Fuel Gauge

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Sep 26, 2016 | 03:25 PM

mmenzies

Thread Starter

Mountain Pass

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 217

Likes: 6

Fuel Gauge

2004 6.0 296K miles

MY Fuel gauge intermittently fails to function properly. When its not working the Fuel low light comes on and the gauge points to empty when there is plenty of fuel in the tank. Interestingly when it is in this stage the miles to empty in the overhead console will indicate I believe correctly.

It normally lasts a day or two and then then when I turn on the ignition and fire the engine the low fuel light shuts off the fuel gauge turns on and its back up and operating correctly.

Any ideas

Mark

Sep 26, 2016 | 04:17 PM

WatsonR

Lead Driver

Joined: May 2014

Posts: 6,545

Likes: 13

From: Virginia Beach VA

Pull the in tank sending unit and clean it. Drop the tank to access the sending unit and do the harpoon mod while your in there, it will make filling it much nicer at the station, gain you a few extra gallons.

Sep 26, 2016 | 11:09 PM

Thor'sHammer

Laughing Gas

Joined: Sep 2013

Posts: 1,031

Likes: 13

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmenzies

I have the same problem. My gauge reads whatever the hell it wants to, but the miles-to-empty counter is always correct. My truck has a bad stepper motor in the cluster. www.circuitboardmedics.com can get you fixed up.

Sep 27, 2016 | 11:09 AM

87crewdually

Lead Driver

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 6,496

Likes: 94

From: So. Jersey

Before getting your hands dirty dropping a tank, use a scanner to read the signal from the sender first. If the scanner shows half tank but your gauge is on E then suspect the instrument cluster or bad connections on the plug. At that point I'd disconnect and then reconnect the plugs on the cluster to see if it works again. Mine acted up 3 or so years ago and it was a cracked solder joint on the circuit board.

Sep 27, 2016 | 11:24 AM

fordtruckrodder

Tuned

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 332

Likes: 42

I have been experiencing a similar fuel gauge problem. My gauge will be what I believe accurate and then drop to empty with the low fuel light on. After a few miles or once stopped and restarted it will read normal. It seems to do this more when raining. I suspect the sending unit connection, but have not pulled it yet.

Sep 27, 2016 | 02:29 PM

tfunk88

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2010

Posts: 1,480

Likes: 161

From: West by God Virginyuh

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87crewdually

My 05 Ex has this fuel gauge issue. My Dashdaq shows the correct amount of fuel, but on occasion my gauge goes to empty and the reserve light comes on. When this happens I've noticed that the Dashdaq still shows the correct amount of fuel, but "100.0%" flashes on it. For example, if there is half a tank the Dashdaq will read from 48% to 52% as I drive around, but 100% will flash several times a minute. Sort of makes me suspect a short, but I've read a short should make the truck's gauge go to full. And why my truck gauge says empty and the Dashdaq has 100% flashes I don't know.

Anyway, seems to happen more when cold. And shutting off the engine and restarting "fixes" it.

Sep 27, 2016 | 04:09 PM

WatsonR

Lead Driver

Joined: May 2014

Posts: 6,545

Likes: 13

From: Virginia Beach VA

That's good info... means the PCM is seeing the correct data and the cluster isn't. Your Dashdaq is getting info from the OBD port, which gets it from the PCM... check the cluster.

Anybody else see the same on an OBD device.... Scan Gauge is good, cluster is all over the place.