Fuel Tank Sending Unit

[RHARVEY]

I have a neighbor that has a 96 3500 that is having problems with the fuel guage. He went to Dodge and they told him that he needed a new sending unit which is $600.

I know this has been discussed a number of times. . What is the item that he needs and what is the part number???



Thanks

Rick

 

[csutton7]

wish I could help on the part #---anyway that sounds way to high--did it include the tank????----all he needs is the float assembly as he should be able to reuse the other parts---he needs to go back and see if they can sell him just that part--if not try a junkyard..... chris

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Rick,



They are giving him the price for a new module. You don't need one. Just replace the sending unit. about 40 bucks. I have done mine 3 times. Been Contemplating buying a dump body for the truck, solely for easy access to the tank.



Fuel Sender Part #: 04797738 (Check for a newer version or a revised sender) It should have been revised 5 years ago.



This is all he needs:

#ad




More Info: http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/fuel_sender.htm

 

[Bandit1]

i have had the same problem with my fuel sending unit and i contacted huey conway on feb 8th and sent a check for $3 to his address and ihavent heard anything back yet. i am beginning to get frustrated and i wanted to warn anyone that contacts him to be aware of the time frame that i sent him payment for his fix and have herad nothing since that day. caution to all!

 

[RHARVEY]

I went a visited my neighbor and gave him the part number for the sending unit. And he was telling me that there is a float on the module that slides up and down. I thought that all were the same...



Rick

 

[csutton7]

has he removed it already or is this the info from the dealer???---I think he's got it wrong unless it's there in front of him... . chris

 

[RHARVEY]

Chris,



He has not taken the tank down yet. I believe that he has the wrong information. .

Are all the sending units for the 2nd Gen the same type???



Rick

 

[csutton7]

HemiDart's pic looks like the one in my '99 so I would think so..... chris

 

[RHARVEY]

I think the local Dodge dealer is feeding him a line... . I never do business with the local dealer just for that reason.



Rick

 

[Extreme1]

The module slides together, up and down while installed. (Don't know why). The fuel senders appear to be the same for all. I have the MODULE from my '94 gasser (needed a pump) and compared it to my '94 diesel when I fixed my sender. It was a bent tab.

 

[redram]

Originally posted by csutton7

wish I could help on the part #---anyway that sounds way to high--did it include the tank????----all he needs is the float assembly as he should be able to reuse the other parts---he needs to go back and see if they can sell him just that part--if not try a junkyard..... chris

Not always. I have been running the last 4 years without a fuel guage because the metal part of the fuel module (the part where the bottom half is connected to the top half with the vertical slots) has worn so severely that it is toast... ... don't automatically assume that it's always a float problem. Mine has always been the poor quality white metal allowing the screw heads to wear a groove into the vertical slots.

 

[LDusky]

My sending unit was acting haywire, replaced the sending unit and found the module would slide up and down. I used SS washers, i. d. of washer to fit shoulder of the screw, set the module length to almost touch the bottom of tank and tighten the screws. I referb my old sending unit with Hueys kit and will use it next time. I just hope there isn't a next time.

 

[redram]

I did a similar fix with larger washers 4 years ago. It lasted about 20K. Unfortunately, my fuel sending module problem showed up after 36k miles but still within the 3 years. Dodge did not even blink an eye to say it was out of warranty... .



Wish you luck that your's lasts longer. I now have 137K and can pretty much tell when I need to fill up via the trip odometer. heaven help if someone resets the trip mileage and tears up my notebook. !!!



Dodge should just fix the damn thing. It's failing due to the quality of the parts, not due to the design. That's just being cheap in my opinion.



I've looked into a non contacting type of marine fuel guage and for the $200 dollars, it might be an alternative to the stock system that has a checkered relibility issue.

 

[Stmpplr]

HEMIDART is right on the part #. Have one here in the box from the dealer. I think it was $23. 00.

First clown that looked it up quoted me on the injector pump. Second one said about $600, which was for the whole fuel pump assembly. Part # was current as of 4 months ago when I bought it. (Yea, I know. I'll put it on one of these days. )

 

[redram]

I picked up a 2000 fuel tank module from a salvage yard several days ago. When did the fuel tank module stop using the white metal top half and go to a plastic version?



I have been resisting buying a replacement module due to the marginal materials but I think the plastic on plastic slide should eliminate the binding problem that occurred with my truck..... this only leaves the marginal float reostat problem!



Will try and take some photo's this weekend and show the differences that I'm referring to.



I must be getting old... . having a functional fuel guage has me almost excited about having to drop the fuel tank! (yes, I know alot of people suggest removing the bed, but I have a bolted in G/N hitch so the four bolts to undue becomes 10 with the hitch and it's easier to undue the fill neck and two straps on my truck)

 

[RHARVEY]

I would be interested in the results..... My guage has not worked correctly from day one. . but I also bought my truck used... .





Rick

 

[MikeR]

RHarvey,



I have a brand new (latest) unit for the 94-97's sitting here under my computer desk and the box says 5013467AA. This is just the fuel sender and float, and that is all you need. Should list for about $50 bucks.



-Mike

 

[RHARVEY]

Mike,



When I bought the truck I was told that the sending unit had just been replaced but the guage still didn't work.

I didn't worry about that little item because I wanted the truck and I knew that I could get it working. About a year later I decided to unplug the sending unit at the top of the tank to see what would happen. To my surprise the guage moved! Now what happens. . the guage shows full for about the first 450 miles and then it starts to move. When it goes down between full and 3/4 I know that I have about 8-10 gal. left in the tank. I have tested this a dozen times running empty and also pulling cross country and its right every time. But I would like to get the guage working... I guess just to be different.

On the new fuel sender and float. . is there any difference in the way its made compared to the old ones??????



Thanks

Rick

 

[redram]

Originally posted by MikeR

RHarvey,



I have a brand new (latest) unit for the 94-97's sitting here under my computer desk and the box says 5013467AA. This is just the fuel sender and float, and that is all you need. Should list for about $50 bucks.



-Mike

Mike, You are possibly correct that the float / sending unit is the culprit and would fix the problem. But NOT ALWAYS!

At some point in the production run of the second gen Rams, the fuel tank module has been changed from a combination metal top portion (inside bracket that allowed the sliding action) to a plastic two piece unit. The troublesomefuel sending unit is mounted on to a plastic bottom portion.

I'm not referring to that part, I'm referring to the entire "fuel module tank unit, not just the fuel float / sending unit".



Does anyone know when DC changed to the all plastic design?