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YOUR RESEARCHHow do I reset the fuel gauge? 996
Reported or suspected cause
e6 fuse
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Reported cause
I then took the car to the dealer and after two visits and $800 USD later it turns out it was the E6 fuse!!
Leading evidence: 'e6 fuse' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'e6 fuse' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check fuse' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I replaced the fuel sensor and checked the lines for blockage of the float.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I had to reset my instrument cluster on an almost empty tank on my C4 (removed the screw and disconnected the harnesses).
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I filled the tank to the max and reset the cluster once more.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I replaced the fuel sensor and checked the lines for blockage of the float.
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23 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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4 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
It has worked right on vacation through 1700 miles.
I made a mistake and refueled while running. Fuel gauge is off, ever since. I thought the owners manual had this info, but scanning through it , I can't find it. Do you guys know the trick?
Never heard of this one before. You could do as described above, it might work. Or, disconnect the negative battery terminal for a short period of time, say 10 minutes, reconnect and see if that resets the fuel gauge.
I've been told by a Porsche dealer "there is no reset/re-calibration - you need a new sender"...
whatever... I reset my trip odometer upon refill, and always refill around 200 miles
I agree. This doesn't make sense at all. The fuel level system is an active measurement device. The 996 uses an age old mechanical float type system. Think about it like this - you're parked on a steep hill in San Francisco while the car is running. The fuel level reads to almost empty. You then get in the car and drive to level surface and now the gauge is reading 1/4 tank. The same principal behind sitting and pouring more fuel into the tank. It doesn't care. In my opinion, you have a malfunctioning fuel level sending unit mechanism that is located in the fuel tank. It's more than likely stuck and giving a false read. I would trying refilling it full and driving for a while and see if it unlocks itself. After a few tanks and doesn't improve, then I would recommend installing a new unit - part# 99662083302
In my case, I've got a C4 (not sure if the OP said his is a C4 or not) which has the "saddle tank" (split tank to accommodate the front diff). Because of this, the sender is only in one half of the tank...The fuel level in the other half of the tank is "interpreted" by the DME based on the info it's getting from the sender. I'm not sure I understand exactly why or how the system was designed like this. All I know, is that I've tried all of the "resets and fixes" (emptying tank, refilling tank, removing battery etc. etc. etc...asking the dealer to re-calibrate etc...). Mine still doesn't work - It reads full when full, but only goes down to slightly less than 1/4 when empty - Almost like it's calibrated for liters or something (don't know why it would be as it's a US car). Once again - whatever! If this is the worst of my problems, I'll deal with it the way I have been for the last 3.5 yrs.
Have u changed the sender or pulled it and done a test outside the tank. Its not that hard. I suspect there is something wrong with the arm or sender itself. I have had floats go bad and other issues on other cars do to age and rough roads.
I had to reset my instrument cluster on an almost empty tank on my C4 (removed the screw and disconnected the harnesses). The gauge was off on restart. I filled the tank to the max and reset the cluster once more. The gauge reset to max. Fixed.
This is a known issue. There was even a TSB on it. My car had the sender replaced at one point, yet my fuel gauge has always been off (it never shows more than 7/8th of a tank).
There are a few threads out there on this if you do a search.
You could run the gas tank to pretty much empty. Then pull the battery for 10 mins. Then power it on and fill it up.
Found a reference in the 996 Essential Companion (author: Adrian Streather) about an issue with the fuel level senders in pre-model year 2001, 996 Carrera 4 and GT-3 models. There is a potential problem with the fuel level system if battery power is lost for any reason and there is less than 5 US Gals of fuel in the tank. When the power is restored the fuel level reading on the instrument cluster will be incorrect or even deleted. If the fuel tank has less than 2.6 US Gals the low fuel level warning light will not function either. The only solution is to fill the tank to full to force the fuel level measuring system into an accurate operating range. Apparently the fault was eventually rectified by a software update to the instrument cluster.
"All I know, is that I've tried all of the "resets and fixes" (emptying tank, refilling tank, removing battery etc. etc. etc...asking the dealer to re-calibrate etc...). Mine still doesn't work - It reads full when full, but only goes down to slightly less than 1/4 when empty"
^^ Once again...with emphasis this time! ^^^
** I haven't pulled the sender out yet...if anything, that will be my next try...
Thanks for all the replies. It has been off for a year. Would read empty(light on) with actually about 3/8 of a tank. I finally tried something and it seems to have worked. The car is a C4. I ran the fuel to near empty several times in a row and finally it read full and was full. I.e., took 14.6 gallons to fill it. It has worked right on vacation through 1700 miles. Can't think why this worked, but its reading right now....
This exact thing happened to mine. Refueled with car running - screwed up fuel sender reading - and my fix was the same. I ran the car until almost out of gas (watching the odometer as an indicator) then refueled to full - problem solved. I have no idea what in Porsche's electronics gets tripped up, but your "fix" seems to be the go-to method.
I replaced the fuel sensor and checked the lines for blockage of the float. Drained and refilled the tank and still the and read less than 1/2 full. I then took the car to the dealer and after two visits and $800 USD later it turns out it was the E6 fuse!! Please check that first as it�s not labeled as dealing with the fuel sensing circuit but it powers the fuel tank nozzle sensor that actuated the fuel vent when it detects metal. If the vent is not working you will not be able to fill the tank and think that you have. As they say in the US my pain your gain... 😖
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