Well done! Using your directions I just corrected the problem of the fuel gauge on my '84 944 NA bouncing around and reading empty when there was gas in the tank. I couldn't have done it without your instruction on how to create a special tool by modifying a flat blade screwdriver. (Probably available for $150 from Porsche.) Thank you. -Greg
I have an 81 924 and the gauge is pretty similar, though mine was destroyed internally because someone left bad gas chilling in the tank for like 10 years, when I first saw the level I was confused what it was for but after seeing some vides I was happy to learn it wasn't some weird fuel pump thing. Great video!
Your videos are so terrific. I just fixed the sender on my 1988 924S which just started to hover between half full and three quarters . I tended just to fill the car up to about three quarters full and on removing the sender from the tube I could clearly see dirt on the fine wires all around the three quarter mark. I would not attempt that job from reading a book - your videos make anything seem possible. Thanks!
Thank you for sharing, I discovered your channel several weeks ago because I'm considering purchasing a 944. One of my favorite cars back in my teen years in the 80's.
Thanks for this vid! I just did mine. I used contact cleaner. Worked well. Yeah those wires are scary thin. Have to be really careful not to damage them.
Amen to this guy🙏 I just bought a 944 Thursday night, 2 days ago and I need to fix a few details here and there and man is saving me already on the first thing
Thanks for the video. Without having to pull the sender out, I should be able to short the purple wire to the brown wire and watch the gauge go from empty to full, correct? That'll prove that the gauge is not faulty.
Thank you...your videos are a real blessing to Porsche lovers like me. My gauge never would read full and now it’s stuck at 1/2 tank. Will my ‘84 be similar?
Great vid, I have a 86 with the oval dash, but I assume it's pretty much the same work here. I was thinking of just buying a new sending unit and swapping it out. This video gave me the confidence on doing it myself since to be honest, I'm not mechanically inclined. Also, does this sending unit also tell the pump to stop fueling because it's "full"? I realized the other day my 944 doesn't stop the pump.
I also made a video on the later cars fuel sender setup. I'm guessing you mean the pump at the service station? The nozzle on the service station pump uses a venturi device that knows when to stop when full. So if it isn't stopping the pump then you could have a leak in your fuel system not allowing it to stop. I hope that helps!
Great video just completed mine but the plastic sleeve around the nut came off ,the nuts ok but does the plastic sleeve need to go back on, it seems very loose now and won’t stay on Thanks again
Hi! Thanks for this detailed video - it helps me not to be afraid to solve this problem myself. But.. the problem still exists. My fuel level in dashboard still indicates wrong fuel capacity before this repair and after repair. By full tank it shows half a tank in dashboard and it decrease proportional till level arrow turns to low level, but in reality the fuel is half a tank. Good thing that lamp indicates the real low fuel level. After I opened the fuel gauge body, I realised that it is in very good condition. Despite that I cleaned all wires and contacts. Before installation back in tank, I checked the gauge by turning it upside down and the fuel level arrow moving from full to low level and lamp indicates. After installation gauge in tank - the level arrow still shows less fuel then it should be. I also tried to short the purple wire with brown and arrow turns to full level. Now I'm in despair )) Thanks if You have any suggestions to solve this.
It’s common for the gauge to cause this as well. Many times it can be corrosion on the plug on the back of the gauge. I’ve even had to open up the gauge to clean corrosion off. There is also a ground behind the fuse box that needs to be cleaned up that one often affects all the other gauges. I hope that helps!
Thanks for the video! I need your help haha I have a 1987 924s. I followed your video and my fuel gauge still doesn't work. While the cylinder was out of the fuel tank and I twisted it and heard the rubber mechanism moving to full/empty and the gauge still didn't read correctly. I then unplugged the three plugs to clean the terminals and still, same issue. Any ideas? Every other gauge on the dash works. Im guessing its just wiring, is there a way to verify/fix.
You can try grounding the wires. The brown wire is the ground you can use. You should see the gauge go to full or the red light come on depending on the wire. If the gauge doesn't go to full, then there is an issue with the gauge itself.
