What's wrong with this picture?
 

From a craigslist ad I saw today:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/Oil1370040740.jpg

What's wrong with this picture?

TO

The oil level counter has stopped and its reading zero oil?

Oxford - thats the US spec diesel engined Boxster - only revving to 6,400rpm......
Should be redlined @ 7,200rpm if I'm not mistaken.

What's the orange light/sticker above the seatbelt one??

That's the CEL
That tach is for 2.5

The MPH should be in the speedometer window and the odometer should be in the tachometer window... At least that is the configuration on my Boxster. Looks like there are display options I did not know about.

Jäger, it's not a display option, it was that way on earlier boxsters.

Isn't that the high temperature warning light that is on in the temp gauge, while the gauge reads low temperature? That can't be normal?

The lights are all on because its Key On Engine Off...They will all be illuminated until the engine is off, then the car will run its monitors and turn off all the unnecessary lights.

I'm still betting on the its out of oil theory.

Mine does out of oil when I first turn the key.

This is basically my head unit. I can't spot anything

Mileage looks Photoshopped.

The temp warning light is momentarily turned on when the key is turned on as a self-check. Just like all of the warning indicator lights. Completely normal.

Oil level indicator not showing any level is normal while the countdown timer is displayed (showing 2:41 in the photo). This indicates that you need to wait 2 mins and 41 sec until the oil level measurment is valid.

C'mon Oxford, who's the winner - don't be shy.......

The only thing I can see that is different to mine is the outside temp gauge under the mph, which I don't have, and the airbag light goes out very quickly, and there is no roof light, but I am not sure if that stays on at all until you start her up.

What struck me straight off was the oil level gauge. I think it's obvious that the picture was taken immediately after the key was turned, but the car not started.

Here's a shot of my dash under basically the same conditions:


http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/Bars1370092943.jpg


Notice that some of the bars in the oil level gauge are illuminated. As you know, they will all flash on and off until the timer reaches zero. My thought was that the gauge was faulty. But since the bars are flashing, could it be possible that the picture was snapped at the exact same instance that the some of the bars were turning off, and just before the next set of bars were turning on?

Well I'll be darned if I didn't replicate that also:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1370093197.jpg

So........what's wrong with the original posted picture? Maybe nothing, but I sure thought it was funny that the owner of the Boxster would post a classified ad for the car with a picture of an oil level gauge that read zero.

Thank you all for playing; it was great reading all your responses, and we'll see you all again on the next edition of "What's wrong with this picture?" :)

TO

p.s. What's wrong with this picture:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/Temp1370093682.jpg

The speedo is at "0". Drive it already! :D

you've got two idiot lights on!

One really shouldn't drive these things while framing a picture and pointing a camera at the dash.

Nope. The two illuminated warning lights are for:

the spoiler, which goes off when the car starts moving.
the parking brake, which goes off after release.

What's wrong is that it's only 7:03 am and it's already nearly 80 degrees out?? :)

I tried. Nothing happened.

http://i896.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf4cbf54a.jpg

WE HAVE OURSELVES A WINNER !!!!! :D

Congrats to pharaohjb. Ever think of moving to Dallas?

TO

80 is nothing.


We are triple digits at all times

Good, someone I can ask about comparable coolant temps then. :) Often my coolant temps will reach the middle of the 0 in 100+ degree weather. Does yours do the same?

Yep. When properly warmed up, the needle idles in the middle of zero.

And to prove I'm not exaggerating:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...20955575_n.jpg

This is in my garage. As in, where it's cool.

Thanks. That makes me feel a LOT better as I was wondering if I still had a coolant issue or not.

Third edition of "What's Wrong with This Picture":

What's wrong with this picture of the instrument panel of a 1997 Boxster with a stock 2.5L engine, currently listed on eBay:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1387653677.jpg

TO

Indicated RPM seems implausable

1st pic is a 1996-2000 IP it has the larger MPH digital readout in the tach. One of the reasons I bought a 2000.

Surely you wouldn't try to use the time thing again.

You are correct, sir.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1387678114.jpg

TO

I'm correct that you wouldn't or I'm correct that it is. I suppose I'd be right no matter how you answer.
:cheers:

out of oil
 

it's the low oil indication. Mine shows the oil level after the counter is done. It doesn't drop to "no oil".

Idiot is over revving the engine! The 2.5l if redlined at 6400 or 6500! I wouldn't buy the abused car!

Three things struck me when I initially saw the picture in the ad.

Most serious was the engine registering 1000 RPM over the indicated redline. According to the text of the ad, the “car was babied never raced or mistreated…”. Don’t know about that, but then again, this “car will not last long”. I’d probably believe that statement.

Since the car was revving under no load, it may have been just a split second over-rev, and the camera caught the tach needle at just the right time.

Remember now, these pics come from actual ads. They’re posted by people trying to sell these cars, so you would think they would perform some due diligence and actually look at the pics they’re posting.

I did notice that the time was off. Don’t know of any place where the sun is shining high in the sky at 5:06 in the morning. Well, maybe near the poles at certain times of the year, but then again, those places never see 84 degree weather.

Lastly, the temp is climbing above 180 degrees which is probably no cause for concern, but..........I’m just sayin’……………..

TO