10-16-2019, 09:28 AM
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#1
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Gas Gauge Broke
My fuel gauge suddenly broke  . Says empty and low fuel light is on. Computer says 20 miles to empty. It has sat for a little while and it was already kind of low when it happened, but I put some fuel in it to see if maybe that would "unstick" anything.
I've never dealt with an issue like this before and I was hoping there might be something "easy" to take a look at before having to drop the tank...
Thanks for any help!
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2006 4Runner Sport Shadow Mica
CBI Hidden Front Hitch - Daystar Lift - Spidertrax - Kenwood Stereo System - Kenwood TS-480sat - Kenwood TM-V71a
...that's about it so far... More to come!
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10-16-2019, 10:20 AM
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#2
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Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Moorpark CA
Age: 42
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Join Date: Mar 2018
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The sending unit is nothing more than a float and dial attached to the fuel pump assembly. All one unit. Now, you could just buy a new sending unit and swap it out. But I feel like if you're going thru the trouble of getting it out, you might as well just replace the whole pump assembly.
Now you can drop the fuel tank, or if you're feeling adventurous, you can cut the floor underneath the driver side rear seat where the unit plugs in and access it from there. That was the route I took, total time of 2 hours to change out. Made a new cover for it and all is well.
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2007 SR5 V6 4WD 205k, Titanium Metallic. 5100s, OME 885/895, extended rear links, ST Maxx 255/75 R17 on 17x8s, mud flap delete,TB spacer, Spectre CAI, DRL delete, HCF delete, DAC delete, K&N cabin filter, TPMS bypass, Fog light mod, USB galore, dash cam, LED lights all over, rear bumper lights, cbi ditch light brackets w/lights, atrac off, OBA w/2 gallon tank/hidden hook up, Trailgear welded sliders, Rocksteady skids, custom swing-out, 3⁰, SE hood w/working vent, Sprint booster, JET MAF, Kenwood TM-V71a w/motorized antenna, custom dual battery, custom roof rack/lights, custom TRED mount, external 12v, rear diff breather, pck, Freedom UCAs, custom stereo, Aluminum rad, trans cooler, 240A alternator...for now... 
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10-16-2019, 07:05 PM
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#3
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mine got stuck a few years back, i disconnected the battery and it worked again... try that free idea first. dont know why but it worked for me.
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10-16-2019, 08:36 PM
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#4
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Kinda cool actually … probably adds a ton of suspense to the drive.
I would leave it broken and see if you can make it off gut feeling alone.
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10-16-2019, 09:30 PM
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#5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bumbo
Kinda cool actually … probably adds a ton of suspense to the drive.
I would leave it broken and see if you can make it off gut feeling alone.
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I track my MPG on every fill up, so I could go without the gas gauge and go by miles driven alone and feel confident I would never run out of gas, I always fill up with around 3+ gallons left in the tank and use the miles driven more so then the gauge to judge when to fill up.
That being said it would add a tiny bit of excitement not having the gas gauge, because I do actually look at it, I just don't rely entirely on it.
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Last edited by AuSeeker; 10-16-2019 at 09:35 PM.
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10-17-2019, 11:06 AM
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#6
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Join Date: Jan 2014
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Join Date: Jan 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bumbo
Kinda cool actually … probably adds a ton of suspense to the drive.
I would leave it broken and see if you can make it off gut feeling alone.
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Best idea yet. Definitely makes it exciting except for the brief panic attack I have every time I look at the gauge.
__________________
2006 4Runner Sport Shadow Mica
CBI Hidden Front Hitch - Daystar Lift - Spidertrax - Kenwood Stereo System - Kenwood TS-480sat - Kenwood TM-V71a
...that's about it so far... More to come!
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10-17-2019, 11:09 AM
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#7
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Join Date: Jan 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hunterD1
mine got stuck a few years back, i disconnected the battery and it worked again... try that free idea first. dont know why but it worked for me.
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Cool, I'll give it a shot at least. I love free repairs.
Probably just end up going by the odometer... gotta fix the AC and exhaust didn't pass inspection so I'll be broke.
__________________
2006 4Runner Sport Shadow Mica
CBI Hidden Front Hitch - Daystar Lift - Spidertrax - Kenwood Stereo System - Kenwood TS-480sat - Kenwood TM-V71a
...that's about it so far... More to come!
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10-17-2019, 11:40 AM
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#8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Guitarplaya39
Best idea yet. Definitely makes it exciting except for the brief panic attack I have every time I look at the gauge.
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That's what i'm talking about!
It's like navigating using the stars...panic attack is imminent because I don't know how to do it.
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10-17-2019, 02:13 PM
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#9
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Join Date: Dec 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bumbo
Kinda cool actually … probably adds a ton of suspense to the drive.
I would leave it broken and see if you can make it off gut feeling alone.
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LOL mines been broken for a while now.
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10-22-2019, 04:40 PM
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#10
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Mine has been broken sense I got it. After tie rod ends, timing belt, water pump, all new brakes and a slew of other fixes, this fix got pushed to the back burner.
I hit reset on the trip odometer at each fill up. I have a 4.7L, and have made it as far as 317 miles until she started drawing air.
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10-22-2019, 09:04 PM
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#11
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If you wonder what this entails...
I chose to replace the entire cartridge with pump and fuel level sender.
Having a consistent commute is fine with a busted gauge, but add wheeling trips with seldom fuel stops, and it gets sketchy.... 
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2007 T4R Sport V8 4WD, 145K, Seat Warmers, Pioneer NEX
2007 T4R Limited V8, 4WD, 181K, OME 2"
2014 GX 460 Premium
1997 FZJ80 OME 2.5"
2006 T4R Limited V8 - R.I.P.
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10-22-2019, 09:46 PM
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#12
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Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Moorpark CA
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
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Real Name: Elliott
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Quote:
Originally Posted by L8Shift
If you wonder what this entails...
I chose to replace the entire cartridge with pump and fuel level sender.
Having a consistent commute is fine with a busted gauge, but add wheeling trips with seldom fuel stops, and it gets sketchy.... |
Yep! You could also, you're feeling sporting, pull out the driver rear seat and roll the carpet back towards the cargo Bay. You'll find an access port for wiring, though it's too small to get the pump out without cutting. Took me about 30 minutes to get it where I could access it without dropping the tank
__________________
2007 SR5 V6 4WD 205k, Titanium Metallic. 5100s, OME 885/895, extended rear links, ST Maxx 255/75 R17 on 17x8s, mud flap delete,TB spacer, Spectre CAI, DRL delete, HCF delete, DAC delete, K&N cabin filter, TPMS bypass, Fog light mod, USB galore, dash cam, LED lights all over, rear bumper lights, cbi ditch light brackets w/lights, atrac off, OBA w/2 gallon tank/hidden hook up, Trailgear welded sliders, Rocksteady skids, custom swing-out, 3⁰, SE hood w/working vent, Sprint booster, JET MAF, Kenwood TM-V71a w/motorized antenna, custom dual battery, custom roof rack/lights, custom TRED mount, external 12v, rear diff breather, pck, Freedom UCAs, custom stereo, Aluminum rad, trans cooler, 240A alternator...for now...
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10-25-2019, 06:11 PM
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#13
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Join Date: Feb 2013
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I've had pretty good results using Chevron Techron Complete Fuel System cleaner. Within a tank of using a bottle of that and a shell vpower, the gas gauge started working again. It still acts up now and again but it's been way better than when I first bought it, where it wouldn't read fuel or would get stuck on empty. I usually track my miles anyway and figure I'm safe to at least 250mi.
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