Chevy Silverado
Buick Rendezvous
Ford Explorer Limited
Ford Explorer XLS
Gas gauge reads empty even when tank is full?
Wiki User
March 09, 2011 2:16AM
Defective in tank sending unit or the float has a hole in it and it's full of gas and stays at the bottom of the tank sending a false reading. Usually it's the latter issue. Floats cost about $8.00 at Napa.
It could also be the fuel pump wiring harness is corroded. It is under the car (exposed to the elements), just behind the driver's seat. My gas gauge has been flaky for a couple of years. Now the fuel pump cuts out occasionally and I have to reach under and wiggle the harness to be able to start the car.
Related Questions
Asked in GM and GMC
Fuel gauge reads full when on tank is empty?
you should go to a car shop for that one!:)
Asked in Ford Explorer, Chevy S-10
Gas gauge always reads full when empty?
Float could be stuck in the tank or the ground wire on the tank
is broke.
Asked in Auto Parts and Repairs, Dodge Caravan, DIY Projects
How do you fix a gas gauge that reads full one second and then reads empty the next on a 1993 Dodge Caravan?
I would suspect the sending unit in the gas tank is at
fault.
Asked in Dodge Dakota, Toyota RAV4, Ford Windstar GL
What could be causing a fault in your 2002 RAV4 instrument panel as the speedometer will not register and the fuel level ranges from empty to about a quarter full?
I have a problem with my 2 door Toyota rav4 2002 fuel gauge. it
reads empty when in fact it is partly full. When filled up at pumps
it then reads only half full. What can I do to fix this.
Asked in Ford Aerostar XL
Why fule gauge reading stays in full?
i have a 1990 ford ranger and my fule gauge always reads full,
why?
Asked in Chevy Malibu, Chevy Trailblazer
What if your fuel light comes on and you know the gas tank is almost empty however the gauge reads almost half full?
i would recommend getting gas when that happens. perhaps take it
to the mechanic to fix the gauge
Asked in Fuel and Engines, Ford Explorer Limited, Ford Explorer XLS
Why does Gas gauge read empty at full and full at empty?
I would assume that the wires are hooked up backwards
Asked in Chevy Silverado, Oldsmobile Alero, Toyota Sequoia, Ford Windstar GL
Why does the gas gauge on a 99 Alero suddenly drop to Empty even though the tank is completely full How do you rectify the situation?
My 2000 GLS does the same thing. When I fill it it reads full
for a few moments then goes to straight to empty. If I am going
down the road I can shift into neutral shut the motor off and
restart but the gauge does the exact same thing again. I was told
it was the sending unit but have not fixed it yet. The guage works
fine after some driving and the needle comes off full.
Asked in Chevy Trucks and SUVs
What could be wrong with a bad fuel gauge on a 1986 C-10 It always reads between one-fourth and one-half tank even when the tank is full or empty?
In most cases the sending unit in the tank is at fault.
Asked in Auto Parts and Repairs
Why does your gasoline gauge show half full when the tank is empty?
The gauge or sensor needs to be replaced.
Asked in Chevy Beretta
Beretta gas gauge stuck?
Where is it stuck? on full or empty? if on full you got a bad
ground, if empty you got a bad float.
Asked in Ford Trucks and SUVs, Chevy Silverado, Ford Explorer Limited, Ford Explorer XLS
Your gas gauge reads full on your 1988 F150 when a few gallons are put in then as you drive it the gauge bounces back and fourth then settles on empty. Fuses already changed out. Any ideas?
check your conectors or the float might have a hole in it
Asked in Dashboard Lights and Gauges
Why is my gasoline gauge shows empty when the tank is half full?
Failed gauge, wiring, or level sensor.
Asked in Powerboats, Boats and Watercraft
Why does my boat's fuel gauge show full when the tank is empty?
Either the gauge is broken or the sender is broken.
Asked in Dashboard Lights and Gauges, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford Explorer Limited, Ford Explorer XLS
What would be the cause of a 1999 jeep GC not starting if the fuel gauge reads empty the tank IS full?
bad fuel pump it could also mean that the fule ammount sencor is
out.good luck.
Asked in Car Electronics and Lights, Emissions and Exhaust Systems, Fuel and Fuel Intake, Ford Bronco
How do i test the fuel gauge on a 1986 ford bronco 2 it always reads empty i already no the float sinks yet is there a way to still check the gage to see if it will read once i get a new float?
The way to test the gauge is to unhook the wires to the sender
and the gauge should read empty. Now, ground the sensor wire and
the gauge should go all the way past the full level. If this
happens your wiring and gauge are fine.
Asked in Chevy Trailblazer
What do you do when your 2005 Trailblazer fuel gauge light stays on and the fuel gauge stays empty even when it is full?
The floater inside your pump is sticking. You will have to
replace your fuel pump in order to fix this problem.
Asked in Fuel and Fuel Intake, Ford Ranger
Why is your gas gauge in your ford ranger stuck on full even when the tank is empty?
The fuel gauge could be getting improper signals from the fuel
sensor. The sensor is located inside of the fuel tank.
Asked in Grand Am GT
Why does the fuel gauge jump from full to empty and back?
Your fuel sending unit is not giving the correct reading to your
gauge
Asked in Dashboard Lights and Gauges, Chevy Silverado, Chevy S-10
87 Chevy silverado gas gauge reads a quarter at full on both tanks falls as gas is used to empty checked ground and connections unpluged the sending wire at tank and gauge goes to full thank you?
my 86 did the same never would read more than 1/4 tank after
lots of checking things i replaced the gauge and it worked
perfect..
Asked in Dashboard Lights and Gauges, Ford Ranger XLT, Ford Escort GT
Why does your fuel gauge reads low when your fuel tank is full?
Defective fuel sending unit.
What causes a fuel gauge to get stuck and stop providing an accurate reading?
Well, usually there are several possible problems that can do
this. Some of the more common problems that people experience with
their fuel gauge is that it reads empty at all times, another is
that it reads constantly full, but the most common problem is when
the gauge will read differently at different times, fill the tank
and it will read empty, be about a quarter of a tank down and it
will read full, that sort of thing. In the more common cases, the
problem is with the fuel level sending unit, I do not know much as
to how to fix it, but I have seen several websites that give advice
on this problem.
Asked in Chevy Suburban, Car Stalling Problems, Ford Expedition XLT
Why does Suburban 2500 not transfer gas between tanks and stalls before empty and does not take a full fill up?
Sounds like the transfer pump in the rear tank is bad and you
are running out of fuel in the front tank. The fuel gauge reads
both tanks and gives you an average between the two. So, if the
front tank is empty and the rear tank is full the gauge will read
aprox a half tank.
Asked in Chevy Trailblazer
How do you fix a gas gauge in a 2006 Chevy trailblazer that reads empty when full?
sounds like you have a bad ground wire on frame by the fuel
tank. small black wire coming from the fuel tank and screwed to the
frame.
Asked in Mazda Trucks
How do i fix the Gas gauge 92 b2200?
Simple check is to ground the fuel sending wire at the fuel
tank.If the gauge reads FULL then it is a bad fuel sending unit and
you need to drop the fuel tank to replace it.If the gauge reads
empty when you ground the wiring then it means you have a bad fuel
gauge.I would lean strongly towards the sending unit be bad my 87
the gauge started reading about 1/4 tank less before it failed.