Rev Needle Wobble - Is this normal? (with video)
Rev Needle Wobble - Is this normal? (with video)
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gwsinc

Original Poster:

321 posts

104 months

Monday 27th August 2018
quotequote all
Afternoon All

My 2011 987.2 Cayman S has had a rev needle wobble at idle since I got it a couple of months ago. I changed the oil today (not specifically to fix this, only because I don't like leaving a 2 year interval between oil changes!) and it's still the same.

The video is linked below, is this normal or an early sign that a sensor or the likes is past it's best?

It was taken at idle just after I checked the oil level so the engine is warm - however oil temperature doesn't seem to affect it. When accelerating or holding revs on the accelerator there is no wobble.

Thanks for your help in advance.

https://youtu.be/kWx18EX3txs



Edited by gwsinc on Monday 27th August 18:29

pete.g

1,531 posts

230 months

Monday 27th August 2018
quotequote all
Do you mean the car is hunting at idle or that the needle is quivering but the revs remain steady?

Hunting is usually a vacuum leak, a quivering needle is an electrical issue.


gwsinc

Original Poster:

321 posts

104 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
quotequote all
pete.g said:
Do you mean the car is hunting at idle or that the needle is quivering but the revs remain steady?

Hunting is usually a vacuum leak, a quivering needle is an electrical issue.
It's hunting at idle, but only very very slightly. The needle moves as shown in the video, and you can feel/hear it in the engine.

Looking through the forums its a common complaint so I think it's probably normal, and there is no appreciable loss of performance.

Could cleaning the MAF or any other sensor help?


RacerMike

4,636 posts

235 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
quotequote all
Porsche don't tend to put much damping into the needle, so it's reflecting the true engine speed rather than one people expect to see. No idle is ever totally constant (it'll very by +-50rpm at least) and that's what you're seeing. My 987 used to do exactly the same, and a number of 991's I've driven do similar things.

gwsinc

Original Poster:

321 posts

104 months

Tuesday 28th August 2018
quotequote all
Thanks, this (and all the YouTube videos exactly the same as mine I've found) are re-assurance enough that there's nothing wrong.

GWS