re-calibrate gas gauge
 

Hello everyone.
I am new to the forum and want to wish all happy holidays!:)
I bought a 1998 boxster recently with a check light on and a gas gauge needle stuck on or near empty.
I am a retired guy trying to do as many DIY jobs as I can on my own.
So I replaced the sending unit with a new one. The old sending unit seemed to be the original one and was in really bad shape. The float was froze and all metals were corroded.
After the replacement I started the car and the needle on the gas gauge moved up to almost to the 1/4 tank mark and the check engine light went out. I felt proud I had done my first DIY job. However that happy feeling did not last long. I took the car to fill up the tank and when I started it again the needle moved a bit and stopped at the original empty or nearly empty mark. The check engine light came on again.
Now that the sending unit is new I am back focusing on the fuel gauge.
I understand from reading online that the gauge needs to be recalibrated. There is little information that I can find with regards on how to recalibrate. I saw a youtube video where where a someone said to remove the lens over the gauge and with your finger to manually move the needle up to the full position with the ignition key in the off position when the tank is full. He claims when the ignition key is turn on again the needle should now stay up at full mark and that's how this issue gets fixed.
The guy demonstrated this on a Honda Civic but said this is generally done on most makes of cars. But I am just afraid to make things worse by physically messing with the needle.
Has anyone had a similar experience and know how to re-calibrate or do whatever needs to be done to fix this issue? Any information will be highly appreciated.

You should also get a code reader that supports the Porsche-specific codes. Most swear to the Porsche Durametric Enthusiast.

Until you know what's causing the CEL you are groping in the dark.

Fuel gauge calibration requires the Factory Diagnostic tool & a certain fuel level. Seek out a independent that has this as they should be cheaper than a Porsche Dealer.
Quetions like this should be posted in the technical colum for best responce. Welcome to the forum!

Thanks for the reply Anker!
I thought there might be a quick and inexpensive way to fix this.
The Durametric enthusiast code reader is almost $300.
I might consider buying if I knew I had much more use for it down the road.
Any thoughts...

Thanks for the advice BYprovider!
How do I post my question on the technical column?
Which tab is it???
Thanks again!

If you want to work on your Boxster you need the right tools. There's nothing that's more expensive than delivering a botched repair job to a delership. Trust me, I have been there.

If you want a less expensive code reader that reads Porsche codes you cal also buy an Autel, but it can't do everything the Durametric can, and its still a couple of hundred $.

Try to go to your local autoparts store and ask them if they ha a code reader that you can borrow, and whether it can read Porsche-specific codes.

You will need at least a PST-2 to recalibrate the gauge.