Fuel gauge calibration

ElZilcho

ElZilcho

New member
Long story short, I ran out of gas on the interstate the other day while the fuel gauge told me I still had a quarter tank left. After some searching I discovered TSB EL010-99 and this snippet from the service manual http://im.toyota-4runner.org/attachments/4th-gen-t4rs/203695d1463065897-fuel-gauge-calibration-4th-gen-w0__40001_-1.pdf detailing the reset procedure for the trucks on-board clinometer/fuel gauge. Other threads have confirmed this works in similar situations on trucks as late as 2004 and the service manual is for a 2005. I, however haven't been able to get this to work on my 2008. When I failed at the reset, I started to setup Techstream to see if could reset it that way... and have failed at that too :ohwell: I think it's an MVCI driver/COM issue.

So... a few questions:

Can anyone confirm that this procedure is still valid for a 2008?
Can someone point me to a good resource for setting up Techstream? Specifically I can't find the xHorse firmware update tool.
Or, is there someone in the Chicago metro area with a working version of Techstream that would be willing to help me out for some beer... or cash... or a really enthusiastic high five?
Lastly, do you think disconnecting the battery will reset it? I hesitate to do it because I hate having to reset and normalize all the switches/clock/radio, etc. and if I can't get the clinometer to reset I'm nervous I won't be able to do a ZP calibration either.

Any advice appreciated.

Edit: Issue resolved. I can confirm the procedures detailed in the TSB and FSM are valid and effective for 4runners as late as MY2008. For me it was necessary to disconnect the battery for a few minutes before the truck would let me reset the sensor. I'm unsure of the cause. The inclinometer reset has fixed my fuel reporting issue.
 
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The incline sensor adjusts the signal from the fuel sending unit so your fuel gauge doesn't move excessively when you're braking, accelerating, or on a grade. If the calibration is off so is you're fuel gauge. I'm not 100% this is the issue, but it's an easy troubleshooting test. I'm more interested in getting Techstream to work or finding someone nearby with a working copy.
 
Was that not just for the 1999-2000 3rd gen.? That had an issue.

Maybe bad sender or connection.
Seems like battery reset would be the first place to start.
 
BackOff said:
Was that not just for the 1999-2000 3rd gen.? That had an issue.
Click to expand...

The TSB is specific to '99-'00 but in this thread two people mention that it worked in 2003 4runners:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/65628-2004-4runner-fuel-gauge-issues.html

The service manual snippet linked above is for a 2005 and it's the same procedure as in the TSB. I know there was a life cycle update in 2006 and don't know if the same procedure holds for a 2008. C'est la vie. Looks like I'll be whacking it with a hammer and doing a battery reset. I'll report back on what, if anything, works but it takes me a couple of weeks to burn through a tank of gas. Still looking for someone nearby with a working issue of Techstream but that might be a topic for a different thread.

You know what they say about any problem that can't be fixed with a hammer...

...must be electrical.:jump:
 
Today I did a battery reset and can confirm that the procedures detailed in both:

TSB EL010-99
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/attachments/3rd-gen-t4rs/272533d1508943069-diy-video-stop-calibrate-listen-how-fix-your-spastic-3rd-gen-fuel-gauge-t-el010-99-4-.pdf

and the 2005 service manual
http://im.toyota-4runner.org/attachments/4th-gen-t4rs/203695d1463065897-fuel-gauge-calibration-4th-gen-w0__40001_-1.pdf

are valid for 4runners as late as MY2008. I haven't confirmed that this has fixed my fuel gauge reporting issue. That will take another week to burn through a tank of fuel.

On an unrelated note; after the battery reset a zero point calibration was not required and all settings normalized properly except for the rear window. Additionally, it seems to have reset the TCU adaptation values making shifts MUCH more pleasant. I'm sure that's a matter of opinion though.
 
ElZilcho said:
Today I did a battery reset and can confirm that the procedures detailed in both:
Click to expand...

When you say...."I did a battery reset.." are you referring to disconnecting the negative battery cable for 30 seconds and then reconnecting it and or anything else....?

I asking this because this is the first time I have heard it phrased that way..."battery reset"
 
AuSeeker said:
When you say...."I did a battery reset.." are you referring to disconnecting the negative battery cable for 30 seconds and then reconnecting it and or anything else....?
Click to expand...

Yes, disconnected the negative battery terminal. I'm not sure why it wouldn't let me reset the sensor beforehand, but disconnecting the battery did the trick. There are still a few electronical (sic) gremlins I'm trying to hunt down (i.e. rear window not normalizing) which is why I'm trying to get hold of a working version of Techstream but those are other problems for other threads.
 
Seems like with the windows you roll it down and hold the button for 3 seconds then roll it up and hold it for 3 seconds. I think...something like that any way. That stuff can sometimes take a couple days to reset itself.

Also reading some of the 3rd gen stuff about this, some had just hooked up lights and then the sender went wonky. Some kind of resistance/ground issue?

I would hate the fuel gauge to go out on me, seems like I end up way out in the middle of nowhere all the time.
 
BackOff said:
Seems like with the windows you roll it down and hold the button for 3 seconds then roll it up and hold it for 3 seconds. I think...something like that any way. That stuff can sometimes take a couple days to reset itself.

Also reading some of the 3rd gen stuff about this, some had just hooked up lights and then the sender went wonky. Some kind of resistance/ground issue?

I would hate the fuel gauge to go out on me, seems like I end up way out in the middle of nowhere all the time.
Click to expand...

Electronically speaking, this truck has a... personality. I did the normalization procedure but it just won't take on the rear window. I don't really care about the auto window feature, but... the fuel gauge is a pain in the tuchas.

I did get Techstream running this morning though and am getting an intermittent DTC from the window. I'll dig in deeper. Interestingly enough, I couldn't find any module in Techstream that would let me re-calibrate the clinometer...:confused: I had to use the in-dash procedure.
 
Well crap, I wish I hadn't stumbled across this thread. Ignorance can be bliss.

2005 V6 Limited

My wife has run out of fuel 3 times now where the gauge is still saying 1/4 tank. I tried to say just watch the fuel and fill it before it gets low, but you know how that goes. So I purchased a whole new OEM pump/level sending unit for over $500 and am about to install the whole new unit, but it requires dropping the tank. That isn't that big of a deal except the manual recommends replacing the tank cushions. When you drop $500+ on a part, you want to do it 1x and right, so I came looking here to see if there was any helpful info, and my search turned up this thread. Now I'm wondering if I don't have your issue and installing a new pump/level sender isn't going to fix my issue... CRAP.

I think since I already dropped the coin, I'm just going to install the new unit anyway, do the reset, and call it good.
 
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