I tried this but the main shaft was quite pitted , glass blasted it gently and it cleaned up well. That said , the low fuel light works when the sender is out of the car but not in the tank and the gauge just goes from zero to full regardless of the tank quantity if I power it up . Very confusing
Have you ever considered doing a video on how to judge the condition of one of these cars when looking at purchasing one? I hope to be looking for a reasonably clean '83-85/1 'roller' in the next few months if you know of anyone looking to sell.
I have been planning to do a buyers guide video that will include an early and late car, even a 924S. At the moment I either need to clean up my cars and use them in the video or borrow some some clean examples. Not sure which I'm going to do yet, but both will take some time and planning. To make it easier I might just make three separate videos instead, thanks!
Its a fairly straightforward system. There's a plastic line that runs from the tank to the charcoal canister behind the front fender with a 'T' in the line. The other line runs off of it to the emission control valve. Depending on the year of your car you can look up all the vacuum lines that run off of it and make sure they're connected. I also made a video on the vacuum lines that may help! Good luck!
Change the rubber fuel lines now if you still have original lines. Then send the injectors off to be cleaned and flow matched so you will know they are leaking externally. Also change the fuel pressure regulator seal and make sure there is no fuel coming out of the vacuum line on it. While these may not be your issue it’s a good place to start whenever you smell fuel since it could be a sign your car is getting ready to burn to the ground. Once those are addressed you can check the less serious issues such as charcoal canister etc. however anytime I’ve smelled fuel in the past on these cars it’s usually something bad that was luckily caught just in time.
I’m unable to wiggle the sender unit out of the tank. It seems to reach the end and won’t budge with reasonable (and slightly more) force. I wonder if some varnish has developed on the end. Any ideas? Let a little carb cleaner run down the unit? How much force can this delicate unit take?
Sometimes that happens. I've found that the round plastic piece on the bottom isn't always centered correctly. So find the side that is catching and try to remove the opposite side first. It should slip out sort of at an angle then the other side should come out. Might take a little effort but if you're careful you shouldn't really hurt it. Before re-installing it you can use some sand paper and correct the side that is catching... then just spray it off to remove any dust. I hope that helps!
Thank you. I got it with some twisting and tilting. It seemed as if the housing was a little out of shape (flared at the bottom) as opposed to the off center plastic piece. It was trouble placing it back also. Nonetheless, it works! And I have a quarter tank...who knew? I’ve learned from your other videos and I’m anticipating more. Valve job? Fuel distributor rebuild?
Have you ran into any issues of your 924 dying shortly after starting? Mine starts for about 4 seconds and dies. I am a bit new and very lost on Porsche’s.
Not sure since I've had to do this to every car I've ever worked on. As far as I know, carb cleaner is the only thing that works, so perhaps others have tried to clean the wires but ultimately failed to get it to work.
For me personally, I've always been intimidated to work with anything fuel related on my car. This vid made me realize, notorious fuel gauge issue fix is no big deal, as long you disconnect that battery.
I should have shown it in the video but I later compared this one here that I cleaned to a brand new sender out of the box and it performed exactly like the new one. Good luck!
Could be that someone mixed up the wires on the sender. Since the float has to go all the way down in order to turn it on, it could be that the wire is just grounded out somewhere. I hope that helps!
hey would you know if there any tricks to get the water temp gague working on my 85.5 na . i put a new temp sensor in and checked the wires and the grounds and i can't seem to get it working ... anything I'm over looking?
Hard to say, but I once worked on an early 944 with a non-functioning temp gauge. I ended up having to pull the gauge and clean the contacts. I hope that helps!
Its a similar process but it is different. I have the sender pulled from my 1986 944 to film that episode but haven't gotten around to finishing it yet. To clean the late sender you need to remove to two hoses on top, then use an oil filter wrench to remove the ring cap. Once that's done it just comes out, but rather than using a modified screw driver you'll just need a small socket to remove the two tiny nuts. I hope that helps, and thanks!
That's usually the culprit. I don't hear about the speedometers going out too often, but I suppose it does happen. You might could try finding a cheap used one first to test with before dropping a lot of money on something that might not be the the issue. I hope that helps!
