my fuel guage (or sending unit) recently developed a problem where when I fuel up my car w/ gas the guage doesn't go to full "F" mark like its supposed to (like its done for the past couple years)... I'm the primary and only driver of this vehicle and I've had it since new.. so I know where the fuel guage is supposed to point after a fill up....

I thought maybe the gas stations pumps is not pumping up a decent amount and clicks off early.. so I tried a diff pump... same thing... I then tried a different gas station.. same thing... I even tried pumping after it clicked off and fueled/topped off until some gas began to trickle so I KNOW it was a full tank...

I've never had indiglos on this car or anything like that.... I looked in the manual and tested the sending unit by removing the cover and testing pins 1 (black) and 2 (yellow/black) then turning on the ignition and testing the voltage... this check checks out fine (w/in the 5-8V spec as per the manual)...

possible faults could be open wire/connection in pins #1 or 2... can anyone tell me where the pin is run from the sender to the guage cluster? damn I really don't want to have to rip out my whole carpet or whatever to fix this thing...

OK so my fuel guage points to the F mark when I fill up w/ gas.. but it doesn't go fully to the "F" and / (the line/marker) point..... the next test is to connect a jumper wire between pins 1 and 2 (blk and yel/blk) and then turn the ignition to ON and watch to see it rise... YES it rises.. but then the manual says to NOT let it reach full F on the dial... it says it might damage the guage... OK so yes it rises... but when i fill gas.. it doesnt rise to the full F line.. how do i test this since the manual says letting it go to full F (w/ the jumper wire/test method) will cause damage... *confused*

it says if the pointer doesn't move (it moves) replace the fuel guage.... if the guage is OK.. replace the fuel guage sending unit (which I tested above and it checks out OK) wtf?

what else could be wrong if BOTH the sending unit and guage checks out (according to the checks/tests).. Help me out and let me know if its my gas guage.. so I can decide whether or not to buy a replacement cluster

I'm trying to find out whether or not my gas guage is bad.. cuz if it is I'm going to buy a guage cluster from H-T member "Mercury"... also can anyone vouch for him? if my cluster/gas guage is bad I'll probably buy a cluster from him... but I wanna know if its my guage.. or if its the sender unit or open wires.. help me out...

 

Nothing is wrong. It's just inaccurate, very inaccurate. Mines sometimes goes to full, sometimes goes only 3/4 full. In worst case scenario, it only went half-way. But I still got 28mpg. Your trip meter is your friend when you need to know when to pump gas. Make sure you always reset it. I normally get 240mi before my light comes on, that's when I know I need to go filler up.

 

yeah everytime I fuel up.. I reset my trip meter.... I usually don't re-fuel until the low fuel light is on.. or it looks dangerously low near the "E" mark or if by mileage it should be empty.. thanks for the reply..

any1 else?

 

any1 else? someone has to know...

 

park it on a hill and see if it goes to FULL

 

what does that test? the range of motion of the guage? or the sender?

so what your saying to do is fill up the tank to FULL then drive up a hill.. and make a U turn or come back down..so that the front end is facing the bottom of the hill and back end is upper on the incline.. and see if the guage moves closer to F right?

 

i'm having the same problem. Anyone has the answer? Could it be the fuel sending unit?

 

sorry to bring an old post back, but the original answer was not answered.