gas gauge problems

[kingofrb]

i have a 2000 xlt 4wd with a 4.0 sohc 4 door. i'm having problems with the gas guage. i havn't really tried to fix it yet but i was wondering if anyone else has a problem like this. i happened a whiole ago and then it started working again and about 3 days ago it stoped working again. what it does it that i will stay at 3/4 of a tank no matter how much gas is in the tank. i'm thinking sending unit cause there isn't any problem with driving.


thanks roy

 

[Bwana Bob]

Fuel gauge

Well, mine has been acting up, too. When the fuel gets down to about 1/4 tank the gauge will suddenly creep up to Full. Then, after driving awhile, it goes back to the correct reading. The sender in the tank could be at fault. tis just a big rheostat. Or, there could be an intermittent high resistance in one of the connectors between the sender and the fuel gauge. I'm hoping its not the sender, dropping the tank is beyond my capability or desire.

Bob

 

[RacerX]

Hmm... both of you guys are in the northeast. I wonder if there might be a problem with "elemental sulphur" in the fuel that's been distributed up there. Recently, several hundred Shell and Texaco stations in Texas and Louisiana were shut down while the tainted gasoline was pumped out and replaced. Turns out the problem extended all the way to Florida - and I believe other petroleum companies (Exxon/Mobil and Chevron) got some of the bad gas, too.

Shell recently settled a class-action lawsuit in Canada over this issue. Referring to a problem closer to your neck o' the woods, one local newspaper article included the following:

"United Refining Co. of Warren, PA has received complaints from customers about gasoline sold at its Kwik Fill and Country Store gas stations in Erie, PA." Larry Loughlin, vice president of United Refining, said: "It's happening all over the place and the gas is all (within regulatory specifications), so to me, that leads to a faulty (automobile) part."

Sure, Larry. All those fuel sending units go on the fritz at the same time, but it can't possibly be the gasoline causing the problem. GM, Ford, various imports - all affected to varying degrees. What do they all have in common? Let me think....

Definitely look into this possibility; you might be able to file a claim against the petroleum company for your repair costs.

 

[geebob]

Nothing to do with fuel. Ford has been aware of this issue for years and has failed to rectify. Dropping the tank and replacing the float is what must be done.

 

[estan]

gas guage

My 93 has had the saem problem, I dropped the tank and it had a metal float that was full of gas. I replaced it with a used one (bad choice) and worked for 2 weeks, then read empty again all the time. Seems the metal floats are junk. Anybody know of a better replacement??

 

[RacerX]

Nothing to do with fuel. Ford has been aware of this issue for years and has failed to rectify. Dropping the tank and replacing the float is what must be done.

Is there a TSB on this? Just curious about which year models are most prone to this problem. My '97 is still going strong, but my sister got a tankful of the tainted gasoline in her 2003 Mountaineer (and she fills up at the same gas stations that I use). When she fills up, her fuel guage now hangs at the level indicated before the fill-up. It *slowly* creeps towards the Full mark over two or three days. Fortunately, the gauge seems to work properly as the fuel level slowly drops. Don't know why her '03 is having problems and my older Ex is doing fine; possibly a change in the fuel level sender design.