Wow! 3.19 for Super, is that 91 or 93 octane? I am paying 2.79 for 91 here in Oklahoma (we don't get 93 here) It's amazing how simple a lot of the stuff on these cars really is. Would my 86 951 have this style or the later style? Thanks for the video!!
I filled up with 93. That said, NC has always had expensive gas but we have nice roads for the most part. A lot of people around here drive to SC to fill up but it really isn't feasible for me. The roads are terrible in SC, so its a trade off I guess. Also, your car will have the late fuel sender. I hope that helps!
You Sir make owning a 944 affordable.
Very well done video. Thanks edredas! You've not only saved us money, but you've helped us enjoy our 944s even more.
Well done! Using your directions I just corrected the problem of the fuel gauge on my '84 944 NA bouncing around and reading empty when there was gas in the tank. I couldn't have done it without your instruction on how to create a special tool by modifying a flat blade screwdriver. (Probably available for $150 from Porsche.) Thank you. -Greg
I have an 81 924 and the gauge is pretty similar, though mine was destroyed internally because someone left bad gas chilling in the tank for like 10 years, when I first saw the level I was confused what it was for but after seeing some vides I was happy to learn it wasn't some weird fuel pump thing.
Great video!
Your videos are so terrific. I just fixed the sender on my 1988 924S which just started to hover between half full and three quarters . I tended just to fill the car up to about three quarters full and on removing the sender from the tube I could clearly see dirt on the fine wires all around the three quarter mark. I would not attempt that job from reading a book - your videos make anything seem possible. Thanks!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing and I’m glad you got it working!
Thank you for sharing, I discovered your channel several weeks ago because I'm considering purchasing a 944. One of my favorite cars back in my teen years in the 80's.
Thanks for this vid! I just did mine. I used contact cleaner. Worked well. Yeah those wires are scary thin. Have to be really careful not to damage them.
Amen to this guy🙏 I just bought a 944 Thursday night, 2 days ago and I need to fix a few details here and there and man is saving me already on the first thing
Thanks! Always glad to help out!
Thanks for the video. Without having to pull the sender out, I should be able to short the purple wire to the brown wire and watch the gauge go from empty to full, correct? That'll prove that the gauge is not faulty.
Yes! 👍
Just came across your channel. You good Sir are my hero. Thanks for all your videos. This one especially helped with my upkeep and current build.
Thanks! Good luck with your project!
Thank you boss, your videos help me keep my 944. Much appreciated. 👍👍
No problem! Thanks!
And now I'm going to have to do this to mine, thanks again for your great service videos, ✌
No problem, and Good luck! I drove it today and it was nice knowing how much fuel I actually have in the tank!
After 2 years of guessing the gas gauge , it's finally time to do it 👍
Super easy looking fix, those modules are expensive, glad I saw this :)
Master of 944
I pulled mine after watching this video and it was so rusty I had to replace with a good used one. Now the gauge works great.
Thank you...your videos are a real blessing to Porsche lovers like me. My gauge never would read full and now it’s stuck at 1/2 tank. Will my ‘84 be similar?
Yup! This video is for all 944's from 1982-1985.1. Good luck!
I used Harbor Freights Security Bit Set With Case, 100 Pc. and it has a slotted bit that works just fine to remove the bottom screw. $10.
Great vid, I have a 86 with the oval dash, but I assume it's pretty much the same work here. I was thinking of just buying a new sending unit and swapping it out. This video gave me the confidence on doing it myself since to be honest, I'm not mechanically inclined.
Also, does this sending unit also tell the pump to stop fueling because it's "full"? I realized the other day my 944 doesn't stop the pump.
I also made a video on the later cars fuel sender setup. I'm guessing you mean the pump at the service station? The nozzle on the service station pump uses a venturi device that knows when to stop when full. So if it isn't stopping the pump then you could have a leak in your fuel system not allowing it to stop. I hope that helps!
@@edredas you got a link for your vid on the later car for the sender setup?
Great video just completed mine but the plastic sleeve around the nut came off ,the nuts ok but does the plastic sleeve need to go back on, it seems very loose now and won’t stay on
Thanks again
Maybe just a washer will work? I would just use something to snug it up and it should be fine. I hope that helps!
