Broken Fuel Gauge

[apimpdad]

I filled up today to a full tank. I have only driven 30 miles and the gauge started fluctuating a lot, and now it is all the way on E. Is this a common problem?

[knucklebusted]

Yes, it is. Mine, 03 AC 4x4, started doing that on anything over 3/4 of a tank. The low fuel light will not come on though. It is almost like the gauge wraps around (digitally) when it reaches max value the next increment is max negative. That makes sense to my programming brain but I don't if anyone else understands it. It is generally the tank sending unit, not the actual gauge, about $75 from the dealer or triple that to get it done at the dealer.

[apimpdad]

Originally Posted by knucklebusted

Yes, it is. Mine, 03 AC 4x4, started doing that on anything over 3/4 of a tank. The low fuel light will not come on though. It is almost like the gauge wraps around (digitally) when it reaches max value the next increment is max negative. That makes sense to my programming brain but I don't if anyone else understands it. It is generally the tank sending unit, not the actual gauge, about $75 from the dealer or triple that to get it done at the dealer.

Thats good to hear I guess. I mean it dropped to rock bottom E while at my buddy's house. When I cranked it back up and left it very very slowly fluctuated back up to around 3/4 tank which is still too low being that I had 30 miles on a brand new full tank of gas (normally, the gauge just starts to move onto the F line because it is so full). My low fuel light never once came on either. I figured it was the sending unit acting up. $75 sounds reasonable and I would be doing it myself. Did you do yours yourself? If so how did it go?

[knucklebusted]

I haven't messed with it yet. My truck only has 26000 miles and as such, the tank doesn't get near empty very often. Someone suggested popping the bed loose was easier than dropping the tank. I considered it but with a toolbox and bedliner, it will probably be about the same amount of effort either way.

Others have done it and getting the tank empty seems to be the most difficult part. Even on "E" it probably has a few gallons left, which weighs 7-ish pounds per gallon extra.

[apimpdad]

yea If and when I do it, I wil probably just run the tank dry and the drop it. Depending on how much the bed weighs, I might just do that. I will look into both options and see what happens.

[GORILLA]

hi, try LKQ salvage yard. they also have a ebay account. you can google it. they also give you even though it it used auto part's a 6month warrenty.
i & many people i know already have used them. they have great customer service, and shipping, packing ,etc is also extremly good. considering they are a salvage yard.
good luck, happy hunting. my guess brand new from the dealer would be very expensive.
you also might be better off buying a whole dash cluster with every guage from a salvage yard. it might come with lower mileage to;-) and just replace the whole thing in 1 shot, since most likely you might have to take it all apart anyway.
gorilla

[knucklebusted]

Originally Posted by GORILLA

hi, try LKQ salvage yard. they also have a ebay account. you can google it. they also give you even though it it used auto part's a 6month warrenty.
i & many people i know already have used them. they have great customer service, and shipping, packing ,etc is also extremly good. considering they are a salvage yard.
good luck, happy hunting. my guess brand new from the dealer would be very expensive.
you also might be better off buying a whole dash cluster with every guage from a salvage yard. it might come with lower mileage to;-) and just replace the whole thing in 1 shot, since most likely you might have to take it all apart anyway.
gorilla

I don't think it is the gauge in the dash. I'm fairly sure it is the sending unit in the tank.

Going around a curve when it is close to 3/4 of a tank has interesting results. It will go to "E" and then back to 3/4 in just a few seconds. I thought something had blown loose and was dumping fuel all over the place until it started coming back up.

[PassnThru]

Brought back memories of the blown oil line on the S10 I bet!

[apimpdad]

Well after driving it 60 miles today, it looks like the gauge is back to being normal. No fluctuations at all, and the gauge is steadily moving down with normal gas consumption. I did in fact check out removing the bed to access the sending unit, but the sending unit is just under the cab, so removing the bed would be pointless. I will continue to monitor the gauge within the next few days and tanks of gas.

[knucklebusted]

Originally Posted by PassnThru

Brought back memories of the blown oil line on the S10 I bet!

Careful! Someone might see you in that Ford!

Ah, the memories! I replaced the other lines at the next oil change.

Heck, if the gauge didn't work at all on the Tundra, I'd still fill it up once a month, whether it needed it or not!

[apimpdad]

Well, I am just below half a tank and my odometer says that I have driven about 180 miles. The best I have ever done on half a tank in the past year and a half has been around 150 miles per half tank. I am worried that it is way off now because that just doesn't seem right. I think I will run to the gas station and fill up from here and see how many gallons it takes to fill up and I will check the mpg.

[apimpdad]

Looks like it is officially broke. Filled up today and after 30 miles again the needle dropped below half multiple times. The dealer said it would be like $180 for the part and it would be here in a couple days. Looks like I will be dropping the tank soon.