fule gauge works sometimes

Q

Qmb9015

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I have a 2001 sr5 and when i start it 9/10 times it says empty and then after i drive for about 30 minutes the needle will rise to what i assume is the correct amount. I have searched page after page for issues involving a 2001 but all i find is info on pre-99 models. Is it the same for a 2001 as it is for a 99 and i assume its the sending unit but not sure if that is a drop the tank replacement or an access cap(at work cant check).

Any help would be appreciated.
 
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I have a '98. My issue was my sender needed some help. I had to drop the tank, open the grey box that houses the fuel level sender, and take some electrical parts cleaner and a pencil eraser to the potentiometer AND the sweeper-arm contacts. That fixed my issue.... but involved dropping the tank which was probably top 5 on the list of jobs I never want to do again.

But '99+ is different. There is a reset procedure for these trucks, however I'm not 100% as to whether or not that'll help you.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/112088-gas-gauge-issues-calibration.html

(post 3 from TheDurk has a step by step).

If the reset doesn't work... might be time to drop the tank and either clean or replace the sender.
 
So during lunch i filled up and it started out at empty while driving and eventually went up to half a tank and then would go to a quarter then back to half and so on but it never hit full.

I dont have time to drop the tank at the moment so i guess i will just refill every 200 miles.
 
Qmb9015 said:
So during lunch i filled up and it started out at empty while driving and eventually went up to half a tank and then would go to a quarter then back to half and so on but it never hit full.

I dont have time to drop the tank at the moment so i guess i will just refill every 200 miles.
Click to expand...

You try the reset procedure?
 
Yeah or you might be able to get away with just cleaning the existing "swipe" and arm in the fuel level sender (grey box in-tank on the pump assembly).

Though it's risky because if you clean it and it doesn't work... then you have to drop the tank again. Dropping the tank is high up there on my list of least favorite things to do on 4Runners... and it isn't even that tough, just tedious and messy.

I'm not familiar with 99+ gauge clusters... is there any chance that you've seen in your searching that it could be a gauge issue?
 
If you drop the tank, REPLACE the roll-over check valve at the same time and also replace the fuel pump and gasket assembly. Then no worries for another 250K miles. Only use an OEM check valve and only use an OEM or denso fuel pump which part numbers are listed.

Details in this post of replacing the fuel pump, cleaning the sender and replacing the check valve. Also how to drop the tank and re-install with the least effort (pain in the arse no matter what)
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...ner-restore-refurb-re-work-6.html#post2120313
 
Last edited:
mckennar said:
Yeah or you might be able to get away with just cleaning the existing "swipe" and arm in the fuel level sender (grey box in-tank on the pump assembly).

Though it's risky because if you clean it and it doesn't work... then you have to drop the tank again. Dropping the tank is high up there on my list of least favorite things to do on 4Runners... and it isn't even that tough, just tedious and messy.

I'm not familiar with 99+ gauge clusters... is there any chance that you've seen in your searching that it could be a gauge issue?
Click to expand...

Just about everyone i have read has just said 99 and 00 have the cluster problem and that it was supposedly fixed by 01.


Thanks for all of the help fellas.
 
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