MARKY MARK

Went away for the weekend. Filled her up. Drove about 80 miles. Fuel guage needle went down a little in that distance then I looked again and it was pegged on full. I drove 350 miles and it's still pegged on full tank. What went wrong?

infidel

Could be the float is stuck. Lay on your back and kick the tank or hit it with a mallet. Friend of mine had this happen under warranty, all the dealer did was what I just decribed. They also told him not to fill the tank to the brim, just two auto nozzle shutoffs max. Problem never came back for him, maybe you'll be lucky too.
Otherwise it's replace the sender time.

MARKY MARK

Thanks infidel. I'll give it a kick and see if that cures it. When I fill up, I just let the pump shut off once and that's it. I hope it isn't the sender.

jaconst

how much is a sender unit? something I should replace b4 its bad about 160k miles and gauge usually says less than whats there till I get down to 1/4 tank. if its as easy to replace as wifes mini van was just drop tank snap ring unhook connections put new in hook connections up and snap ring and put tank in and go.

infidel

The sender goes for around $36. Many dealers will tell you it's not available separately and try to sell you the entire module for $300, don't believe them, it isn't so.
Replacement is a bit harder than your van because the shape of the tank, fuel will slosh to one end and make it tip. I prefer the tilt the bed up method myself, you don't have to have a near empty tank and disconnecting the lines and wires is easier when they're in plain view.
While doing the replacement look for worn parts on the track the pickup tube slides on and self tapping screws whose sharp tips protrude and can cause the float to hang up or rub holes in the fuel pick up tube.

MARKY MARK

Update:
The float must have been stuck because I got under the truck and gave the tank a bunch of solid kicks and now it's working.

CruisingRam

Man- is this a common problem with later model dodges? My brothers 94 Ram CTD has a broke gauge, always on full, and now the 98 I just bought is the same way!