REALLY bad timing for fuel gauge to take a dump

[liv2bike]

So we are loaded down heading up to the mountains for a week of mountain biking...4 dudes, 2 bikes on the roof, 2 bikes out back off the hitch, all of our gear and lots of beer. Heading up I-26 just south of Columbia, SC towards Asheville. It is around midnight, pitch black and pouring rain. I am passed out in the back sleeping. My buddy is driving. I have never had issues with my fuel gauge, never ever. All of the sudden I wake up to a slowing vehicle and rumble strips. I am like WTF? Buddy is like...I have no power man. What do you mean I ask? I look at the fuel gauge, reading just above 1/4. Look at the trip and we are pushing 300 miles. I always reset after filling up. Still foggy from sleeping, I conclude we are out of fuel. So this sucks.

AAA bailed us out. Put in a few gallons then made it to the next exit and filled up. My fuel gauge has not read below a 1/4 since we ran out. It will register full after a fill-up, then creep down but not drop below 1/4. Did some searching here and this is common. Guess I will rely on my trip as a fuel gauge from now on. May spring for an ultragauge or scangauge down the road though.

All in all, had an awesome trip. Rode DuPont, Pisgah, Bent Creek. Fall foliage was amazing. Beer was stellar.

Will try and post up some pics when I have time.

cheers

 

[thirstyturtle]

That really sucks man! What year is your T4R? I'll have to be more vigilant about resetting my trip at each fillup...I think I would flip out if that happened to me, I'd be do pissed. I've always gone 100% by the fuel gauge.

Anyways, at least it didn't ruin your trip!

 

[awdjunkies]

From his sig, looks like he has an 01 sport.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Mine took a dump this last weekend.

I replaced the sender unit yesterday, but it's still not working. I just ordered a new gauge cluster motherboard from Toyota that's being programmed to my mileage, that should be all before it works again.

Mines a 99, though, I've heard my issue only happens with 99-00.

 

[liv2bike]

What year is your T4R?

She is a 2001 Sport.

 

[liv2bike]

Mine took a dump this last weekend. Mines a 99, though, I've heard my issue only happens with 99-00.

Bummer man. Now I feel your pain. What issue are you having? Mine won't budge once it reaches a 1/4 tank or so on the gauge. It will register full when I fill back up, but gets to that 1/4 mark and stalls. Will deal with it for now.

 

[cj80cruiser]

Mine took a dump this last weekend.

I replaced the sender unit yesterday, but it's still not working. I just ordered a new gauge cluster motherboard from Toyota that's being programmed to my mileage, that should be all before it works again.

Mines a 99, though, I've heard my issue only happens with 99-00.

My gauge works like it should from full to about half a tank, then it moves around between a 1/4 and the 1/2 tank mark until it gets below a 1/4 and then starts working again. I thought replacing the sending unit would fix it as well. Sucks that didn't work!

 

[twitchee2]

when mine is full its about 1/4 tank above full. once it hits the bottom 1/4 it will drop like a rock in less the 20 miles and the light will be on.

 

[quicksilvr]

Mine took a dump this last weekend.

I replaced the sender unit yesterday, but it's still not working. I just ordered a new gauge cluster motherboard from Toyota that's being programmed to my mileage, that should be all before it works again.

Mines a 99, though, I've heard my issue only happens with 99-00.

When you say your's took a dump, do you mean you have the same symptoms as the OP? Curious what yours did when it crapped out. Mine crapped out last summer. When I start the truck, it goes all the way to the top of its range, past full. Usually within 2 seconds, but sometimes as long as 5-10 seconds, the needle then instantly drops to the very bottom of the range, below empty. When it drops, the needle moves as fast as it can...it doesn't glide down. It just snaps down. Then it stays there until I have to start the truck again. I removed my low fuel light bulb....because it was blinking constantly. lol

Is this what yours did? I haven't messed with fixing it, because I didn't want to throw money at it.

 

[Stick Figure]

Mine has done this to me two times for sure now, but always corrects itself after hitting another good sized "bump". I've never actually made it home with it broken to actually do any diagnostic to it.

 

[Smog-guy707]

I too had the same issue quicksilver had...I ended up replacing the cluster and that fixed it. I have a 99 limited.

 

[cj80cruiser]

Mine has done this to me two times for sure now, but always corrects itself after hitting another good sized "bump". I've never actually made it home with it broken to actually do any diagnostic to it.

There was a "smack the dash" fix for the LandCruiser "D" light on the dash for transmission position. I smacked mine once and it worked for years. Probably would still work if the truck wasn't hacked to pieces and sold for bits.

Maybe I'll try that and see if it works on 4runner fuel gauges.

 

[quicksilvr]

I too had the same issue quicksilver had...I ended up replacing the cluster and that fixed it. I have a 99 limited.

So maybe it's not a problem at the tank? Interesting. I wonder if I could find a '99 cluster with 140k(ish) miles to replace mine.....

 

[Stick Figure]

I had first assumed that it was something with the sender in the tank, but the low fuel light should always work independently of the lever that sends the fuel level, so it confused me how neither would work. The cluster or a loose connection does make more sense. I'm wondering if there is a cracked solder joint somewhere (on the cluster) that has intermittent connection. Now I just need a "bad cluster" or mine to have an issue again.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

When you say your's took a dump, do you mean you have the same symptoms as the OP? Curious what yours did when it crapped out. Mine crapped out last summer. When I start the truck, it goes all the way to the top of its range, past full. Usually within 2 seconds, but sometimes as long as 5-10 seconds, the needle then instantly drops to the very bottom of the range, below empty. When it drops, the needle moves as fast as it can...it doesn't glide down. It just snaps down. Then it stays there until I have to start the truck again. I removed my low fuel light bulb....because it was blinking constantly. lol

Is this what yours did? I haven't messed with fixing it, because I didn't want to throw money at it.

Thats exactly what mine did. Toyota released a technical service bulletin, along with a new sensor for the tank and a revised cluster motherboard. It's not free, unfortunately. Sensor was about 95, removing the gas tank, blah blah, and there's two options for motherboard replacement. You either pay $50 for a new motherboard and no miles (ODO starts at 0, 99-00 owners with digital ODO only) or pay $130 to have them program it with a specified mileage (I chose 193,001 since I'm close)

Bummer man. Now I feel your pain. What issue are you having? Mine won't budge once it reaches a 1/4 tank or so on the gauge. It will register full when I fill back up, but gets to that 1/4 mark and stalls. Will deal with it for now.

Read quicksilvers post, it's what mine was doing.

My gauge works like it should from full to about half a tank, then it moves around between a 1/4 and the 1/2 tank mark until it gets below a 1/4 and then starts working again. I thought replacing the sending unit would fix it as well. Sucks that didn't work!

You have a different problem, so that might fix it.... I'm working with a completely different sensor and ODO unfortunately

 

[quicksilvr]

Thanks for the reply COB, that clears things up a lot. I had no clue whether it was cluster or tank, or both. Sounds like it is probably mostly the motherboard having issues, but Toyota included the tank sensor to be on the safe side.

Looks like at minimum, to fix it right, I'm looking at $130 for the programmed cluster, and $95 for the sensor...with me doing all the labor.

I'll still probably hold off for a while. It's not THAT important.

 

[LittleCaesar]

With my 99 the fuel gauge is a little erratic except when the AC is on. Then it works as it should.

+1 on the motherboard as the culprit to this quirk. When fuel sending units go bad (car or boat), they fail 100% in my experience and cause trouble just like for the OP here. Some short on the board or resistor gone bad I would assume.