so last night while driving home from baja i had gone =/- 100 miles after a fill up and noticed my fuel guage was at 1/2 tank. i watched it then steadily drop to below E. i pulled ove to look for the leak and there was none. satysfied that it was the guage i continued on northbound. the needle slowly returned to just below 3/4 tank where it still sits and reads correctly.
Could be either gauge or sending unit. While it is reading INNACURATLY you need to test the OHM readings of the fuel sender & gauge (see attachments).. If the readings are not within spec the sender is bad. If the reading are within spec then the gauge is going out.
NOTE: If the sending unit shorts, it usually takes out the gauge.
__________________ 2002 TUNDRA AC 2WD = NOT STOCK
MODS: TRD LSD w/4.88's| TRD Headers | Flowmaster 50 Series SUV | TRD Supercharger | Hellwig Rear Sway Bar (custom end links) | TOYOTA Power Antenna | Rear "AIR RIDE" w/ on board compressor | De-badged | Raybrig Headlights & Nokya yellow Foglights | Keyless Upgrade to Full Alarm | Toyota Air Filter | Horn Mod | Map Light Mod | Back Seat Mod | STUBBS Sliders | AXIS Wheels w/315/75-16 Yokohama Geolander MT + | Home Link | SUPERLIFT Tru-speed-speedo Recalibrator | McKesh Mirrors l 3" Body Lift w/Poly Body Mounts l Gap Gaurds l Stainless Brake Lines l Poly Sway Bar Bushings l Poly Rear Leaf Spring Bushings l Clear/Red/Clear Tailights l Black Corners & Headlight Assy's l Diff breather Mod l Nu-Image Blue Flame Gauges l Eclipse AVN5435 w/ Rev Cam & 8 disk changer l Custom rear roll pan w/lights l RCD 6" lift w/ 3" blocks and AAL l Camburg UCA's l High Lift Jack l Daystar Front & Rear Bumpers l 4 Hella Black Magic Lights l Budbuilt Trac Bar l ICOM 706 MKIIG l Doran tire pressure sensors
25 yrs with TOYOTA
MDT/Shop Foreman/FINDLAY TOYOTA
ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician
Official Pro Comp Certified Installer & Dealer
Official ICON Certified Installer & Dealer
Certified Toyota Forklift Operator
Certified Locksmith
Ham Radio Operator = KE7WLF
My 2003 Tundra does the same thing. The tank will be close to full and the next thing I know its half full. The gauge is 90% accurate but the 10% it was off it use to drive me nuts. At this point its predicable and with some patience it will right itself in my case.
I started a thread on this a few weeks ago. It is truly scary to watch your gas gauge drop before your eyes (mine drops all the way BELOW empty!). But my empty light never comes on. You're not alone with this happening. Although very inconvenient, my gas gauge only decides to freak out monthly or every other month. I am not looking forward to removing the gas tank, so I'm going to wait until the unit craps out completely though it has been acting up for 2 years with no sign of it getting better or worse.
__________________
2003 Toyota Tundra 4.7L Modifications:
- Gibson Stainless Steel Headers - Gibson Stainless Steel Single Side Exit Cat-back system - SnugTop Tonneau Cover - Line-X Bedliner - Medium Front Tint - Limo Rear Tint - CrimeStopper Alarm system/remote start - Dynamatted doors - complete aftermarket sound system - more to come as I make that $GREEN$
so last night while driving home from baja i had gone =/- 100 miles after a fill up and noticed my fuel guage was at 1/2 tank. i watched it then steadily drop to below E. i pulled ove to look for the leak and there was none. satysfied that it was the guage i continued on northbound. the needle slowly returned to just below 3/4 tank where it still sits and reads correctly.
is this a sign of the guage going bad?
The rumor is that the Mexican chupa cabras switch over from goats to unleaded gas since gas is so expensive
Just like the post from the other members I think it's your fuel pressure-sending unit.
Searching the forums you will see that this was a common issue years ago as it happened to me too. I don't recall if a fix was found but the issue didn't last long and the problem want away and hasn't returned since.
Better be careful with the low fuel light i have heard most of them don't wont mine don't either. It has not worked in a year or so. I wish i could find out how to fix it.
