fuel gauge problem

[ReggieRam]

This is just a small annoyance, but if it's an easy fix, then I'd like to handle it.



I was on a road trip, thinking I was getting this unreal mileage, but I pulled over at my usual stop anyway to fill up. Imagine my surprise when I put in over 30 gallons while my fuel gauge still showed over 1/4 tank! I think the problem developed gradually, but it seems to have held (at least for now) at its present point.



Has anyone else had their fuel gauge become inaccurate like this?

Is it the sender, or the gauge itself? Is it a pretty easy fix?



Like I said, I usually fill up based on mileage rather than what the gauge says, but it's just a small annoyance that I'd love to fix if it's easy to do. I'm also thinking about getting a bigger tank, and it'd be nice to have the gauge working right while I figure out how many miles I can go between trips to Flying J.



Thanks in Advance-

Reggie

 

[Steve G]

Mine does the same thing. The problem is the sender. You'll have to drop the tank. There's a thread on this site about a cheap fix, but I don't have it handy. The sender unit from DC is not cheap. I'm going to wait til I put on a new tank to change mine.



Steve

 

[JPS]

fuel sender fix

Any chance someone remembers thread about fuel sender cheap fix mentioned above? Have fuel sender not working!!

 

[MikeR]

On my '00 truck, last summer I ran out of fuel one day and the gauge on the dash still indicated 1/8th tank remaining! Since then I have always used my trip odometer as reference to double check the fuel gauge of about when I'll need to fill up. I've only caught my gauge reading inaccurate one other time.



Sending unit failures are very common with our trucks.

 

[John]

I believe the thread in question described a procedure where the rivet holding the OE fuel sender actuation arm to the sender is replaced with the appropriate sized bolt and locking nut. Apparently what happens is the rivet becomes somewhat loose over time... enough so, so that the actuation arm does not make good contact with the receiving half of the sender.

 

[JPS]

fuel gauge fix

Thanks John!! JPS

 

[ReggieRam]

That makes sense

Thanks John!



Who would think that Dodge would put something together cheaply? So when I switch tanks, just make sure they bolt the sender in and I'm right as rain?