Hey guys. I've had this problem since I bought the a little over a year ago and it's finally to the point where it's making me mad. So the problem. My gas gauge never reads the right amount. When my tank is full to when I've driven about 50-60 miles it's not a problem, however after that is when it starts. Whenever I turn right in my civic or brake harder than normal, my gas gauge goes down indicating I have less fuel than I actually have. When I turn left, the gauge goes back up, however, it never goes back to what it read before and says I have more fuel than I actually have. Because of this, I always feel like I'm filling up when I really don't need to. What could cause this? Has anyone else has this problem? If so, what did you do to fix it?

 

Sounds like the fuel metering unit (plastic float on an arm) in your fuel tank is perhaps getting stuck. Unfortunately that part (37800-S04-A01) has been discontinued. I can't remember precisely, but I think you need to drop the tank to get at it since it's not accessible from fuel pump sending unit hole under your back seat. You could try to find a good one at a wrecking yard or have your tank pulled and see if you can clean up any corrosion on the sending unit arm/sensor and reinstall. Maybe some fuel system cleaner in a full tank could clear up whatever is causing it to stick, but it would be a miracle if that actually worked.

 

Sounds like the fuel level sending unit inside the tank is sticking. Would need to access the pump to confirm.

 

Lol 1 min too late on my response, If you can do the work yourself you could fix the issue in a couple hours taking your time. Just need a couple basic tools I think a 12mm and a 10mm socket, couple screwdrivers, pliers, bucket, drive the car until near empty and then drain the remaining fuel using the tanks drain plug.
Dropping the tank takes about 20min.
Could remove the unit from the tank and plug it in under the car, have someone turn the key to on and then manually move the float to make sure its working properly watching the fuel gauge.
Clean up any gunk that's causing the sticking then reinstall.

 

Thank you guys for the help, I really appreciate it. Hopefully it is just that and is a simple fix like you guys are talking about. Thanks again

 

you do not need to drop the tank to replace the fuel sending unit. I just did this last year, all you have to do is take the bottom cushion of the rear seat out, remove the access panel and there you'll see a hole in the floor of the car where you can access the fuel sending unit and the fuel pump. That's why it's there, so you don't have to drop the gas tank. The fuel sending unit will be the one without any fuel lines/pipes going to it. Very easy to do..

I'd suggest taking out the fuel sending unit, cleaning up the circuit board (where the pointer makes contact, you'll understand when you see it) with some electrical contact cleaner. DO NOT bend the pointer, just spray it down and let it dry, let the cleaner do all the work.. Then take a look at the floater's pivot point, ethanol containing gas likes to gum up things.. You could use the same electrical contact cleaner (doesn't leave a residue) on that pivot point. Might be all you need to get it working again..

 

My bad.. Had a ED chassis stuck in my head.

 

hey no problem, didn't want alexkostun_ to have to go through all that work when it's just removing the bottom cushion of the back seat..

 

Thanks oneheadlight, Good thing you chimed in with info that is going to make this task even easier for the guy after I had mentioned something that would lead him down the rabbit hole. I almost feel bad lol Just trying to be somewhat helpful to the honda community.
Good luck OP and hope the jobs goes with ease!

 

Yup, good catch. For some reason, I was thinking the fuel meter sending unit was buried just out out reason of the access panel. Looking back at photos, I'd forgotten the cover to bean-shaped to get both sending units. Easy peezy.

 

hey no problem!! It's all good.. I had read this post and it all started to sound very familiar! because I just went through this with mine last year.. I just hope the electrical contact cleaner will work to restore the intermittent signal, I bet it's the goo I've seen ethanol containing gas create..

 

I removed the rear seats and checked it out. The coils on it looked a little burnt so I went a replaced it just in case. Granted the part i replaced it with wasn't new, I got it from a junkyard, it was still an oem sending unit. Anyways, my gauge is still doing the same thing it was doing before. If anyone has any idea what could be the problem now, it'd be greatly appreciated. Thanks!