Another very informative Video and Project for me to do.
Nice work Edredas! Love the videos!
Thanks!
Another very good video. Thanks Edredas👍
No problem! Always glad to help!
Hi! Thanks for this detailed video - it helps me not to be afraid to solve this problem myself. But.. the problem still exists. My fuel level in dashboard still indicates wrong fuel capacity before this repair and after repair. By full tank it shows half a tank in dashboard and it decrease proportional till level arrow turns to low level, but in reality the fuel is half a tank. Good thing that lamp indicates the real low fuel level.
After I opened the fuel gauge body, I realised that it is in very good condition. Despite that I cleaned all wires and contacts. Before installation back in tank, I checked the gauge by turning it upside down and the fuel level arrow moving from full to low level and lamp indicates. After installation gauge in tank - the level arrow still shows less fuel then it should be. I also tried to short the purple wire with brown and arrow turns to full level.
Now I'm in despair ))
Thanks if You have any suggestions to solve this.
It’s common for the gauge to cause this as well. Many times it can be corrosion on the plug on the back of the gauge. I’ve even had to open up the gauge to clean corrosion off. There is also a ground behind the fuse box that needs to be cleaned up that one often affects all the other gauges. I hope that helps!
Thanks for the video! I need your help haha I have a 1987 924s. I followed your video and my fuel gauge still doesn't work. While the cylinder was out of the fuel tank and I twisted it and heard the rubber mechanism moving to full/empty and the gauge still didn't read correctly. I then unplugged the three plugs to clean the terminals and still, same issue. Any ideas?
Every other gauge on the dash works. Im guessing its just wiring, is there a way to verify/fix.
You can try grounding the wires. The brown wire is the ground you can use. You should see the gauge go to full or the red light come on depending on the wire. If the gauge doesn't go to full, then there is an issue with the gauge itself.
@@edredas thanks!
I tried this but the main shaft was quite pitted , glass blasted it gently and it cleaned up well. That said , the low fuel light works when the sender is out of the car but not in the tank and the gauge just goes from zero to full regardless of the tank quantity if I power it up . Very confusing
Awesome as always. Need to do this to mine
Perfect video, thank you very much...I'm looking forward to see the next one... regards from germany
Thanks for watching!
Great video, as usual
Thanks!
Same type sender as in the Type 3 VW.
Thanks my porsche 944 1986 gas gauge is stuck in one place...awesome tutorial...
No problem! I hope this helps you get it working again!
Nice video, never seen a sender taken apart before, good info..
Have you ever considered doing a video on how to judge the condition of one of these cars when looking at purchasing one? I hope to be looking for a reasonably clean '83-85/1 'roller' in the next few months if you know of anyone looking to sell.
I have been planning to do a buyers guide video that will include an early and late car, even a 924S. At the moment I either need to clean up my cars and use them in the video or borrow some some clean examples. Not sure which I'm going to do yet, but both will take some time and planning. To make it easier I might just make three separate videos instead, thanks!
Speaking of fuel I passed emissions but failed Evap on my 87 944 any idea on common leak point s on these cars to look for?
Its a fairly straightforward system. There's a plastic line that runs from the tank to the charcoal canister behind the front fender with a 'T' in the line. The other line runs off of it to the emission control valve. Depending on the year of your car you can look up all the vacuum lines that run off of it and make sure they're connected. I also made a video on the vacuum lines that may help! Good luck!
So on a fuel related question. I get wafts of fuel oder on hard acceleration on my 87 944 any ideas ? Is it vacuum control valve related?
Change the rubber fuel lines now if you still have original lines. Then send the injectors off to be cleaned and flow matched so you will know they are leaking externally. Also change the fuel pressure regulator seal and make sure there is no fuel coming out of the vacuum line on it.
While these may not be your issue it’s a good place to start whenever you smell fuel since it could be a sign your car is getting ready to burn to the ground. Once those are addressed you can check the less serious issues such as charcoal canister etc. however anytime I’ve smelled fuel in the past on these cars it’s usually something bad that was luckily caught just in time.
