Strange fuel gauge issue

[nastynas]

Ever since I bought my Talon a year ago the fuel gauge has never properly worked. The needle on it used to work like it should, but once I hit my last 1/4 of the tank the needle would just freeze in one spot, and stay there until I put more gas in. The only way to tell if I was going to run out was that the yellow low fuel warning light would come on. Basically what I'm trying to say is the needle would NEVER go into the area of the gauge between EMPTY and 1/4 TANK, bcause it would stop before that. Now all of a sudden it made its way into that area (even though I have a full tank), and won't move. It stays stuck halfway between EMPTY and 1/4 TANK. Now I can never tell how much gas I have in my tank, I just have to randomly top it off every few days. Has anyone ever heard of this happening before? I don't know how to fix this but it's annoying me too much to ignore.

 

[justin0469]

do you have indiglo gauges? alot of times when people put them on they knock the needles out of line.

 

[nastynas]

No I don't, they're the stock gauges

 

[DSM90AWD]

You're fuel level float/rod is likely sticking near the bottom of it's travel. Remove the fuel pump assembly and make sure the rod is not bent and it operates without interfearance the entire range of travel.

FYI.. unfortunately it's pretty common for people to bend this arm when installing a new pump.

Actually thinking about this, I may have solved my own fuel gauge issue (mines been stuck on "E" for a week)

 

[Defiant]

Now I can never tell how much gas I have in my tank, I just have to randomly top it off every few days.

You don't re-set your tripmeter?
Next time the low-level light is on, speed over the roughest railroad crossing in your town a few times. It just might beat things loose. Also, check for loose or corroded connectors at the fuel senders (one per side).

 

[DSM90AWD]

Also, check for loose or corroded connectors at the fuel senders (one per side).

If you're referring to the in-tank thermistors that indicate fuel level, the 1G AWDs only have one which is at the bottom of the fuel pump bracket (and the one as part of the fuel float assembly). 2Gs have one on each side of the tank due to the split design.

In an emergency, you can test resistance of the flat plug leading to the fuel pump using 200ohm scale: pin #3 is ground, pin #2 is fuel gauge and pin#1 is the idiot light.

2-3ohm = full and 115-120ohm = empty.

FYI.. the "Idiot Light" and fuel gauge have separate sendors/outputs, so if the gauge is not working, the light will warn you when down to ~2gallons