More woe...Fuel Gauge stuck...

[fragdude]

My fuel gauge warning light came on yesterday before I got home. I decided I didn't want to go get gas just yet, and I would do it tomorrow when I had the time (gas is expensive near me, and cheaper a bit further away). So, today I went to the gym and I figured I might as well put some gas in the car for now so that I would be able to go and get cheaper gas. I went to the gas station, put just under 5 gallons in the car and when I turned the car on lo and behold, the fuel gauge actually went down even further a bit. Perplexed I went inside, asked if there was anyway possible that the station tank was empty or if the pump may be wrong. The attendant responded that he was positive I got the fuel I paid for. Eager to figure out what was wrong, I decided to fill up right there and then (10.4 gallons for 50 dollars ). Once I finished filling up, my fuel guage hadn't moved an inch. Is there a way to reset the fuel guage? or is this a problem with the measuring equipment? btw its a 2002 Boxster S.
Thanks again...

[Brucelee]

It is really hard to say. Could be the sending unit in the tank, or the actual gauge.
Sounds like you are off to the shop.

Let us know.

[Quickurt]

Could be any number of things, most of them simple, two of them expensive.

"If you feel like you're under control, you're just not going fast enough."
-Mario Andretti (cliche!)

"Dad taught me everything I know, but he didn't teach me everything he knows."
-Michael Andretti

[Tool Pants]

There is a problem with some 2002s. There are hoses in the fuel tank. When the tank is empty the fuel level float can get hung up on the hoses and give you a false reading of an emptly tank. Porsche issued a bulletin on this in 2004. The fix is to tie the hoses out of the way of the float.

You might just keep driving the car and see if the float frees itself.

I hope you put in a total of 10.4 gallons, and not 5 plus 10.4. The tank does not hold 15 gallons....

[BoxsterLewis]

When i fill up i got 16+ Gallons..it was almost $70 to fill up yesterday

[fragdude]

Thanks for the tip tools pants! I'll prolly try some hard accel/braking to try and dislodge it

As for the tank, I believe the manual said it could hold something like 17 gallons...Porsches generally have relatively large fuel tanks (my brothers is 22 gallons)

[Tool Pants]

I just looked at a 2002 owners manual and it is 16.9 gallons. The most I have been able to put in in 9 years of ownership is about 13.5 with 15 miles remaining on the obc, so you guys are running these things dry.

It might just cure itself once the fuel level starts to go down and the fuel sloshes around to dislodge the float.

[fragdude]

ergg...lets hope I don't have that long! the fuel gauge is showing about 2 mm above E. It would be a total bummer if I was trying to dislodge the float and just ran out of gas....

[rick3000]

If you can't get it dislodged, a cheap solution would be to do the OBC hack for about $50. Then you will get your miles till empty, which is all I use now. I rarely use the gauge anymore.
But the OBC may be dependent on the gauge.

[fragdude]

the float dislodged itself over night!!!
I guess there probably are some pipes in the way of it in the fuel tank...

I want to get the OBC hack so that i can see the outside temp, but with a 2002 to get the miles till empty requires a stalk I believe... And the dealer wants me to pay to get the temp displayed (I wouldn't be surprised if they charged me $120)

I'm gonna go to rennwork tomorrow near me (finally found their address) and ask them how much it would cost for them to change my RMS and if they can turn my OBC on!

Thanks for all the help everyone!

[BoxsterDuke]

I think I have the same issue on my 2003 2.7 Boxster. twice now I have filled up from almost empty with about a 40-50 miles range, and each time when I have got back in the car with a full tank and fired her back up, the Fuel indicator stays where it was and the range stays at 40-50 miles till empty. The first time I drove for 50 miles then re-filled to the brim again just to convince myself there was petrol. Each time it seems to have cleared itself overnight.

Could this be the same issue with the hoses in the fuel tank catching the fuel level float, and if they are positioned near to the bottom, is the best thing to just keep filling up on half-a-tank?

Can anyone direct me to the 2004 Bulletin, which Tool Pants mentioned below please?

Thanks Guys.

[BoxsterDuke]

How difficult is it to cable-tie the hoses in the fuel tank, out of the way from catching the fuel level float? Has anyone done this DIY, or is it something to negotiate for, when you have a service done? THANKS.

[terry.hatton]

Did you get this issue sorted? My 2004 (53) 986 Boxster S has been doing this and the technicians at the Porsche Dealer in Bristol are scratching their heads! They replaced the sender unit but it is still doing it.

Thanks

Terry

[derb]

Boxster Technical Service Bulletin 1/04 #2066 dated March 26, 2004.
Hard to believe the Porsche dealer can't figure it out.

I did this myself and the hardest part is getting the retaining ring off the fuel tank without the special tool.

[Jager]

Happened to me with my 2001 Boxster... One of the hoses inside the gas tank prevented the guage float from moving.

Jager