Dipstick won't seat

[slotsmd]

2002 Boxster S - At some point in the past, my dipstick started popping up out of place. The farthest I can get it into the tube leaves it sitting with the o-ring a few millimeters above the black plastic seat where the yellow dipstick handle ought to rest. I  really don't remember when it stopped going all the way in, but I never really thought much of it as I just relied on the electronic display for oil level, and the dipstick seems to correlate OK. Has anyone ever seen this? I actually purchased a new dipstick from Pelican and it sticks up just like the original. I know I should have looked at this long ago, but i just lived with it. Until now...

Also a few years ago I started having a check engine light. I used my Durametric to diagnose that and the result was P1128 and P1130. I've tried cleaning the MAF sensor and resetting the codes but they return after a number of cycles. Is there any possible connection between the dipstick being unseated and the codes? Doesn't seem logical, but I took it to an independent mechanic who suggested it could be the problem...

Thanks in advance...

[JFP in PA]

Misread your original post, there should be nothing that obstructs the dipstick, but you should also know that Porsche released updated dipsticks for the early cars to get people to correctly lower the oil level in the sump a slight amount to prevent excessive oil level from killing the AOS.  I would also STRONGLY recommend getting the real factory part from a dealer, Pelican is well known for pushing ill-fitting aftermarket parts as "OEM".

 

These are the updated factory parts:

 

Similarly, Porsche also reduced the oil fill level on Boxster models. We do not have engine and vehicle vin numbers identifying when this change occurred during Boxster production, however vehicles fitted with the 996-107-014-01 and 996-107-014-02 revision dipsticks should set the oil level half way between the min and max level marks. Vehicles with the updated 996-107-014-03 dipstick should have their oil levels set to the maximum level.

On the Boxster dipsticks, only the last five digits of the part number are indicated on the part (last two being the revision number). The Boxster -03 revision is shown with two grooves for o-rings, but only one is used, where the -01 and -02 revisions only have a single o-ring groove.

 

And yes, the vacuum level loss due to the dipstick not being seated and those codes could be related. 

 

And just as a by-the-by, I know Leonardtown very well, love Salsa's restaurant, and the Calvert Marine Museum on Solomons Island..................

 

[ARModen]

I would have someone else take the oil pan off and check to make sure there's nothing floating around in there.  There's a screen on the oil pickup and some orings that might have come loose.  It's a relatively easy but seriously messy job.  I did it on my driveway and had oil in my ears.

 

I read another post on the rennlist forums where that P1128 code was caused by a leaky oil fill cap, so that'd be about the same thing as the dipstick being loose.  

 

P1128 & P1130 - Rennlist - Porsche Discussion Forums

RENNLIST.COM

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Boxster & Boxster S (986) Forum - P1128 & P1130 - Just purchased a 2001 986 with 69,000 miles. PO said that he was getting an occasional CEL. He said that he would clean the MAFS and erase the CEL. This would occur every 3 to 4 months. My interpretation of the codes is...

 

Edited April 7, 2023 by ARModen

[slotsmd]

Thanks for your inputs, my dipstick is the 014 03 OEM part with the red tip so I'm pretty confident I have the right part. I'll get that pan pulled and check in there. Seems there must be something in the way preventing it seating and that would explain it.

BTW, I no longer live in Leonardtown, although Salsa's remains a family favorite (we used to hit that place pretty much every Sunday after church!). We now live in Solomons down near the CD Cafe, and my dad volunteers at the Museum... Tiki Bar grand opening the weekend of the 21st!

[JFP in PA]

26 minutes ago, slotsmd said:

Thanks for your inputs, my dipstick is the 014 03 OEM part with the red tip so I'm pretty confident I have the right part. I'll get that pan pulled and check in there. Seems there must be something in the way preventing it seating and that would explain it.

BTW, I no longer live in Leonardtown, although Salsa's remains a family favorite (we used to hit that place pretty much every Sunday after church!). We now live in Solomons down near the CD Cafe, and my dad volunteers at the Museum... Tiki Bar grand opening the weekend of the 21st!

My wife and I are major contributors to the museum's river otter program, and we also both volunteer as time permits with us living several states away. And when you get a chance, try Salsa's second location just up the road in Lusby, definitely a favorite.  Small world..............😉