I have a 2004 4Runner which has a bad fuel gauge, i think. The gauge is just sitting on empty but the display on the console shows the correct number of miles left based on the fuel in the tank. Any one have any idea what I could check without spending big $$$ to get it fixed? I've been looking for the service manual but no luck, so I'll keep hunting. Thanks
2004 4Runner Fuel Gauge Issues
- Thread starter intel61
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Update: I noticed that after i unlock the car and sit in it, the gauges start to shake a little. If I turn the car on, they shake/rattle a little bit before moving. All the gauges do this in the cluster. The fuel gauge still doesnt move but everything else eventually moves. Could this be a bad ground connection? Or maybe the whole cluster? I do have to clean the battery terminals (its my wifes car, hasn't been checked in a while). I did find a wiring diagram for the 2003 4Runner so I might try to see if I can check any of the cluster wiring.
mwaligorski
New member
Have you found the issue yet? My 2004 4runner is doing the exact same thing and its driving me crazy. Any help would be much appreciated.
shallcallhimtim
New member
Bump! Mine just started doing this too
browntown3
New member
Mine does this every once in a blue moon, i had the same problem with a dodge megacab i had, i researched it and found the cause was bad solder joints on the dash, maybe this is whats happening to ours as well? Like i said mine just happens maybe once every two months, sometimes my tach doesnt work either.
shallcallhimtim
New member
I got in an accident last night and since then it hasn't wanted to work. It will flicker and try to move but nothing after than.
Longmark999
New member
4th Gen 4Runner Gas Gauge Goes to Empty
I had this very same problem occur intermittently on my 2003 V8 4Runner. One time the gauge stuck at 3/4 of a tank, another time it stuck on Empty with the low fuel light on, and finally yesterday it stuck on Empty and didn't budge yesterday or today! I found this TSB fix in the 3rd Gen forum on the YotaTech board and I was shocked to find that it worked! My range on the dash display still shows as 0 (zero), but the gauge works again and I'm hopeful the range will sort itself out after the next fillup. Good luck and I hope this works for you too:
Originally Posted by Ringmaster View Post
Heres a TSB I found on Alldata,
Electrical EL010-99 99 & 00 4Runner
Vehicle has to be sitting on a level surface with an inclination of +/- 0.5 degrees.
1.With the ignition switch in the Off position, press and hold the trip speedometer reset button.
2. Continue pressing the reset button while turning the ignition switch to the On position.
3. Within 5 seconds of turning the ignition switch On, release the trip switch, press trip switch 3 times and on the 3rd press, hold the switch for 5 seconds. The buzzer will sound for 1 second at 800HZ.
4. After the buzzer stops, release the trip switch.
5.Press the trip switch one more time and hold for 5 seconds. Once more the buzzer will sound for 1 second at 800HZ.
Worked like a charm on mine, hopefully it will work on yours too!
I had this very same problem occur intermittently on my 2003 V8 4Runner. One time the gauge stuck at 3/4 of a tank, another time it stuck on Empty with the low fuel light on, and finally yesterday it stuck on Empty and didn't budge yesterday or today! I found this TSB fix in the 3rd Gen forum on the YotaTech board and I was shocked to find that it worked! My range on the dash display still shows as 0 (zero), but the gauge works again and I'm hopeful the range will sort itself out after the next fillup. Good luck and I hope this works for you too:
Originally Posted by Ringmaster View Post
Heres a TSB I found on Alldata,
Electrical EL010-99 99 & 00 4Runner
Vehicle has to be sitting on a level surface with an inclination of +/- 0.5 degrees.
1.With the ignition switch in the Off position, press and hold the trip speedometer reset button.
2. Continue pressing the reset button while turning the ignition switch to the On position.
3. Within 5 seconds of turning the ignition switch On, release the trip switch, press trip switch 3 times and on the 3rd press, hold the switch for 5 seconds. The buzzer will sound for 1 second at 800HZ.
4. After the buzzer stops, release the trip switch.
5.Press the trip switch one more time and hold for 5 seconds. Once more the buzzer will sound for 1 second at 800HZ.
Worked like a charm on mine, hopefully it will work on yours too!
Longmark999
New member
Range Problem Resolved Itself after Fill Up
Well, I filled up the tank this Friday and the problem with the range on the dashboard display reading zero fixed itself after the fill up. So the TSB that I posted in the previous post, combined with the subsequent fill up fixed the problem completely.
Well, I filled up the tank this Friday and the problem with the range on the dashboard display reading zero fixed itself after the fill up. So the TSB that I posted in the previous post, combined with the subsequent fill up fixed the problem completely.
I just tried this on my 2003 Sport....worked like a charm as well.
Runn4theHills
New member
Took a few tries to get the buzzer to go off but finally got it. Unfortunately, no change. My gad gauge is still getting stuck at 3/4 (06 v8). Tried it twice and no change. Any other suggestions or does the float sensor need to be replaced?
huey chief
New member
NCrunner2012
New member
I had this issue and it digressed until my fuel gauge stopped working completely. Then my RPM and engine temp gauges also started acting up. Look into the stepper motors going bad in the gauge cluster. I replaced all 4 of my stepper motors and it solved my incorrect gauge readings.
Might not be your issue, but something to look into.
blackjackck
Member
want to clarify
are you sure your tank if full? you might have overfilled your charcoal canister in your fuel tank so your tank does not fill all the way.
are you sure your tank if full? you might have overfilled your charcoal canister in your fuel tank so your tank does not fill all the way.
NCrunner2012
New member
See post 16 above. It is your stepper motors in the gauge cluster going bad. You have 4 of them. You will need to unsolder the old ones and solder the new ones in their place. Not a difficult job if you can work a soldering iron.
2003-2013 Toyota 6S Stepper Motor | Tanin Auto Electronix
Last edited:
FckYouKyle
New member
Howdy y’all. sorry to bring up this dead thread, but I’m kinda perplexed right now.
So I went to fill up after being fairly low, (gas warning light not on when I got to the pump) put about 9 gallons in and nearly had a heart attack as I was pulling away when I saw my gas gauge was below E with the warning light on! The digital display read 35mi as well.
Tried doing the reset listed earlier in this thread with no luck. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
So I went to fill up after being fairly low, (gas warning light not on when I got to the pump) put about 9 gallons in and nearly had a heart attack as I was pulling away when I saw my gas gauge was below E with the warning light on! The digital display read 35mi as well.
Tried doing the reset listed earlier in this thread with no luck. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
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