[j.fro]

After my mistake (breaking my original fuel sending unit) and the salvage yard's mistake (shipping the wrong sending unit), I've finally got my car back together. The good news is that the fuel gauge reads perfectly now! The Porsche TSB for 2001 and earlier 986/996 says that the cause of an erroneous fuel gauge reading is the way the two fuel hoses are zip tied together. They advise removing the old ties and retying the hoses so that they are perfectly parallel. I simply removed the ties and made sure that they are out of the way of the float (they weren't before). Unfortunately, I can't tell you that this will do the trick, because I ended up having to replace the entire sending unit. What I can tell you is that I got a used sending unit from DC auto for $75. I figure that I'm still ahead vs taking it to someone else. Here's a bit of wisdom that I gained from this: First, be very careful with the plastic fittings on your sending unit. Age, heat, and gasoline will make them brittle. Second, in 2002, Porsche changed the sending unit. The later ones are waaay different. And finally, be absolutely certain you hear a click when reattaching those quick-disconnect fuel lines, then, give it a tug straight back to make sure it is secure.