gas gague problem

[rshealy]

I had a problem with my oil gague dropping to zero and had that fixed at a Dodge dealer in California while I was traveling. That problem was listed as a TSB in the TDR. It has been about 5 months and now I have a problem with the fuel gauge dropping to empty, the fuel alarm sounding then it returns to normal. This has happened three times so far. The last time was just after I fueled up so I know the tank was full. Anyone with the same problem let me know. I am not on line and check my "E" Mail every 5 or 7 days. Thanks in advance before I go to the dealer. Ralph

 

[swamp rat]

Sorry to hear of the problems you're having. I think I probably speak for quite a few here in that you are not alone with the fuel gauge prob. I had mine go out @36,500 and the dealer wouldn't even cut me any slack. I paid, about 3 months later it went out again. He paid this time! No problem since fortunately. What is causing this is the fuel level sending unit in the tank going bad.



Not a real expensive part, but just a bit of labor getting the tank down to replace it. If your still under warranty make DC fix it, if not there is a way to do it without dropping the tank but requires unbolting several bedbolts & tilting the bed. Either way you may need new plastic fuel line clip retainers which can be had from Advance Auto for mere pennies compared to dealer labor costs.



Check here for what I did a few weeks ago to make dropping and reinstalling easier:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...=&threadid=21922&highlight=dropping+fuel+tank





Also there is posted somewhere ideas on how to actually repair your current sender tomake it more bulletproof, if you do a search. Also I believe Fritz had some good ideas w/pics posted on his site as well. www.dodgeram.org



Good luck, and don't hesitate to holler if you run into any probs.

 

[Missouri Mule]

swamp rat,

Is correct the fuel sending unit is notorious for going bad.



But once it starts a down hill swing it usually doesn't come back to original position which leads me to believe your truck has a broken wire, bad connector/connection, which means you will have to start at fuel tank and work your way forward to dash. ( you mite find out the sending unit is the problem)



Using a multi-meter would be the best idea but a little test light will work also.

 

[Morphious]

I had a similar problem, but mine would just stick on full, ran through a tank of fuel, and then it might work on the next tank full. Went through 3 different sending units until the last one, which has worked for the last 55000 miles.



Morph.

 

[swamp rat]

I'm not sure what the gauge did on all the other trucks with bad senders, but almost as soon as mine came off full and started easing toward 3/4 full, the gauge went to 1/4 or less shortly afterwards. The only way I could determine approxinately how much fuel I had used or how much remained was to guesstimate using the trip meter. Once it hit the 1/4-1/8 mark, it never came back up until the next fillup then again at the 3/4 mark it drops never to come back up.



At least the last one has worked well since, knock on wood!

 

[Missouri Mule]

My first guage went to full to 3/4 and would stay there until next fill up. This one was repalced under warranty.

My second one started to do the same thing except it finally dropped to 1/4 tank than to empty if wehn I filled up never went to full mark after that but would occasionally would move up to 1/4 tank for a day then back to empty( it actually was reading the tank when it had 1/4 of tank of fuel left.



I need to pull instrument panel off to check solid state board ( at recommendation of mechanic who thought a electric shortage could of gone all the way to the dash.



When my second sending unit went ( maybe first) I know my trailer(10' utility) right side right was not grounding right( water had got into the light and rusted the light bulb holder, which is the ground for the bulb). While I was testing the light to find the problem my tank which was already registering wrong 3/4(when full) slowly moved to 1/4 and empty.



With the bulb holder rusted , when parking lights were on the bulb would ground off the brake light/turn signal wire. When I hit the brakes it would reverse the rolls of brake wire was power and parking light wire was ground.

Now looking at manual(wiring section) this should not involve the sending unit/gauge but I know this when the gauge bit the dust.



Still researching.

 

[HomerDog]

My '96 seems to work from full to 1/2 tank. From there it starts moving from a 1/2 to empty, very quick with lots of mood swings. Then I think I can make a 100 miles and it drops... ... ..... Then I get worried and stop and fill up... Any sugestions? Seems like a lot of these trucks have fuel reading problems... ...



Dave