Gas needle fluctuating...help
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Dothan, AL
Gas needle fluctuating...help I've already searched for the answer, but came up with none. Close, but not whats going on with my car...
My gas gauge yesterday was pinned at full and wouldn't move. Well I've continued watching it and whenever I first crank up the car (if the engine is cold),the gas gauge will shoot up to full. After about 5 minutes it drops down to the actual mark of how much gas I have. Once I put the car in drive after cranking it, after about 10 minutes of driving it is all the way back up to full again. This morning when I did this, it dropped down to half a tank when I cranked it. Then once I arrived at work it was back up to full again. I then put it back in park and watched the needle fluctuate in between completely full and the actual FULL mark. I bought gas from a Flying J the other day b/c they were about 10 cents cheaper than everyone else. I run nothing but 93 Octane in the car so my first guess was maybe it was just cheap gas? But now i'm not so sure. I'm going to buy some seafoam today to run in it and this time i'm going straight to the shell station to fill up. I really hope this isn't my fuel pump going out b/c I don't have the money to get it fixed AND go to G11...if its my sender going out i'll be fine b/c I can just calculate when I need to fill up again. Anyone have any idea what could be causing this?!
My gas gauge yesterday was pinned at full and wouldn't move. Well I've continued watching it and whenever I first crank up the car (if the engine is cold),the gas gauge will shoot up to full. After about 5 minutes it drops down to the actual mark of how much gas I have. Once I put the car in drive after cranking it, after about 10 minutes of driving it is all the way back up to full again. This morning when I did this, it dropped down to half a tank when I cranked it. Then once I arrived at work it was back up to full again. I then put it back in park and watched the needle fluctuate in between completely full and the actual FULL mark. I bought gas from a Flying J the other day b/c they were about 10 cents cheaper than everyone else. I run nothing but 93 Octane in the car so my first guess was maybe it was just cheap gas? But now i'm not so sure. I'm going to buy some seafoam today to run in it and this time i'm going straight to the shell station to fill up. I really hope this isn't my fuel pump going out b/c I don't have the money to get it fixed AND go to G11...if its my sender going out i'll be fine b/c I can just calculate when I need to fill up again. Anyone have any idea what could be causing this?!
TECH Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
From: Ellicott City MD
I really don't think it is your fuel pump. If the car is running strong ie.. no misses and no stumbling. Then most likely it is not your fuel pump. It sounds to me like the sender has gone bad.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Dothan, AL
Originally Posted by skifast87
I really don't think it is your fuel pump. If the car is running strong ie.. no misses and no stumbling. Then most likely it is not your fuel pump. It sounds to me like the sender has gone bad.
...and yea, it still runs strong, no misses or stumbling. I got on it a few times yesterday just to see if it would wanna sputter or somethin and everything seemed fine.
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Itasca, IL
If the sender is bad, it won't hurt nothing to keep driving like that. The problem could also be bad ground wiring going to the sender, or a flakey connector - maybe there is some corrosion in one of the connectors
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Dothan, AL
so I put the can of seafoam in yesterday and filled up with Chevron 93 Octane(its what I normally get)...the car ran a LOT smoother. Seafoam is some GREAT stuff, kinda makes me wanna seafoam the engine now lol...but the gauge is still messed up...lol oh well, as long as it goes, I can calculate my fuel until I get the sender fixed. I'm assuming thats my problem now. Apreciate the help guys 
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souds like a sender or possibly a gauge problem or possibly a problem in the wire
i had a car at work that was stuck on full lol took me forever to figure out that the gas tank had a dent in it pushing up on the float arm man i felt like a jack ***
i had a car at work that was stuck on full lol took me forever to figure out that the gas tank had a dent in it pushing up on the float arm man i felt like a jack ***
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My friend had a similar issue with his Dodge Ram. He drove it like that for a long time until he finally took it to the dealer, they told him it was the battery! They put a new one in and it's been fine ever since. Might be worth checking out.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Dothan, AL
well now its gone down to about a quarter of a tank, so its working somewhat, but whenever the car is in drive (even if i'm just sitting there stopped), it goes up about a quarter of a tank to a quarter and a half of a tank than what I actually have. I know before this started happening, my gas gauge would always go up a lil bit when I was actually pressing the gas, but that was normal. But to go up at least a quarter to a quarter and a half while just sitting still is just confusing the crap out of me.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Dothan, AL
Originally Posted by '00_Z
My friend had a similar issue with his Dodge Ram. He drove it like that for a long time until he finally took it to the dealer, they told him it was the battery! They put a new one in and it's been fine ever since. Might be worth checking out.
I'll try that. Its always worth a shot I guess...
pretty sure it couldnt be a battery
the gauge reads resistance that the sender sends the resistance is created by the float arm as it moves up the less resistance is sent to the gauge moving it up
it kinda works like a dimmer switch when you turn it one way the lights dim (more resitance less current equals no so bright lights)
i would really look at the gauge first since it is easiest to get too but i think you might have a problem in the sending unit itself
need to find a repair manual giving you ohm specs for the gauge to see if it is good
let me know so i can help you if you need it
the gauge reads resistance that the sender sends the resistance is created by the float arm as it moves up the less resistance is sent to the gauge moving it up
it kinda works like a dimmer switch when you turn it one way the lights dim (more resitance less current equals no so bright lights)
i would really look at the gauge first since it is easiest to get too but i think you might have a problem in the sending unit itself
need to find a repair manual giving you ohm specs for the gauge to see if it is good
let me know so i can help you if you need it
