This afternoon I went into the trunk to replace the prepump filter "sock" as specified by the Bentley manual at 60K mile intervals. Getting the prepump/sender assembly was a PITA. The sender float ball, which Bentley made no mention of, popped off the lever and is now floating in my fuel tank outside that coffee can-size partition. I think--can't get a mirror and light in to see it.

Tomorrow I will try adding fuel to the tank, which is nearly empty now, to raise the float ball above the partition so I can retrieve it. Right now the sender assembly is sitting on the trunk floor sans float ball.

Is adding fuel the solution, or will something else work better? What are your suggestions for pulling the ball out? My hand won't pass through the hole.