Engine Died, Fuel Gauge went to Empty

[Alaskancrabpuffs21]

Hello Everyone, I just got a 1996 XLT and I was driving minding my own buisness when my engine cut-out and died. My Explorer is a manual so I was downshifting at the time. I restarted it and it started up but my fuel gauge showed empty. I drove home quickly because it died right near my house. I turned it off put the key back in and now it shows that the fuel is back to half tank where it is supposed to be. Do I have a loose connection somewhere or am I gonna have to drop the tank. I am not sure. Any advice or help would be appreciated! Thanks

 

[Mbrooks420]

Could be a few things. Very possibly the wiring outside the tank, and unfortunately it could also be an issue with the sending unit inside the tank.

Dropping it is straightforward, and not very difficult.

 

[Pete Deering]

Hello Everyone, I just got a 1996 XLT and I was driving minding my own buisness when my engine cut-out and died. My Explorer is a manual so I was downshifting at the time. I restarted it and it started up but my fuel gauge showed empty. I drove home quickly because it died right near my house. I turned it off put the key back in and now it shows that the fuel is back to half tank where it is supposed to be. Do I have a loose connection somewhere or am I gonna have to drop the tank. I am not sure. Any advice or help would be appreciated! Thanks

As far as the fuel gauge. It could be one of four things.
1. The float and fuel module. (Pump goes; it does not effect the gauge vice versa for the gauge).
2. Bad connection
3. The fuel gauge Anti-Slosh Module. Only the gauge is affected.
4. corrosion on the ground wire at fuel tank connector. Because your gauge and pump went off.
I see there is two connectors at fuel module. Both are locking type.

It also be the connection at the fuel tank.
Because the pump stop pumping (no power ) and the fuel gauge stop working.
If the connection came loose ( disconnected) it would not connect itself again.
You can't get your hand up on top on the tank to check it.

A) Turn the key on and listen for the fuel pump too come on for the three seconds. And see if the fuel gauge go to full.
B) My first thought it was the inertia switch, but when that shut off its off. does not effect the gauge.
it easy to let it fail

 

[Alaskancrabpuffs21]

I drove it around for a few hours and the problem did not come back. I am gonna keep monitoring it and see if it comes back, how intermittent it is and if it happens again I am gonna start trying to find solutions.

 

[Pete Deering]

I drove it around for a few hours and the problem did not come back. I am gonna keep monitoring it and see if it comes back, how intermittent it is and if it happens again I am gonna start trying to find solutions.

You now have a list of possibilities.
Did you listen for the fuel pump turning on , when you turn the key to the on position?

 

[Alaskancrabpuffs21]

You now have a list of possibilities.
Did you listen for the fuel pump turning on , when you turn the key to the on position?

Yes, it has every time afterward turned on without fail. No hesitation or any dealy either.

 

[C420sailor]

I have a similar problem. Doesn’t cut out, but every now and then the fuel gauge will dip to absolute zero, then come back slowly over the course of a few minutes.

I’ll let you know if I figure it out. It rarely happens

 

[Alaskancrabpuffs21]

I have a similar problem. Doesn’t cut out, but every now and then the fuel gauge will dip to absolute zero, then come back slowly over the course of a few minutes.

I’ll let you know if I figure it out. It rarely happens

I just bought my Explorer a month ago so I am still not sure how often it does this. I've gone up in the mountains and such without a problem. If it is extremely uncommon and happens rarely I can live with that until I taken it to a mechanic for something else (don't want to drop the fuel tank myself unless it's really bad).

 

[Pete Deering]

I just bought my Explorer a month ago so I am still not sure how often it does this. I've gone up in the mountains and such without a problem. If it is extremely uncommon and happens rarely I can live with that until I taken it to a mechanic for something else (don't want to drop the fuel tank myself unless it's really bad).

To have a mechanic try too find a problem that happens rarely is going too big dollars.

 

[Alaskancrabpuffs21]

To have a mechanic try too find a problem that happens rarely is going too big dollars.

That is true

 

[Pete Deering]

That is true

Your young guy. Save up and buy yourself a good scan tool ($1000). You can buy a nice cheap multimeter on Amazon or Ebay, and power probe ($100). And you are on your of repairing your car. Harbor freight has good cheap tool sets and tools that get you in the game.what you save on paying a mechanic to repair your car, will pay for the tools you need. You will also need a good welder. I met a young guy at the auto part store, who said you probably have $20,000 in tools and I think I do.
Get too know your car. Buy the used factory service manuals for your car on ebay. There worth there weight in gold.

 

[Alaskancrabpuffs21]

Your young guy. Save up and buy yourself a good scan tool ($1000). You can buy a nice cheap multimeter on Amazon or Ebay, and power probe ($100). And you are on your of repairing your car. Harbor freight has good cheap tool sets and tools that get you in the game.what you save on paying a mechanic to repair your car, will pay for the tools you need. You will also need a good welder. I met a young guy at the auto part store, who said you probably have $20,000 in tools and I think I do.
Get too know your car. Buy the used factory service manuals for your car on ebay. There worth there weight in gold.

Yep as my first car (I am in the middle of restoring it actually) is a 1994 F150 I've done those things with that vehicle. Dropping a fuel tank is something I just haven't done before. If it comes down to it I will give it a shot. I will be picking up a service manual soon.

 

[UtahX]

This happen to me a couple of years ago, fuel gauge dropping to empty, but within a little while, it came back up.