2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission truck ran out of fuel now fuel gauge is way off?

[2broke2smoke]

couple of weeks ago someone (don't ask you'll just get me in trouble) borrowed my truck and gave it back on E with 0 miles on the DTE ...



so on the way to get fuel i ran 'er out ... five gallons and cracked open 3 injectors down the road we went ...



on the next tank the truck ran out again but this time it was with 1/4 tank showing on gauge and 100 miles on the DTE overhead and no low fuel light ...



(don't lecture about keeping track of miles per tank ... we have to reset trip meter for wifes work)



my question is now that it is apparently off 1/4 tank is there any way to "reset" the gauge /computer?

 

[wildmanben]

sounds like the float contacts in the tank may be worn and getting it that low caused it to fail.

 

[BTowler]

I am having the same problem, only the disparity in gauge reading is getting worse. I don't have an answer yet, I will be dropping my tank (or lifting my bed) soon to figure out the problem and fix it, till then I am filling per the trip meter. As Far as the trip meter goes, have your wife write down the mileage off the odometer and then do the math. If she is planning on writing mileage off on taxes she has to have a log in case she gets audited, not just the miles driven.

 

[azpete]

The float for sure. After 4 years of the 1/2 mile washboard road to my place every day I now get 250 miles on the first 1/4 tank but have to remember that at the last 1/4 I only have 4 gallons left. Will fix it one of these days

 

[Alphacowboy]

I bet your guys floats look like the one on the right of this pic... .



#ad

 

[2broke2smoke]

thanks guys ... good info

 

[TFlory]

I bet your guys floats look like the one on the right of this pic... .



#ad

Doesn't that mean there's a bunch of debris in the tank?

 

[fortunate1]

Quoted by TFlory: "Doesn't that mean there's a bunch of debris in the tank?"



Possibly, but not necessarily. When I had to replace my sending unit (@ 110K mi. ), the float was worn but the tank bottom was very clean. When I ran a solvent-soaked cloth all around the inside of the tank, it came out pretty clean. I was actually sort of surprised.

Now the guage is reading "differently" again (different miles elapsed for each quarter-tank than before). I fixed a new float on the old sending unit - that's going in the next chance I get to drop the tank. But I think that the real problem with these units are the 2 slotted metal guides that the unit slides up & down in. The bolt wears the slots unevenly, and can also cause a sticking point somewhere between the top & bottom. I've got a feeling that I'll need to address this too when I drop the tank.

 

[Alphacowboy]

Doesn't that mean there's a bunch of debris in the tank?

Yup! :{



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162740

 

[PLefever]

I have a similar issue, I ran the tank down to just 3 gal left, the guage never came back, still read zip with light on. I assumed it was the sender, I pulled tank, checked sender with an ohm meter vs new and it was ok, so was the float, I plugged it into the wiring and manipulated by hand and still zip. I can ground the wiring at the plug and get the guage to read full. Does anyone know what voltage should be at the plug? I'm reading 5 volts which doesn't seem right. I have reached my peters principal!

 

[Kissfan113]

Rex, If ya need a hand man, let me know, I would be glad to help ya out. I am gonna drop by one of these days, School is keepin me hoppin. We oughta get some of the guys together and meet up somewhere, I am goin to the Fall Brawl, hope some of you guys can make it

Kevin

 

[2broke2smoke]

hey Kevin ...

been meaning to get back to you ...

we moved in sept 1st

this has been the 1st weekend without anything pressing to do ...



we will be taking wendys '06 to fall brawl ... we must have gotten lucky 'cause she's getting 18-19 mpg and this thing is strong ...



at least one other truck/tdr member will be going up with us ...



we have been having trouble with our cell phones ... both with voice and GPRS that we use for internet access ...

 

[Kissfan113]

I will have to get with ya, maybe all of us convoy up, I am planning on meeting tURBOdIEZEL somewhere he is bringin up a bunch of buds from TX with him, maybe we can have a good crew goin up, I will let ya know as i find out

Kevin