User Tag List

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 08-25-2010, 07:24 PM #1
cesarel cesarel is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: miami fl
Posts: 55
cesarel is on a distinguished road
cesarel cesarel is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: miami fl
Posts: 55
cesarel is on a distinguished road
1999 - fuel gauge problem

MY PROBLEM...

"I have a 99 SR5 4Runner. Yesterday, I noticed the fuel gauge was reading more fuel than what was actually in there. Filled it up, gauge went to full and plunged to empty a few seconds later. Drove it about 10 miles with it reading empty and the low fuel warning flashing. I turned it off when I got to where i was going. When I turned it back on, gauge was reading full again. After driving 50 miles, it is still reading full, not moving at all. I see no fuse issues in the drivers compartment. Any suggestions for a fix to this? I appreciate any feedback from anyone who has dealt with a similar issue or may have knowledge to what it might be. I appreciate your help."

So it will be the fuel level sensor? i was reading that maybe is the whole system, that i should use an aftermarket system...

what do you think?
__________________
99' 4Runner / 3.4 / ECT BUTTON lol
cesarel is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 08-26-2010, 11:03 PM #2
fourwd1's Avatar
fourwd1 fourwd1 is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: the Socialist State of Maryland
Posts: 11,432
Real Name: The Chosen One
fourwd1 is just really nice fourwd1 is just really nice fourwd1 is just really nice fourwd1 is just really nice
fourwd1 fourwd1 is offline
Moderator
fourwd1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: the Socialist State of Maryland
Posts: 11,432
Real Name: The Chosen One
fourwd1 is just really nice fourwd1 is just really nice fourwd1 is just really nice fourwd1 is just really nice
Most likely it's the fuel level gauge sending unit in the tank.
They get quirky.
__________________
- the Internet - the mother-ship of people who don't know much and aren't afraid to go public
'84 4Runner - ARBed 5.29s F&R, 4.7 & 2.28 t-cases, 2" drive train lift, BudBuilt x-member/skid, 30 spl Longs
'83 Toy P/U - Buick 231 V6, Holley 4 bbl, Weiand intake, Downey headers, TH350 w/700R4 low gearset,
'89 4Runner SR5 - stock
fourwd1 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 08-27-2010, 10:38 AM #3
cesarel cesarel is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: miami fl
Posts: 55
cesarel is on a distinguished road
cesarel cesarel is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: miami fl
Posts: 55
cesarel is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by fourwd1 View Post
Most likely it's the fuel level gauge sending unit in the tank.
They get quirky.
thats what i was thinking, i found the sending unit at autopartswarehouse website, by a chance where else can i buy the part online?

tks. Nice Hilux!
__________________
99' 4Runner / 3.4 / ECT BUTTON lol
cesarel is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 04-16-2011, 10:16 AM #4
[email protected] wallaceg@mit.edu is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 16
wallaceg@mit.edu is on a distinguished road
[email protected] wallaceg@mit.edu is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 16
wallaceg@mit.edu is on a distinguished road
I'm having the same problem with my 99 fuel gauge. After filling up the tank, the fuel gauge reads F for a few seconds, then drops to E and the low fuel light starts flashing. This typically happens as soon as I put it in gear and start moving. If the tank is not full, the needle reads F all the time.

The problems started a few weeks after having the gas tank dropped by the welder who was repairing my rusted frame. The connector looks OK and fits snugly on the tank. Gently tugging on the wires does not change the behavior.

I followed the FSM procedure to test the sender and gauge:

1) Unplug wiring harness and turn ignition on. Fuel gauge reads E and low fuel light comes on (not flashing). Seems to behave as designed.

2) Connect pins 2 and 3 on wiring harness with a 50 Ohm resistor. (FSM recommends using a 3.4W [~42 Ohm] bulb but I didn't have one handy.) Fuel gauge slowly moves upwards. Sometimes it behaves normally, sometimes the gauge drops suddenly to E after a few seconds and the low fuel light starts flashing again.