__________________ 2000 tundra 4.7L TRD Limited AC cab.
Mods -Windows tinted -Highland floor mats -Maganaflow single in dual out with 3 " tips -16x10" rims 5 spoke Ultra Stargazer chrome plated -One 10" speaker with a 400 watt amp Under back seat -Interior lights changed to blue -Red blinkers -Sirus radio -Volant cold air intake -Ready lift leveling kit -Tool box -Hitch recevier -Chrome step sides -Chrome bed rails -Chrome grille guard with spot lights -White face gauges
anyone know how much is in the tank when the light comes on? and when filling, is it full when the nozzle clicks off or when you top off. i mean i usually top off and it makes it hard to get an accurate count on mileage not knowing if i am starting with 26 or 27.5 gallons. i know, it's a minor detail, but still....
anyone know how much is in the tank when the light comes on? and when filling, is it full when the nozzle clicks off or when you top off. i mean i usually top off and it makes it hard to get an accurate count on mileage not knowing if i am starting with 26 or 27.5 gallons. i know, it's a minor detail, but still....
The Toyota Tundra is and always had 26.4 gallon tanks (100 liter). Toyota does not advise topping the fuel tank off and it greatly increases the chance of fire in a accident. The trucks are designed with the "Fuel warning" light to come on at around 20 to 15 liters of fuel remaining (5.4 gallons to 3.8 gallons). Hope this helps clearify any issues.
my '96 tacoma did the same thing as well. when it got down to about 3/4 of a tank it would drop all the way down to empty and then bounce back up and read normal the rest of the time.
i was talking to a buddy of mine the other day and he was telling me about his father's fuel gauge gremlins. all of a sudden one day, it started reading completely backwards. full was empty and empty was full...it was a chevy
__________________ 2000 Tundra, Flowmaster American Thunder exhaust, Pioneer (sirius, bluetooth, iPod) headunit, Kicker component speakers, MA audio midbass drivers, all powered by Jensen 4 channel amp.
working on getting a lift with 33" Terra Grapplers and getting the Daylighters from my old Tacoma put on it
...as well as a list of about 57362 things i want to do
I had this issue after leveling my truck on my first 2 fill ups, I figured it was the truck being level now it changed the way the tank sits. I have read countless threads stating that its the fuel sender going out. This problem happened to my grandparents Ford Explorer a couple years ago and my grandfather said the dealer told him to run some fuel cleaner through the tank. So I went to walmart and bought some Lucas brand fuel injector cleaner. On the third fill up I add it and topped off my tank, it did it that time again but after that tank was gone I filled up at about half a tank twice and then filled up full after those two half tanks. I have yet to have the problem again.
It worked for me maybe give it a go and see what happens.....It may just be dirty....Who knows.
__________________ 02' Tundra V8 Access Cab 2WD
Current: Bilstien 5100's All the way around (Fronts on top notch for level truck), 265/75R16 (33") Hankook Dynapro A/Tm's, Newly Painted (Bedliner Paint) Bed Rails
Future: Build/Install Custom Box, JL or Kicker sub, New Mids and Tweets, In-Dash Screen, Navigation, Seat Covers, Aftermarket Replacement Bumper, Get Bed Rhino Lined, Aftermarket Rims and whatever else I can dream up! hehe
I had this issue after leveling my truck on my first 2 fill ups, I figured it was the truck being level now it changed the way the tank sits. I have read countless threads stating that its the fuel sender going out. This problem happened to my grandparents Ford Explorer a couple years ago and my grandfather said the dealer told him to run some fuel cleaner through the tank. So I went to walmart and bought some Lucas brand fuel injector cleaner. On the third fill up I add it and topped off my tank, it did it that time again but after that tank was gone I filled up at about half a tank twice and then filled up full after those two half tanks. I have yet to have the problem again.
It worked for me maybe give it a go and see what happens.....It may just be dirty....Who knows.
good advice. it was Mexican gas after all, even though they say the oil is pumped to america, refined, and then pumped back to northern baja/mexico so it shouldn't be any different than US gas. BTW, my check engine light came on about 700 miles from the border. i got a code reader on amazon that is in the mail so i'll see this weekend. no i'll effects from the code....
my code reader says P0420 and P0420"P" ???? P0420 i got before while running gas bought from the fishermen 100 miles from the nearest gas station. this last time bought all gas from the gas station. should i reset and forget? 103k on the truck and it runs like new.
fuel tank guage gremlin
2000 Tundra, Flowmaster American Thunder exhaust, Pioneer (sirius, bluetooth, iPod) headunit, Kicker component speakers, MA audio midbass drivers, all powered by Jensen 4 channel amp.
Linear Mode
