for a while when you checked the oil yesterday? If so, it would be at its fullest readout, whereas this morning I guess some oil may still be lining the engine (as it should be). The fact that you cant see any oil leak and you didnt see blue-smoke suggests the oil hasnt gone anywhere (hopefully!!!).
 
I would agree the oil level is a red herring. Unless there is evidence of a load of dumped oil or there was smoke before it cut out (which you would have noticed sitting at the lights), I very much doubt this has just happened and I wouldnt be worrying about it.

Do the old fashioned 'easy start' in the inlet trick to see if it fires up briefly meaning you have a fuel delivery issue.
 
Oil probably a red hearing as above, it can only be in one of three places:

1. On the floor
2. In the engine
3. Swimming around with the engine water

There are a bunch of fuses to check, they can and do go ping occasionally. Under steering wheel.

There are probably a number of systems that if not connected to power would prevent the engine from running.
 
bakerboy4s said:
Daft question, has the OP looked at the dipstick?

Daft question, have you actually fully read his post..... :wack:

"I checked using the dipstick and this also now indicates the oil level has dropped."
 
bakerboy4s said:
Daft question, has the OP looked at the dipstick?

Daft question, have you actually fully read his post..... :wack:

"I checked using the dipstick and this also now indicates the oil level has dropped."
 
Thanks for all your thoughts so far.

Quick update....I think the oil level appearing low is a red herring. As a result of the engine failing to start it runs the oil measurement every time the engine is cranked. The low level is just a result of the oil being cold and slow to return to the sump after a failed start.

I have checked the flow from the fuel pump and although it makes a noise like it is running it produces no flow at all. A new pump has been ordered from Porsche Wilmslow and should hopefully arrive by the end of the week.

Thanks again.
 

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