3) Measure resistance between 2 sets of connections on back of fuel gauge assembly. I have not done this step yet since it requires taking the entire dash apart and I don't have the time/desire (or a driveway to work in for that matter).

4) Measure resistance between pins on sender. Pin 2-3 = ~50 Ohm, pin 1-3 = ~150 Ohm, pin 1-2 = ~200 Ohm with approximately 3/4 of a tank.

Any ideas what the flashing low fuel light indicates? I can't find any mention of the flashing behavior in the FSM.

I've been tracking my miles with the odometer so I don't run out of gas, but I'd rather have the gauge working again. I don't want an aftermarket product like the Scan Gauge.
__________________
1999 4Runner SR5, V6, 5-speed manual, ~225k miles

Last edited by [email protected]; 04-16-2011 at 10:27 AM.
wallaceg@mit.edu is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 04-16-2011, 02:34 PM #5
Nates_NW4Runner's Avatar
Nates_NW4Runner Nates_NW4Runner is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Newberg, Oregon
Age: 43
Posts: 177
Nates_NW4Runner is on a distinguished road
Nates_NW4Runner Nates_NW4Runner is offline
Member
Nates_NW4Runner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Newberg, Oregon
Age: 43
Posts: 177
Nates_NW4Runner is on a distinguished road
Check the ground wire

This happened to me a couple years ago, so bear with me for the lack of specific details I can give...

Mine developed this issue after connecting an improperly wired trailer!
The first time i pressed the brake pedal, it blew the taillight fuse. Replaced the fuse several times, to no avail until I disconnected the trailer plug... All of the sudden my fuel guage would drop to empty after putting the truck in gear and the low fuel warning light would start flashing. This was NOT a fuse issue, but WAS related to my taillights... I was so confused!
I spoke with two Toyota wiring gurus who both said "the fuel guage doesn't share any wiring with the taillights so it couldn't be related"... I was stumped to say the least because this all started after the trailer incident.
One thing lead to another and i decided to dive into it myself knowing they HAD to be related. While inspecting my trailer wiring harness, I noticed the ground wire had gotten hot and the wire was somewhat melted from the inside... I added a larger guage ground wire for my taillight/trailer wiring harness and low and behold, the fuel guage now functions as it should and have had no further issues since that day.

Long story short: Check the chassis grounding point behind the left rear cargo panel (in front of your left taillight) and check for loose connections or possibly a slightly melted wire. Your issue may be farther down the chain somewhere, and could have been pulled loose from the tank/sending unit during the removal process.?.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR SEARCH! Feel free to P.M. me if you have specific questions.

Nate
__________________
Millennium Silver '99 Limited, 3.4, A/T, E-Locker aka: EASY BUTTON, Eibach/Toytec 3" Coils on Bilstein 5100's front & OME 891's rear, 285/75/16 BFG AT KO's, Tundra 231mm Upgrade, SpiderTrax 1.25", 18" MagnaFlow, 67" Trail-Gear Sliders, Blue Wire Mod, Optima Yellow Top, Aux Transmission Cooler, Custom Cargo/Speaker Boxes, Cobra 18 WX ST II & 4' Firestik II, Hella 500FF's, Rock lighting, 4xInnovations Plate Bumper, Full Savage Skids, Morimoto Mini H1 Projector Retrofit
Nates_NW4Runner is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 02-17-2015, 03:14 PM #6
tagogi tagogi is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1
tagogi is on a distinguished road
tagogi tagogi is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1
tagogi is on a distinguished road
Exact same issue

I know this is an old thread, but I'm having the exact same problem on my 99 SR5 4Runner. I'm hoping Nates_NW4Runner is still receiving updates on this...

I noticed my trailer ground wire was frayed (pinched under the hitch). I hooked it up anyway. When we were testing lights, my wife said, "they seem really dim."

Started driving and after 10 minutes or so, the gas gauge needle dropped to the bottom of the gauge and the low fuel level light started blinking. It stays like this until I shut off the engine.

When I turn the engine back on, the gauge works for a little bit, then inevitably drops and blinks again.

