Fuel Guage diagnostics?

[SDrake]

Recently my 2003 fuel gauge read close to empty when I came to it after about two weeks rest. I got confused thinking I must have driven out that last tank but when I went to fill up it held about 6 gallons, and then the gauge showed 3/4 full. Drove it about 40 miles and the gauge started showing empty again and so this behavior has persisted over about a month of daily use. I use the odometer as my fuel gauge now.

I changed several fuel gauges on my 94 over the years (got angrier each time) but this is my first on the 03. Questions: --- is this gauge sensor similar to the 94 ---- is this particular behavior something that could be external to the in tank sensor ---- and also is the in tank sensor just needing to be cleaned or tweeked?

My first reaction was that I just need to buy the intank part, drop the tank and replace it, but thought I better not jump too fast since the in tank pump, and other electronics is so different from the 94.

Thanks for any shared experiences with this.

 

[Crunch]

I've had similar experiences over the last 6 months or so, but the problem seems to correct itself over time. The first time I noticed it, the gauge was reading about 1/8 of a tank, even though I knew it had to have more than that. I looked for leaks under the truck and didn't see any, and figured it was the gauge. After a couple of restarts the gauge read what it should. Since then, I've noticed it being off a little bit, but never as much as that first time. Usually, it just reads slightly low (7/8) after a fill up, and even then it tends to correct itself.

 

[SDrake]

Yea, I was kinda hoping for something like that, since it happened after just sitting for a while. But I am now on my third tank doing two weeks runabout and the behavior is consistent, shows 7/8 full when full and quickly drops to 1/8 with about 4 gal used. My past sender failures were more erratic.

 

[cerberusiam]

Replace the canister with a new one from Glacier Diesel or other vendors. That will likely address several issues on a 16 year old truck.

 

[SDrake]

Replace the canister with a new one from Glacier Diesel or other vendors. That will likely address several issues on a 16 year old truck.

Are you talking fuel pump, the whole shebang? Mine has the recall intank pump.

 

[cerberusiam]

Since you have the in-tank pump already canister might have been upgraded and you should be able to source the float and resistor that actually drives fuel level.

If it is still serviced, otherwise back to the complete canister.