Fuel Gauge Reading

[Strawfordt]

Everyone's been very helpful here....Thank you.

Has any one had a problem with their fuel gauge? After filling I'm getting a tank reading of about 3/4 full. Maybe i"m getting an early shut off and leaving the tank empty.

Please share your experiences.

All the best

[Strawfordt]

No one has had a fuel tank reading concern???? Bummer.

[70Sixter]

This is all I found in one search:

3/4 is as full as it gets!

[Strawfordt]

Originally Posted by 70Sixter

This is all I found in one search:

3/4 is as full as it gets!

Thanks Mike.

Not worth the hassle. I guess i'll be leaving it then.

[Sammy]

I can't say that I have had fuel reading concerns but what I can say is that I had trouble with my fuel gauge. The fuel gauge would take 10 miles after I left a gas station to finally read full. The needle moved that slow! The dealer replaced the sending unit and that did not fix it. They finally replaced the gauge cluster and all is well now. Can't help with your concern but can confirm issues with the gauge.

[derb]

Strawfordt,
Once again I have the same problem going on. My fuel gauge will read just under 2/4 after a fill-up. It will go to 4/4 once in a while. Once the fuel level drops past the stuck position of the gauge needle the needle follows the tank level. Right now I just fill-up after about 250 miles and it only takes about 10 gallons.
Once or twice I have been able to get the guage to read correctly by just turning the key on and off several times.
It's annoying as RandallNeighbour has posted. I also have never had a fuel gauge problem with any vehicle I've ever owned.
I'll get it fixed eventually but it's not at the top of the 'things to fix' list for my '99. The list is quite long so I put this near the bottom.
Sorry I have no solution but I feel your pain- along with Randall's pain.

Regards,

derb

[Strawfordt]

Derb

Originally Posted by derb

I'll get it fixed eventually but it's not at the top of the 'things to fix' list for my '99. The list is quite long so I put this near the bottom.

What else is on your list. I'm finding new opportunities (read problems) all the time.

My nightmare is the RMS leak. Downright infuriating. Dealer says he can replace the RMS but he cannot guarantee that it will not leak again. Even with the Cayenne RMS. Dealer said that if you're not a daily driver then the seals dry out a little and then tend to leak. At the same time the dealer said "he wouldn't be too concerned until the vehicle strated spraying out oil"

Scary advice, don't you think?

[Padawan]

I have this exact same problem, where the gauge will only show 3/4 full when I've "filled" the tank. I can't tell whether the tank is actually completely filling, or whether the gas pump is somehow tripping too early and not giving a complete fill. It's a bit annoying, and I'm curious if this is a common issue, and/or if there's a simple fix?

[Cloudsurfer]

I have the opposite problem, which only occurred since I swapped clusters for a 996 cluster. Mine consistently reads optimistic, which I have concluded I need to go through the calibration process and that should cure my situation.

In yours, I would first pull out the sender, look at it, clean it, test the voltage it puts out, and see if that doesn't help. If the sender appears to be working properly, you may need a recalibration.

Patrick

[Strawfordt]

Originally Posted by bmwm750

I have the opposite problem, which only occurred since I swapped clusters for a 996 cluster. Mine consistently reads optimistic, which I have concluded I need to go through the calibration process and that should cure my situation.

In yours, I would first pull out the sender, look at it, clean it, test the voltage it puts out, and see if that doesn't help. If the sender appears to be working properly, you may need a recalibration.

Patrick

Okay, that is interesting. How does one perform a recalibration of the fuel gauge?

I might just go for this one.

Tom

[Cloudsurfer]

Ask your dealer, its a very specific process that involves draining the tank, adding a specified level of fuel, and calibrating with the PST.

Patrick

[j.fro]

I've got the same problem on my 2000 S. The fuel gauge reads 3/4 after a fill up, sometimes goes up after a while, sometimes not. It seems to be accurate from 1/2 on down. Porsche has issued a Technical Service bulletin for this. It involves untangling some of the wires, hoses, and fuel gauge float in the fuel tank. It doesn't look to be too much trouble. I'll have a go at it Saturday and let you all know how it goes.

[trunkmonkey]

Originally Posted by Padawan

I have this exact same problem, where the gauge will only show 3/4 full when I've "filled" the tank. I can't tell whether the tank is actually completely filling, or whether the gas pump is somehow tripping too early and not giving a complete fill. It's a bit annoying, and I'm curious if this is a common issue, and/or if there's a simple fix?

I have this problem too but in my case the gas tank is not actually full and the pump is just auto-shutoff. I found this info about it:
http://www.986faq.com/10-0/problems.asp#018

Mine is a 987 2007, the dealer says they can't reproduce the problem so they wont fix it. anyone have this issue with a 987?

[porsche986spyder]

Originally Posted by trunkmonkey

I have this problem too but in my case the gas tank is not actually full and the pump is just auto-shutoff. I found this info about it:
http://www.986faq.com/10-0/problems.asp#018

Mine is a 987 2007, the dealer says they can't reproduce the problem so they wont fix it. anyone have this issue with a 987?

I found the easiest and simplest way to get the correct reading NO MATTER WHAT MODEL BOXSTER you have is to fill your tank up with the key turned to the far right, the "ON" position that will display your readings. Of course do not turn the car on so the engine starts. Simply fill your tank up and you can watch the gas gauge fill while you sit in your car. You will never get a false reading this way and it will "FILL UP" to the full mark on the tank reading this way.

[Padawan]

Originally Posted by porsche986spyder

I found the easiest and simplest way to get the correct reading NO MATTER WHAT MODEL BOXSTER you have is to fill your tank up with the key turned to the far right, the "ON" position that will display your readings. Of course do not turn the car on so the engine starts. Simply fill your tank up and you can watch the gas gauge fill while you sit in your car. You will never get a false reading this way and it will "FILL UP" to the full mark on the tank reading this way.

You're mistakenly assuming that the fuel sending unit is functioning correctly, which it doesn't seem to be in certain cases, hence the TSB discussed in this thread. Incidentally, mine must have somehow freed itself (temporarily, at least) and finally registered a full tank at my last few fill-ups. I never thought I'd be so pleased to simply have a fuel gauge that works.

[RandallNeighbour]

Just to add what I'm learning about this issue, which my car has as well (full = 5/8 reading), I read that there is a fuel tank vent valve can be bad or the fuse for it (E8??) has burned out.

I have also discovered that my tank wasn't totally full when the pump clicked off automatically. I had to dribble in the last gallon or two to get it to fill up and raise the needle to 7/8.

However, I still have a problem with an accurate reading. Just once since I replaced my sending unit and had it calibrated by my mechanic (requires a PST tool) has the car read 4/4 when it was full. Grrr!

One other issue is that when I am at 1/4, the low fuel light comes on brightly. Seems a little premature, even though one should not run to empty in our cars (remaining fuel keeps the fuel pump cool and from overheating).

I have yet to check my fuses, but I just might go home tonight and make a bee-line for the garage to check this out.

This problem has always frustrated me about owning my car!