Fuel Gauge Issues?

nhparrot · #1 (**permalink**) 03-28-2002, 01:25 PM

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Topic: Fuel Gauge Issues?
del
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Member # 1179

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posted 02-15-2002 09:44 AM
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I guess my 2001 Ltd is normal, so I wont worry about
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Posts: 9 | From: Dayton, Ohio | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

SATundra
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posted 02-15-2002 09:13 AM
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quote:
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Originally posted by waylan:
I have a 2002 and notice that when I am on empty and I fill her up, the gage takes about 5 minutes for it to show full.
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I believe this is because the gauge is controlled thru the "CPU" and it "averages" the fuel level, it doesn't do a straight read from the tank on a constant basis. If you fill up without turning the truck off, it will take a while for it to average back out, the computer doesn't understand the sudden increase in the fuel level and will compinsate the gauge reading until a "true" average can be established. However if you turned it off, fill up, turn on, it should read right within about 1 minute. This is normal.

If it didn't do this it would be like on older cars where there was a true straight reading from the float valve in the tank. Back then your fuel gauge was never still it was always going up and down. You go around a corner and the gauge would move up or down to reflect the increase or decrease in the fuel level. You wouldn't get a true reading until you traveled on a level road for a while and the fuel leveled back out.

Anyway its normal, just the computer trying to get a "true" reading for you.

Joe - SATundra

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2001, SR5, V8, 4x2, Access Cab, Metallic Silver Sky

MODS: Better Built alum toolbox w/lights 2 inside 2 outside, lots of antennas, CB/Ham/Scanner/linear amp all mounted in custom made console, 10 disc CD player, DEI Sidewinder 5000 ESP alarm, undercarriage entry lights, extra set 55W reverse lights, underhood light, TRD add-a-leaf (ordered), Lund bugshield, chrome step tubes, UTR bedliner, hitch, tinted windows, fuzzbuster hard wired, 4 block power terminal under dash, 12V Acc plug engine compartment, synthetic oils, fog light mod, cargo light mod, acc plug mod, map light mod, back seat angle mod soon, 2 TS stickers (back windows), 2 TS license plate frames (front, rear)

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Posts: 461 | From: San Antonio, TX | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

Hugh_Jacks
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Member # 279

Rate Member posted 02-15-2002 07:37 AM
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quote:
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Originally posted by waylan:
I have a 2002 and notice that when I am on empty and I fill her up, the gage takes about 5 minutes for it to show full.
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Me too.

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I set my parking brake and it broke the brake. Is that crazy?

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Posts: 46 | From: Laguna Niguel Ca. | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

waylan
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Member # 532

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posted 02-15-2002 06:41 AM
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I have a 2002 and notice that when I am on empty and I fill her up, the gage takes about 5 minutes for it to show full.

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For more about me and pictures visit my homepage http://www.waylan.net

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Posts: 19 | From: Tyler, TX | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

jeffd
TS Member
Member # 173

Rate Member posted 02-14-2002 12:53 AM
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fyi: I have a 2001 tundra with no fuel gage problems however my 99 camry has never showed a completely full level even after a fill up.

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jcd

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Posts: 4 | From: wv | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

Tack
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Member # 481

Rate Member posted 02-12-2002 03:56 AM
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I too have a strange fuel gauge! One day i was on about a 50 mile drive and i noticed that the fuel level kept dropping, even thou the tank was just filled the day before! While i was driving along the gauge started dropping alittle at a time, i noticed it when it was at the 3/4 level and within 10 mins it dropped to almost the empty mark! I thought dang, must have gotten a leak in the tank or fuel line but in about 2 mins it started to go back up! I have only noticed it act this way 2 times in over 56,000 miles, but it sure was strange!

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Tack

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Posts: 8 | From: Fresno CA | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

Axtell
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posted 02-11-2002 11:34 PM
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Bought it here in Modesto, Modesto Toyota.
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Posts: 20 | From: Central California | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

DaveS
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Member # 497

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posted 02-11-2002 05:57 PM
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The gas gauge on my 2001 was about 1/8 of a tank low from the first day I got it. I posted a question about gas gauges here when I got sick of dealing with mine and one other person said that they had a problem. They said the problem with theirs was the fuel sending unit. I had the dealer take a look and mine turned out to be a defective receiver gauge. The dealer fixed it.

The other part of the story is that when they fixed the gas gauge, they scratched the hell out of the dash...which they also had to fix...

Good luck...

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2001 Silver Sky Metallic Tundra 4x2 SR5 Access Cab V8, TRD, ABS, VIP RS3000 Security System, UTR Bedliner, Chrome Tube Steps, Hellwig Anti-sway Bar

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Posts: 27 | From: Albuquerque, NM | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

TMS2U
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posted 02-11-2002 04:17 PM
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Have not heard of this before.

Did you get your Tun from SLO Toy??

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Posts: 91 | From: Santa Monica, CA | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

Axtell
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Member # 6

Member Rated:
posted 02-11-2002 12:25 AM
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I picked up my Tundra little over 3 months ago, its a 2wd 2002 SR5 model, and the fuel gauge has already failed. Is this a common problem? Toyota is of course going to repair it, but going there and waiting for (a) them to verify it's broken, and (b) bringing it to actually fix it kinda sucks.
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Posts: 20 | From: Central California | Registered: Feb 2002 | IP: Logged

garyjerdee · #2 (**permalink**) 11-12-2006, 05:56 PM

I ran out of gas in my wife's 1999 Toyota 4-Runner, with the gauge showing half full. I had the sensor and gauge replaced by the dealer and picked it up yesterday. (Cost $381.63) The gauge showed way above full when I left the dealer. To confirm it I pulled in to a station and pumped 16.05 gallons of gas in a tank that holds 18.5 gallons. When I started the car at the gas station the gauge then went to below empty and the low level light started flashing. In essence I left the dealer thinking it was fixed and filled with gas and am lucky I checked their work. I called the dealer and they are coming to pick it up tomorrow. The strangest thing is that after stopping and starting the engine about 6 times after I got home the gauge started indicating a near full tank which is about were it would be from the point I filled it up and got home.

I checked the local parts house this morning and they said the sensor is inside the tank and it has to be opened and drained to change out the fuel sensor. I am dissappointed there is not a fail safe test done when the mechanic completes the installation of the new sensor and gauge. It would be prudent based on the frequency of these types of problems to fill the tank completely and compare the gauge reading to the known level of fuel it will hold. It's a good thing I wasn't picking up an airplane. The mechanic had to know it was not full based on the installation method. Had I trusted the reading I would have run out of gas in about 1 hour if I was lucky. I knew it wasn't working right when I brought it to the dealer. I am not sure if it's really fixed now. I will post the outcome of the dealers findings later. Hopefully, they will at least modify the check-out procedure when they repair the fuel level indicator.