My '03 F350 PSD has been in the shop twice now for fuel gauge problems, and it's about to go back a 3rd time. Here's the deal:

1st problem was when full, guage would only read 3/4. Overhead console gave indications of full tank, and dealer confirmed tank was indeed full. They said the instrument cluster was bad and replaced it.

No help, same problem. I brought it back. They said the new inst panel they put in was also bad, so they ordered and installed yet another new one. This time all seemed to be well, when full the guage reads full and the overhead indicates proper "miles to empty".

Well, this weekend the low fuel light came on and the buzzer sounded, but guage said a little over 1/4 full. Overhead said ~50 miles to empty. By the time we found a diesel station, overhead said 6 miles to empty (we were sweatin it!) but guage still said over 1/4. Filled it up, only took 24 gallons! Seems that now the guage is correct, but the overhead and low fuel warnings are screwey!

Soooo ... back to the shop! Just wondering, is this a strange anomoly or have others had wierd guage/console/warning light disagreements like this?

 

Unfortunately sounds like you have a parts swapper outer instead of a certified 6-oh diesel mechanic !

good luck with it...

 

I had a similar issue but it read full when actually it was at 3/4 full. It took about 15 minutes for the truck to update. I had not driven my truck for about a week and thought maybe I had not gone that far or had forgotten to hit my trip meter after fueling. Since it fixed itself and the problem has not returned, I have not looked into Ford looking at it. Since my truck is going in for service in the morning and I remember to ask I will see what they say.

 

I haave squawked about the fuel gauge before and it comes back no problem. The diesel tech says they are all off. When I fill mine up into the filler neck, It will go 135-140 miles before the needle comes off full. Then it drops quickly to 1/2 tank. I usually fill up after about 400 miles and it shows just under 1/4 tank mark. I have a 29 gallon tank. It will take 20-22 gallons to fill again. I always go by tripmeter.

 

I have a problem with my gauage also. I will go and top it off at the gas station and by the time I have a 100 miles on the tanks it is reading a half a tank then I will go fill it up and it only takes 7 gallons. it has been in the shop twice they have put a new sending unit in the first time and the last time it just sat there for a week going untouched. I am very bitter with Ford so you probably dont want to know how I feel..

 

A bad fuel gauge is a minor irritant in my opinion. I don't recall having a Ford truck that did have a good fuel gauge. It sat at the dealers for a week because of a bad fuel gauge? Sounds like you should be bitter with the dealer. Have you met with the service manager and or the general manager?

 

SBV45 go read what I said under oil leak for the 3rd time Im not wasting any of my time at any more dealerships or talking to any more lieing service managers

 

Well, that narrows down the options, doesn't it? Seems to me you can either put up with it or sell the truck if it is that much of pain to you if you can't work with the dealer. I think the critical path with any vehicle is to have a good working relationship with the dealer service department. Especially, if you are dependent on them to do the work.

 

Sure sounds like the float arm module to me. THe littel wiper card attached to the float arm doenst always work properly...fix is to replace fuel pump in tank.

 

Well I have a attorney and he will get my money back of the Better Buisness Beurea will. Why would you want to work with a dealer that lies to you on paper about issues that are fixed that arent just to cover themselves to look good for the DSB. If the dealer was helpful like they were supposed to be you wouldnt have to take your truck in 10 times to have issues with it fixed that are still unresovled. Its not the dealers ultimate decission in the long run anyways its up to the DSB. Im just not pleased with either one of them

 

I read what you posted on the other thread and you didn't answer my questions. I think you will get your buyback because you have a lawyer involved, but you wil have to pay the lawyer. If you slow down with the ranting, act calm and be rational you wil get a lot more out of people. I have found that if I approach the dealer personnel with professional demeanor, I get a lot more from them.

 

SBV first of all I have let me frustrations out here I have been very calm and have followed all the directions the dealer has told me with going thorugh the DSB and all when I leave my truck at the dealership for 1 week and it goes untouched it is very frustrating to me I spent hard earned money on this truck to enjoy it not to sit at the dealership. I love my truck and I cant stand being with out it. If the DSB and Ford want to give me the run around I think it is very unprofesional and if the company I worked for did that we wouldnt have the customers we have today. You are right I will get my money back but my point is WHY DID I HAVE TO HIRE A ATTORNEY WHY DIDNT FORD MAKES THINGS RIGHT??????

 

My 2004 Excursion 6.0 PSD has just under 1000 miles and the fuel gauge has not moved from FULL yet. I went by the dealer last week and they told me to drop it off for diagnosis. I'm hoping to drop it this week, I'll post with a follow up.

 

I think out of all of my Fords that I have owned only 2 were any good as far as the gauges go. That really stinks my power stroke has a 40 gal tank it shows 1/2 but it only takes 10 gal. My Fords that were made in the 80s the oil psi gauges never worked right I always had to pound on the dash to get them to work right.

 

Oh yeah, some wiz bang at Ford put a small voltage regulator at the instrument panel that would drive everything but the oil pressure batty on those 80 somethings. I punched the instrument panel more than once. I really think it was bad wiring.

Anyway, I learned to just use the odometer. I seem to have pretty consistemt mileage.