on the road, fuel gauge being weird.

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On the road to Vegas from Ga, the fillup before last was OK. That tank yielded me 161 miles to "E" on fuel gauge. Now I have been driving this 98. 5 with a trailer since new. Never have I only gotten less than 230 miles before refueling. After a trip to the pump, I found all I needed was 15 gallons. I guess the gauge is showing far less fuel than I really have.
The following fillup did exactly the same thing. "Empty" showing on gauge, was at "full" when I filled it. No leaks anywhere. Need some advise please, and how difficult is it going to be to change out the sender??
Thanks in advance. Please email me, net access is scarce.

David
98. 5 24V 2500HD

 

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I just drove Seattle to Vegas. Each tank seemed to produce different readings. My warning light (the infamous 1/8th tank warning) went on anywhere from 21 to 25 gallons consumed, leaving a minimum of 10 gallons left. I have started making a rough (conservative) estimate of my lineage and figuring total miles for 30 gallons. I've put in 29. 9 so far, but haven't pushed it further.
I don't suspect replacing the sender is going to produce any better consistency, so I decided to live with it.

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Charlie
98. 5 2500QC 2WD Auto, DTT valve body,TC & coller, EZBox & elbow, 275's, PacBrake, Firestone airbags & Monroe Reflex shocks

 

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Going in for my THIRD sending unit tomorrow. I'll keep going back until DC gets it right.

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98 2500 SLT, QC 12V, 4X4, Auto, 4:10's, SB, 285 BFG's on Mickey Thompson Challengers, LSD, Alpine alarm, Tekonsha brake controller, 5th wheel hitch, DeeZee stainless boards, Stull billet grille, MTX Thunder sub enclosure, Kenwood amp, Trans. temp gauge, CB radio, White/Driftwood, Camel interior. BINFORD TOOLS decal on rear window

 

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The Fuel sending units are infamous for mot working right or going bad quickly.
I had two go out, I am using trip odometer to know when to fuel up(500 to 600 miles).
If your under warranty have Dodge replace it as many times as you can. If not you can replace pretty easy, saves a lot of labor cost or you can calculate fill up by trip odometer according to what your fuel mileage is averaging empty,loaded or towing.

 

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This must tempertature related as mine started the same thing this week this is my second sending unit,hard to beleive that DC hasn't found a vendor to supply a life time unit,I've never had to replace one in other vechicle except a tractor but they take a beating. One other note soon after the replacement it acted up I added some conditioner from power service I think it was and had no problem for months,I'm out of conditioner but will pick some up at wally world tonight.

 

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I have had two fuel sending units and they both failed at 35K exactly. the first was replaced under warenty and the second is still there at 98K and is absolutely dead. Considering trying the fix as documented in a couple of these links but its a bit cold to be playing outside. Does anyone know of a replacement that actually works?

 

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I have passed this info on so many times, another TDR member helped me solve my fuel gauge issues a year or so ago. I went thru several(and I mean several 7 or 8 in less than a year) sending units. Some did't last a month. There is a control unit in cab in dash or overhead consul that eats senders. Replace it and your wows will be over. I told my Dlr. and they listened, I hads no more problems after they replaced the control unit or voltage stabilizer, whatever it is called, they knew what I meant when I brought the truck in for repair.

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2001 2500 tow, camper, SWB, ETH, Bright white.

 

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Originally posted by Brian:
Going in for my THIRD sending unit tomorrow. I'll keep going back until DC gets it right.

Better have the mailman just start bringing your issue of TDR to the dealership. Bring a pillow, too, while you're at it #ad
! they have known about this problem for 2+ years and still use the same design. No sign of any plans to change anything...
Maybe that "round tuit" will arrive next week and I'll get a new one, BOMB it, rotate it into place, BOMB the old one and let Axekicker have it... . While I'm at it, maybe do bigger hoses from the tank to the engine (or not #ad
)