Erratic Fuel Gauge

[HBarlow]

A friend of mine called this afternoon to ask about a problem he is having. He is a TDR member, has been for many years but never posts and seldom browses the website. He usually attends May Madness. Some of you may know him. His name is Bob Hendricks, a good guy.

He is an RV transporter, the most durable, long-serving one I've ever met or heard of. He put 930,000 miles on a '95 2500 47RE and still has it but replaced it several years ago with an early 2004 2500 NV-5600 also purchased new. He now has 360,000 miles on the '04 and says his fuel gauge has recently become erratic.

Today, on his way home to Pahrump after delivering a trailer he says he has approximately 1/2 tank of fuel but after shutting down to make his delivery, when he got back in the cab and started up again the fuel gauge is resting on the bottom peg and the overhead DTE reading shows a bar.

I told him I suspect the in-tank fuel level sender but don't know and I would ask the membership.

Anyone experienced this? Anyone know what the cause is?

Please post if you have ideas.

 

[steved]

Although I don't know the answer to the problem, your hypothesis sounds correct...



Has he tried filling the tank since? There might be a dead spot on the sensor... my car is doing this right now... half tank drops to empty, then picks up a few miles down the road.

 

[HBarlow]

Although I don't know the answer to the problem, your hypothesis sounds correct...

Has he tried filling the tank since? There might be a dead spot on the sensor... my car is doing this right now... half tank drops to empty, then picks up a few miles down the road.

I am not sure but I think he said it had become erratic recently and, being a transporter, he's fueling approximately twice a day so I assume he has but I'll ask when I call him in a few minutes.

Thanks for your input.

 

[steved]

It could also be a corroded connection or a broken wire between the main connection at the computer and the tank...

 

[HBarlow]

I called my friend yesterday afternoon and told him no TDR members reported having the same problem so had nothing solid to offer. I told him if it was mine I'd order and install a new sender unit in the tank.

Thanks for the idea. I guess if there is a corroded connection he'll find it when he pulls the tank.

 

[BNH4221]

Resurrecting an old thread

I'm gonna bring this one back to life.



I fueled up yesterday. I don't top off, so the tank wasn't overfull or anything.

This morning after about 100 miles on the tank, the fuel gauge suddenly went dead. This was on the highway. No big bumps or jolts. Just the chime saying I was out of fuel.



When I got off the highway, I pulled over, shut down and then cranked up again. The gauge works fine.



I suspect that there may be a bad ground or shorted wire as it appears the gauge is OK.



HBarlow, did you ever find anything out about the gauge on your friends truck?



I'll also add that I'm not getting any codes either.





Best -

Steve

 

[HBarlow]

I'm gonna bring this one back to life.

I fueled up yesterday. I don't top off, so the tank wasn't overfull or anything.
This morning after about 100 miles on the tank, the fuel gauge suddenly went dead. This was on the highway. No big bumps or jolts. Just the chime saying I was out of fuel.

When I got off the highway, I pulled over, shut down and then cranked up again. The gauge works fine.

I suspect that there may be a bad ground or shorted wire as it appears the gauge is OK.

HBarlow, did you ever find anything out about the gauge on your friends truck?

I'll also add that I'm not getting any codes either.


Best -
Steve

I'm sorry. I must have completely forgotten our earlier conversation. I don't remember what truck or what friend.

 

[BNH4221]

You had posted in 2009 regarding an acquaintance of yours named Bob Hendricks who had been suffering from an erratic fuel gauge in his 2004.



I never spoke with you about it but had the same issue recently with my 2004 so I thought I'd check with you to see if you and Bob had ever discovered the source of the issue.



Sorry for any confusion.



Steve