Mine still happens, though, when the trailer is not hooked up. It happens faster on a warm engine, so I'm assuming the trailer light wires are warming up, increasing resistance??? and that's why it doesn't happen right away after sitting for a while.

Question for you, Nates_NW4Runner, was it occurring for you when the trailer was not attached, right? And the wire you replaced was on the 4Runner? Where does that wire ultimately lead to? and is it run inside the frame channel irons?

Thanks in advance.
tagogi is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 02-17-2015, 03:23 PM #7
cesarel cesarel is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: miami fl
Posts: 55
cesarel is on a distinguished road
cesarel cesarel is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: miami fl
Posts: 55
cesarel is on a distinguished road
Try looking for "4runner fuel pump calibration" i did it with mine and it worked.

3rd gen fuel gauge problem: I think I figured out the problem (pics) - Page 2 - YotaTech Forums

Cheers!

Quote:
Originally Posted by tagogi View Post
I know this is an old thread, but I'm having the exact same problem on my 99 SR5 4Runner. I'm hoping Nates_NW4Runner is still receiving updates on this...

I noticed my trailer ground wire was frayed (pinched under the hitch). I hooked it up anyway. When we were testing lights, my wife said, "they seem really dim."

Started driving and after 10 minutes or so, the gas gauge needle dropped to the bottom of the gauge and the low fuel level light started blinking. It stays like this until I shut off the engine.

When I turn the engine back on, the gauge works for a little bit, then inevitably drops and blinks again.

Mine still happens, though, when the trailer is not hooked up. It happens faster on a warm engine, so I'm assuming the trailer light wires are warming up, increasing resistance??? and that's why it doesn't happen right away after sitting for a while.

Question for you, Nates_NW4Runner, was it occurring for you when the trailer was not attached, right? And the wire you replaced was on the 4Runner? Where does that wire ultimately lead to? and is it run inside the frame channel irons?

Thanks in advance.
__________________
99' 4Runner / 3.4 / ECT BUTTON lol
cesarel is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-25-2016, 05:01 PM #8
redneck4runner redneck4runner is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: california
Posts: 7
redneck4runner is on a distinguished road
redneck4runner redneck4runner is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: california
Posts: 7
redneck4runner is on a distinguished road
Wink Easy fix

Mine does the same way but all I have to do is go launch it off a jump and it works for 3 months then I have to jump it again :bravo
redneck4runner is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 06:48 PM #9
Skewedview's Avatar
Skewedview Skewedview is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 2
Skewedview is on a distinguished road
Skewedview Skewedview is offline
Junior Member
Skewedview's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 2
Skewedview is on a distinguished road
Problem solved!!

1999 4Runner Limited Fuel Gauge Problem.

Vehicle is all stock, except for added trailer lights.

Problem:
After moving the car the fuel gauge drops all the way to the bottom and the yellow low fuel light starts flashing.

Peculiarities:
  • With the engine on and either of two trailers hooked up the flashing light goes away and the fuel gauge works normally.
  • With the engine off and trailer hooked up, when the headlights are turned on, the fuel gauge works normally with no flashing light (the gas gauge shouldn't work with the engine off and the keys out of the ignition).

What Didn't Solve The Problem:
  • Replacing the trailer wiring harness.
  • Cleaning and reconnecting the trailer wiring ground to the chassis.

Solution:
I also have a Mazda CX-5. The computer went nutz and showed a cascading list of unrelated problems. Sometimes the car wouldn't go when the gas pedal was pushed. I finally noticed that its brake lights didn't work when the headlights were on. Then I realized that I wasn't seeing tail lights, but full time brake lights. I finally traced the problem to a bad tail light bulb. One of the filaments was loose, intermittently touching the other causing a short, and freaking out the computer.