That's for the video... worked perfectly on mine... keep the good videos coming
I’m unable to wiggle the sender unit out of the tank. It seems to reach the end and won’t budge with reasonable (and slightly more) force. I wonder if some varnish has developed on the end. Any ideas? Let a little carb cleaner run down the unit? How much force can this delicate unit take?
Sometimes that happens. I've found that the round plastic piece on the bottom isn't always centered correctly. So find the side that is catching and try to remove the opposite side first. It should slip out sort of at an angle then the other side should come out. Might take a little effort but if you're careful you shouldn't really hurt it. Before re-installing it you can use some sand paper and correct the side that is catching... then just spray it off to remove any dust. I hope that helps!
Thank you. I got it with some twisting and tilting. It seemed as if the housing was a little out of shape (flared at the bottom) as opposed to the off center plastic piece. It was trouble placing it back also. Nonetheless, it works! And I have a quarter tank...who knew? I’ve learned from your other videos and I’m anticipating more. Valve job? Fuel distributor rebuild?
Have you ran into any issues of your 924 dying shortly after starting? Mine starts for about 4 seconds and dies. I am a bit new and very lost on Porsche’s.
Check for vacuum leaks. The hoses under the intake are often forgotten and left disconnected while others are prone to deterioration.
@edradas thanks. I did notice the vacuum lines were pretty stiff. I’ll replace the rest of them.
Cool. I've never read about anyone taking one of those apart. It's so easy, I wonder why?
Not sure since I've had to do this to every car I've ever worked on. As far as I know, carb cleaner is the only thing that works, so perhaps others have tried to clean the wires but ultimately failed to get it to work.
For me personally, I've always been intimidated to work with anything fuel related on my car. This vid made me realize, notorious fuel gauge issue fix is no big deal, as long you disconnect that battery.
perfect video many thanks now i can fix it by myself.
I should have shown it in the video but I later compared this one here that I cleaned to a brand new sender out of the box and it performed exactly like the new one. Good luck!
My fuel guage light is always on will this fix the problem?
Could be that someone mixed up the wires on the sender. Since the float has to go all the way down in order to turn it on, it could be that the wire is just grounded out somewhere. I hope that helps!
hey would you know if there any tricks to get the water temp gague working on my 85.5 na . i put a new temp sensor in and checked the wires and the grounds and i can't seem to get it working ... anything I'm over looking?
Hard to say, but I once worked on an early 944 with a non-functioning temp gauge. I ended up having to pull the gauge and clean the contacts. I hope that helps!
Would that be the same for a 87 Porsche 944? I really enjoy your videos they are very helpful thank you!!!!!
Its a similar process but it is different. I have the sender pulled from my 1986 944 to film that episode but haven't gotten around to finishing it yet. To clean the late sender you need to remove to two hoses on top, then use an oil filter wrench to remove the ring cap. Once that's done it just comes out, but rather than using a modified screw driver you'll just need a small socket to remove the two tiny nuts. I hope that helps, and thanks!
edredas cool my speedometer doesn’t work as well I’m wondering if replacing my speed sensor will get mine to working as well?
That's usually the culprit. I don't hear about the speedometers going out too often, but I suppose it does happen. You might could try finding a cheap used one first to test with before dropping a lot of money on something that might not be the the issue. I hope that helps!
Thank you!
Wow! 3.19 for Super, is that 91 or 93 octane? I am paying 2.79 for 91 here in Oklahoma (we don't get 93 here) It's amazing how simple a lot of the stuff on these cars really is. Would my 86 951 have this style or the later style? Thanks for the video!!
I filled up with 93. That said, NC has always had expensive gas but we have nice roads for the most part. A lot of people around here drive to SC to fill up but it really isn't feasible for me. The roads are terrible in SC, so its a trade off I guess. Also, your car will have the late fuel sender. I hope that helps!
Instead of cleaning it, do they offer a replacement do you know?
Yes, there are two different types but you can buy these new for about $115. The later model senders are around $200.
Ive actually found flat head tips that are notched for these exact applications
Harbor freight bulk driver bit kits
Best fixes are using your ingenuity.👍