Lary Ellis (Top)

I notice the last 4 to 5 tanks, the gauge reads real low and even the fuel light has come on a couple of times. I stop to fill up and can not get more than 16 gallons in it.<br> Sounds like I need to drop the tank and inspect the sending unit, but I wanted to see if anybody else has experienced this?<br><br> I do not like to let it get below 1/4 tank anyway and having it show empty at 260 miles is way out as 450 to 500 is closer to normal procedure.<br> Anybody had this happen?

j

mine shows empty and the computer says 0 miles to empty when there is still 5 gallons in the tank. i dont think i'm going to get it fixed though, nice little cushion. my last 3 veh's were chryslers and all of them had sending unit problems multiple times.

Lary Ellis (Top)

Mine also has always had a 5 gallon cushion, this thing of showing empty enough to lite up the warning lite and only be able to put 15 or 16 gallons in it, is a whole new developement.

Ballbearing

Mine is not that bad, but on empty I can only get around 26 gallons in. These trucks have 36 gallon tanks right? Ten gallons is way to big of a cushion.

Lary Ellis (Top)

[quote author=Ballbearing link=board=5;threadid=7051;start=0#67054 date=1037332958]<br>Mine is not that bad, but on empty I can only get around 26 gallons in. These trucks have 36 gallon tanks right? Ten gallons is way to big of a cushion.<br>[/quote]<br> Thats about what I used to put in mine. I think the most I ever put in at one time was 28 gallons, and I was sweating it!

dalton4

The float unit is a known weak item on our trucks. My unit started failing about two months back (103k miles). It will register full when I refuel. After about 70 miles of driving and it starts falling to the big E. Sometimes it will come off of empty for a couple minutes and then back to E. The low fuel light is on most of the time. I'm using the tripometer and refueling in the 300-400 mile range to be on safe side.<br><br>Jerry

Haulin_in_Dixie

The tubular slide in the tank is stuck in the up position. I locked mine down by putting washers under the screws that it slides on. It is aluminum and wears poorly. Taking the sender unit out of the tank will show you easily what the problem is. Mine was all warn badly. Hate the setup

Lary Ellis (Top)

Thanks I thought that was probably the case. When it warms up enough to feel like laying under it, I will drop the tank and figure a cure.

shortfieldbreak

When my light comes on I still have almost 10 gallons left. The most I've ever put in is 33.7, and that was when the needle was under E. <br>-SFB

ramlovingvet

This is going on with my Dads 96 Dually and Dodge says its either a $50.00 part or a $400.00 part but they replace both. :'(Will try the washers <br>Thanks

Weatherbyman

Mine has done that since the day I took it home! I am used to it now, just drive another 100 miles after the light comes on. Most I've gotten into it was 29.5 gallons!

BoldtsWagon

Failure of the fuel level sensor/sender is a common problem (it will happen to everyone). Replace the $40-50 part, it is the float and potentiometer screwed onto the side of the $400 assembly. The $400 assembly has a sliding lower section that follows the tank bottom as it flexes and some complicated tubing (no way is the assembly worth $400). You get a new gasket with the replacement float etc.

The replacement is more accurate (linear) than the original on my 97.