WTH... Could a bad bulb cause the 4Runner's problem? I thought I try pulling all of the light bulbs out of the tail lights to see if the problem corrected itself. The very first bulb that I pulled (one of the tail lights) was black inside. The bulb worked and I originally hadn't thought that anything could be wrong with any of the lights, however after examination I realized that something evil had been going on inside the bulb. As soon as I removed it the blinking low fuel light went away and the gauge worked perfectly. I replaced the bulb, calibrated the gauge as described earlier in this forum, and it has been working perfectly ever since.

Before you go dropping your gas tank or pulling your instrument cluster out, try out the bulbs first. Worked for me. Good luck.

Last edited by Skewedview; 08-03-2017 at 01:07 PM.
Skewedview is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 08-02-2017, 10:15 PM #10
swelleriffic's Avatar
swelleriffic swelleriffic is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 19
swelleriffic is on a distinguished road
swelleriffic swelleriffic is offline
Junior Member
swelleriffic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 19
swelleriffic is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skewedview View Post
1999 4Runner Limited Fuel Gauge Problem.

Before you go dropping your gas tank or pulling your instrument cluster out, try out the bulbs first. Worked for me. Good luck.
I'll try this too for verification. I've had a '99 for just a couple of weeks and the blinking gas light. It worked fine when I test drove it but I left the lights on after and the battery drained. When I went back to the dealer to pick it up they had charged the battery but the gauge was acting up. My gauge works fine when:
  • It's hot as balls and the truck sits for a few hours in the sun.
    I have the front end on ramps for maintenance.
    It rains.
__________________
1999 white SR5, highlander springs, CB/ham radios
2002 silver SR5 (sold 10/14)
swelleriffic is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 05:08 PM #11
Billy.m.herrington Billy.m.herrington is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: TUCSON
Posts: 3
Real Name: Its pretty obvious...
Billy.m.herrington is on a distinguished road
Billy.m.herrington Billy.m.herrington is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: TUCSON
Posts: 3
Real Name: Its pretty obvious...
Billy.m.herrington is on a distinguished road
Fuel gauge is beating me down

Seems we all have similar problems but not identical which makes it confusing. Since I bought my 3rd gen a few months back it has been amazing but even during the test drive the gauge reads empty and the fuel level light flashes. I didn't think this was a big deal for the purchase price. I am assuming the sending unit is bad but I have learned that the sending unit and the fuel pump are the same assembly so replacing the one would mean replacing the other and having to drop the tank to do so. When I start my truck the fuel gauge spikes up to FULL then pauses for about 2 seconds and drops to empty and the fuel indicator light starts flashing. So I know the gauge is getting power. I know the fuel pump/sending unit assembly is working, otherwise I wouldn't be going anywhere. Before I start trying to locate an electrical issue in some random location I will try these simple tasks first. Check grounding cable behind left taillight area and check the light bulbs in the back...? This sounds silly but I have worked on old VW's before so nothing surprises me anymore. Other than what this thread recommends, does anybody else have any other ideas pertaining to my specific issue? Thanks.
Billy.m.herrington is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 05:11 PM #12
Billy.m.herrington Billy.m.herrington is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: TUCSON
Posts: 3
Real Name: Its pretty obvious...
Billy.m.herrington is on a distinguished road
Billy.m.herrington Billy.m.herrington is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: TUCSON
Posts: 3
Real Name: Its pretty obvious...
Billy.m.herrington is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by fourwd1 View Post
Most likely it's the fuel level gauge sending unit in the tank.
They get quirky.
Does the fuel pump and sending unit have different electrical connectors even though they are both par of the same assembly?
Billy.m.herrington is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 08-03-2017, 05:13 PM #13
Billy.m.herrington Billy.m.herrington is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: TUCSON
Posts: 3
Real Name: Its pretty obvious...
Billy.m.herrington is on a distinguished road
Billy.m.herrington Billy.m.herrington is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: TUCSON
Posts: 3
Real Name: Its pretty obvious...
Billy.m.herrington is on a distinguished road
So far I have been using rockauto, they seem to have to best pricing so far.
Billy.m.herrington is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 08-07-2017, 11:24 AM #14
swelleriffic's Avatar
swelleriffic swelleriffic is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 19
swelleriffic is on a distinguished road
swelleriffic swelleriffic is offline
Junior Member
swelleriffic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 19
swelleriffic is on a distinguished road
New brake bulbs in '99 SR5 - gas gauge works now!

