Alternative Gas Gauge?

[MattDyer94]

Hey guys,

My gas gauge needle has been acting weird so is there an alternative option for one?

Also, if you know could you say *around* what it would cost?

Thanks in advance!

 

[STRRAYNGE]

Hey guys,

My gas gauge needle has been acting weird so is there an alternative option for one?

Also, if you know could you say *around* what it would cost?

Thanks in advance!

let me know what you find out! mine goes all over the place. drives me nuts!!

 

[GottaBeTRD]

you can always get a scangauge. I know a couple of them tell you when your tank is about empty and all kinds of good stuff. They hook up to your OBD II and so far from what i have read, they are pretty accurate
scangauge II $130
Ultra gauge $60
Aerforce Interceptor $260
and Dash Hawk ???

 

[kman55]

I have the scanguage II and love it, thought i will say it isnt always completely accurate tool to rely solely on, but it is extremely close. One of my favorite mods.:jump:

 

[MattDyer94]

I just read some reviews and watched a demonstration video on the ScanGauge II. I love it! I'm gonna try and get one as soon as possible. I appreciate the help, guys!

 

[A.Wilson013]

You could also drop your tank and replace the sender, or try to fix it.

 

[cj80cruiser]

I remember reading somewhere that it may not be the sender but something to do with the gauge itself being the problem. My gas gauge is on the frits as well but haven't done anything about it besides get an Ultraguage.

 

[jrm]

Its not so much the sending unit

as it is the length of the pick up tube. The 3g tank has 2 compartments. A main tank occupies about 2/3s of the tank, then theres a baffle that allows fuel to flow into the lower tank compartment. Why the 2 compartments you ask? its designed this way so that if the vehicle is at an angle the pick up tube can still draw fuel. Thing is the OE pick up tube isnt long enough to draw fuel from the lower tank. it can only draw fuel from just above the baffle. As a result roughtly 4 or so gallons remain un useable. The TSB sending unit reaches just below the baffle reducing the amount of un useable fuel to about 2 gallons. Last time i called the stealership about the TSB sending unit it cost around a hundred bucks. I was under the impression that you could pull the sending unit by using an access port in the floor of the cargo area floor but the TSB sez you have to drop the tank to perform the TSB. Or you can just get a ultragauge....for 1/2 the price of the TSB and deal with it.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

I just read some reviews and watched a demonstration video on the ScanGauge II. I love it! I'm gonna try and get one as soon as possible. I appreciate the help, guys!

nice! I about just ordered one too. i read, watched everything i could about it, then someone here introduced the interceptor, and i was sold on that one lol. I cant wait to get it!

 

[jeech]

Resurrecting this thread. Forgive my ignorance, but if the sending unit is bad, how do the scangauge/ultragauge get accurate measurements on fuel level?

Just picked up a '99 SR5 with a fuel gauge that almost always sits on empty and flashes the low fuel light. Every once in a while the needle will jump up on the gauge, but it doesn't last for long. I've read that a few people have luck with running fuel injector cleaner through their system, so I'm giving that a shot, but not optimistic.

If I do end up getting the ultragauge, is there a way to disable the low fuel light other than pulling the gauge cluster and removing the bulb?

 

[Quantumkiwi]

Resurrecting this thread. Forgive my ignorance, but if the sending unit is bad, how do the scangauge/ultragauge get accurate measurements on fuel level?

If I do end up getting the ultragauge, is there a way to disable the low fuel light other than pulling the gauge cluster and removing the bulb?

1) It uses average MPG, tank size, and an estimate of miles traveled to give you a range remaining estimate, not terrible accurate.

2) Not that i know of and I'm leaning toward probably not.

 

[96RedRunner]

check this out. https://www.toyota-4runner.org/atta...le-thing-fuel_gauge_inaccuracy_t-el010-00-pdf

 

[jeech]

check this out. https://www.toyota-4runner.org/atta...le-thing-fuel_gauge_inaccuracy_t-el010-00-pdf

Yep, looked through the TSB, but from what it looks like, I'd be paying around $140 for the parts and I'd have to drop the tank. Was hoping the ultragauge would be an alternate fix.

How are these alternate gauges measuring average MPG? I know you can input tank size, and I assume it reads miles from the same source as the odometer. If avg MPG is based on real data and not user-input data, I believe DTE/Range could be relatively accurate. Certainly anything is better than the needle sitting on empty and low fuel light on all the time.

 

[JWaldz]

[MENTION=305709]jeech[/MENTION]

I have a SGII and I've never found it's gas mileage estimator to be accurate enough to rely on. Then again I have bigger tires, gears, etc etc that throws it off quite a bit. I just reset my odo each time I fill up and stay aware of the mileage and know when it's time to get gas.

 

[96RedRunner]

Certainly anything is better than the needle sitting on empty and low fuel light on all the time.

Can't honestly answer what your asking, anything other than guage is a guesstimate.
Maybe torque pro or similar OBDII app has what your looking for.

 

[phattyduck]

[MENTION=305709]jeech[/MENTION]

I have a SGII and I've never found it's gas mileage estimator to be accurate enough to rely on. Then again I have bigger tires, gears, etc etc that throws it off quite a bit. I just reset my odo each time I fill up and stay aware of the mileage and know when it's time to get gas.

Once calibrated, it should be within a few percent for each fill up. That does require entering in actual fill up information a few times.

-Charlie