Fuel level sensor malfunction?

[Fritz_The_Cat]

Misery loves company, lol.

My 2003 Sequoia is doing the same. As long as I have the MTE indicator, I'm not too terribly concerned. It seems to be reasonably accurate. It should keep me from running out of gas anyway.

[Sleepin]

Same problem with my 01. Glad to see some of the problems with mine are not just MY problem.

[Agent 409]

i recently visited a dealer again (this time a different one) they still tell me that they need to see it when it happens to be able to prove it to my extended warranty company. i told the guy its the sending unit but they can't just throw a part at it. it sort of a nuisance when i know something is broken and it can't be fixed. it only happens at a certain point in the gas tank and 2 or 3 times each tank. the likeliness that i am right by a dealer at that point is very slim nor do i have the time to just stop what i'm doing at that point and roll over there to deal with idiots.

[JBH1989]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one with this problem. Mine jumps down to empty sometimes (esp. on a full tank) and E on my gauge means there are 6 gallons left in the tank (the pump only puts 20 in).

I took mine in and they told me it was the fuel level sending unit and quoted $270 for parts and labor since it wasn't covered under the powertrain warranty. Another dealer wanted $600, but I think I'll just do it myself.

Has anyone done it, and with what results?

[jliltd]

I have a 2001 Sequoia and it's fuel guage has been wacked out with a mind of it's own for years. That being said the DTE dispay is always right on. After reading these posts it would seem to be a common problem for many others. Glad it's not just mine. Toyota should address this issue with a better sender or a recall. That probably won't happen as it's not a safety issue.

So I too await for the question to be answered .... just how much work is it to do this for a DIY repair?

[Agent 409]

the problem is that every dealer wants to duplicate it. when its consistently been the sending unit its like..cmon seriously. thats it.

[speed25]

Mine started doing it this winter, too. The nice thing is that it's really the first problem I've ever had with my Sequoia!

[KIMO]

I have that problem also. Mines usually happens between full tank and 3/4 tank and all of sudden my gauge will drop to empty. Everyone is saying the sending unit and I already took my truck in twice to the dealer with no results. Wondered if anyone actually swapped the sending unit and having success, cause the dealer can only fix it if they see it which means-- waste of my time!!

[Diplomate]

Does anybody know what type of fuel sensor is used? I bought my Sequoia '05 in the USA and shipped to the Netherlands (Europe). Since our gasprices are very much higher than in the USA, I will have it fitted with a custom LPG system (developed by the Dutch importer originally for the Landcruiser with the same engine). This uses it's own fuel gauge, but I want to fit its fuel sensor to the wiring of the Sequoia so I can keep using the original fuel gauge. Any suggestions?

Thanx.

[kat-toy]

Just had my 2003 Sequoia repaired. Part # 83320-34041 was $77.11, and labor was $39. I had an extended warranty. Service mgr. told me that if I had to pay for it myself, it would have cost more -- but he didn't say how much more.

[MSJack]

My 04 Sequoia started this today. 38K miles on it of course. Seemed like it had to be the guage with DTE appearing to be right- glad I found this thread.

[michaeltacoma]

I was have the same problem in my 2005 prerunner. I fix it cleaning the batery terminals.

[roadpig]

one of the biggest causes of this problem is the sulphur content of todays crappy fuel- in about 7 out of 10 instances two bottles of chevron techron- one in a full tank and the other in a half tank does the trick and cleans the sulphur off the float- the sulphur attaches itself to the sensor float weighing it down and causing innacurate readings- ill bet most of those sensor assembly replacements were not necessary- roadpig- ps- only chevron techron works for this problem- and no i dont work for chevron

[williamZ]

+1 for Chevron with techron! It's the only fuel system cleaner I will use.

[ccf15]

I finaly got a dealer to change the sending unit. I had the extended warranty. Would have been big bucks if not for it. Works like a champ now. Will keep the Techron solution in mind if I have a re-occurance.