I did as promised a few days ago and checked the brake bulbs. Before I started, gas gauge was inop and brake lights worked fine. One bulb looked a bit corroded inside; once I put it all back together it stopped working. Replaced both with new 7443s from Autozone.

I was probably around half a tank at the time. Gauge wandered a bit at first between trips but no more of the needle drop and blinking gas light. Stabilized after 2-3 days and read normally. Just added 16.5 gallons with gauge showing 1/4 tank, needle is back above F and held there for the 10 miles I've driven since then. If something changes I'll report back, but replacing the brake lights seemed to reverse whatever gremlin popped up when the battery ran down a few weeks ago.

Weird.
__________________
1999 white SR5, highlander springs, CB/ham radios
2002 silver SR5 (sold 10/14)
swelleriffic is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-27-2018, 02:05 AM #15
Team_Jake's Avatar
Team_Jake Team_Jake is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vista, CA
Posts: 471
Team_Jake is just really nice Team_Jake is just really nice Team_Jake is just really nice Team_Jake is just really nice
Team_Jake Team_Jake is offline
Member
Team_Jake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vista, CA
Posts: 471
Team_Jake is just really nice Team_Jake is just really nice Team_Jake is just really nice Team_Jake is just really nice
I thought I solved my issue, but now I'm confused...

Alright T4R, lemme explain what's going on and maybe someone can chime in to what my problem is...

Yesterday, my gas gauge started acting up. When I started my 4Runner, it showed the correct gas level for about 20 seconds and then it would instantly drop to empty and the fuel light would flash. It did this every time I started it afterward. After reading a few different threads, it seemed like my issue was more electrical rather than the sending unit because the gas needle doesn't wander, it's either perfectly accurate or not working at all.

Seeing as the tail lights were a common culprit, I decided to check them. All the tail lights worked like normal, but after further inspecting the bulbs, one of the bulbs was black and filament between the two lead wires was kinda dangling and not really connected. Ahaa! There it is. I replaced the bulb and started it back up. Drove for about 30 seconds and the fuel level drops to empty.

I realized I forgot to re-calibrate the fuel level. After following the instructions and re-calibrating, I took it for another drive. I drove it for about 2 minutes and the fuel level is reading where I expect it to, about 3/4 of a tank. YES! I thought I might have finally solved the issue. After 2 minutes though, it instantly drops back to empty again. WTH!

A little background on my 4Runner that might give a little insight: I just installed a lift. The lift has left some rake to my 4Runner. The rear sits at about 1.5" higher than the front. I haven't gotten around to adjusting the front coilovers yet to the proper height. I drove it for 3 days after installing the lift with no gas gauge issues, and then took it in to a shop to weld on a Panhard Correction Kit (from eimkeith) yesterday. I drove it about 20 miles, parked it for 3 hours, started it and about 20 seconds later the fuel level drops. Everytime I've started it up since, it does the same thing. I checked all wires that could've been damaged when it was welded, including the trailer light wires, and nothing is out of the ordinary.

Could the rake from the lift or the weld have something to do with this? Since the burnt tail light replacement and re-calibration didn't work, I'm kinda at a loss of what it could be.

Any thoughts??
__________________
1999 4Runner Limited - 5VZ, 4wd, Factory E-Locker, Multi-Mode, 5-speed swap, Armored, Icons, 295s (thread)
2001 Tacoma Xtracab - 3RZ, 4wd, 5-speed (Daily Driver)
Team_Jake is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:32 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
***This site is an unofficial Toyota site, and is not officially endorsed, supported, authorized by or affiliated with Toyota. All company, product, or service names references in this web site are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. The Toyota name, marks, designs and logos, as well as Toyota model names, are registered trademarks of Toyota Motor Corporation***Ad Management plugin by RedTyger
 
Copyright © 2020