Failure Indicator

[samuel.mercer]

I have a very strange problem with my car, in that I quite often get a "Failure Indicator" message for the coolant temperature gauge.

Now this is not really an problem with the actual temperature of the coolant, more a failure somewhere to do with the sensor or whatever that monitors it.

I have been to 2 porsche dealers and they both have no idea what is causing it, one even suggested we change the ECU as this was causing the problem. I don't agree with this opinion to be honest, I suspect it is more a sensor issue. Maybe the dealership were not meeting sales targets that month.

It has been happening for over 2 years, so I am not particularly bothered by it, but there are some strange things that may point to it's actual cause. In the summer, it works fine, in the winter it normally doesn't. Once when I was driving it started raining, and immediately it came up. Another time I was stuck in snow and after sitting at idle for around 10 mins it started working again. I am starting to think that it is something to do with moisture on the sensor, but does anyone know anything that might help me get to the bottom of this?

Thanks in advance!

Sam

[dell97]

I have a very strange problem with my car, in that I quite often get a "Failure Indicator" message for the coolant temperature gauge.

Now this is not really an problem with the actual temperature of the coolant, more a failure somewhere to do with the sensor or whatever that monitors it.

I have been to 2 porsche dealers and they both have no idea what is causing it, one even suggested we change the ECU as this was causing the problem. I don't agree with this opinion to be honest, I suspect it is more a sensor issue. Maybe the dealership were not meeting sales targets that month.

It has been happening for over 2 years, so I am not particularly bothered by it, but there are some strange things that may point to it's actual cause. In the summer, it works fine, in the winter it normally doesn't. Once when I was driving it started raining, and immediately it came up. Another time I was stuck in snow and after sitting at idle for around 10 mins it started working again. I am starting to think that it is something to do with moisture on the sensor, but does anyone know anything that might help me get to the bottom of this?

Thanks in advance!

Sam

Hello Sam

I had similar problem. i replaced the temp sensor and my problem went away. check sensor or sensor connector

good luck

[samuel.mercer]

Hi, thanks for your reply, could you give me any more details on what you did? Is it something I can do or do I need to go the dealership to get it done? Thanks!

[wwest]

Hi, thanks for your reply, could you give me any more details on what you did? Is it something I can do or do I need to go the dealership to get it done? Thanks!

If a thermistor sensor is used (highly probable) then you can bridge, parallel in, a 1000 ohn resistor for awhile and if that works to abate the failure warning you defintely have a sensor failure.

[samuel.mercer]

Ok, thanks, can anyone point me in the direction of where I might find this on my 997.1? Is it easily accessible, or do I need to be a contortionist with telescopic arms to find it in the tiny space around the engine?

[PAULSPEED]

Here is a picture. It is part number 27.

Paul

[samuel.mercer]

Ok, thanks for the diagram, excuse my ignorance, but where is this part in the car, guess it is in the back, but is it something I can find easily or is it only really accessible if I remove most of the 3.8 block? Is it near the coolant tank on the left rear, or more likely on the engine somewhere?

[PAULSPEED]

Here is another picture. The story says it is on the

right cylinder bank. My guess is it is the passenger side.

The black object looks like the sensor. Part number one

from the previous picture is the oil pump.

Paul

[samuel.mercer]

Thanks again, I went out to look in the boot (with a torch because it's dark here in France) and as I was looking the police turned up and asked me what I was doing!! Anyway, I couldn't see that part, is it visible from the boot or not? If you can tell me where to look then maybe I can find it! Thanks!

[PAULSPEED]

My guess is the rear passenger side. I would wait until

the morning. Open the engine lid to get some light in.

You might be able to look up around the engine exhaust pipes.

Paul

[samuel.mercer]

Hi all,

I have now had the sensor changed by Porsche, 13 EUR for the part, final bill 240 EUR. I am clearly in the wrong line of work....

However, this has not sorted out the problem, there is a persistent fault on the ECU which reads P1654 - Coolant shut-off valve final stage.

Does anyone have any idea what this is, and why it's presence seems to then trigger P3081 - Coolant temperature implausible. I can clear this but it gets triggered again when I drive for a few miles.

If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate their help, as my dealership clearly is not a cheap option.

Thanks!

Sam

[PAULSPEED]

Post a new topic and put the error codes in the topic.

Good luck and at least you know that you have a

new sensor. These errors might be the air in the coolent

lines. Lets hope it is a easy fix.

Paul

[samuel.mercer]

Thanks for your reply Paul, when they changed the sensor they purged the coolant system and put new coolant through the whole thing, so it should be something else rather than that.

I'll post a new topic with the error codes, thanks again,

Sam

[vizcarra44]

Thanks for your reply Paul, when they changed the sensor they purged the coolant system and put new coolant through the whole thing, so it should be something else rather than that.

I'll post a new topic with the error codes, thanks again,

Sam

Edited October 29, 2010 by vizcarra44