Sorry if this has been rehashed, I couldn't find any threads describing exactly what mine is doing. Well, by 38-45 miles on the trip meter after topping off the needle drops down to 3/4 tank or so then slowly moves back up. Next, with closer to 60-75 miles on the trip meter it slugs down to half and hovers.
I just just bought this thing used last week, so just learning it's quirks. I know my old 97' 4 Runner it would go about 65 miles til the needle would move off of full after a top off and never bounce around like this one is doing and reading incorrectly.

My question is: Will the low fuel light eventually come on after the needle has been showing E for awhile (that is, if it's independant of the gauge itself and reflects the True gas level). I see that it'll show nearly Empty for awhile if the gauge reads "lower" than it actually is...just don't want to run out an hopefully see the low fuel light. AND, is there a TSB for a 96' for the fuel gauge not reading correctly? Thanks

 

My gauge is wonky too, it is a common problem.

the light always comes on at the same point from my experience, just under the lower hash mark.

Sometimes I can get to zero on the gauge and it runs out, others I can go another 40miles under the bottom of the gauge.

My driving varies so much using mileage doesn't really work for me. I will generally just fill up when it gets to 1/4 tank. If I have enough money I don't usually let my cars get below 1/2 a tank because it is not good for the fuel pump.

 

Will Toyota take care of the TSB if I bring it in? or was it for only certain years?

 

Don't know if there is a TSB, just know it is a common problem.

 

There was a TSB for '99 and '00, but even then it was specific production dates and VIN ranges (not including mine, which still works fine). You can access it here, thanks to Raydouble at ih8mud : https://sites.google.com/site/raydou...edirects=0&d=1 You must be signed into Google to download the TSB.

I'd say the OP's problem is a bum sending unit.

 

Doesn't look like that TSB is still covered under warranty and that will cost a LOT to fix.

I think my truck falls into that range but kinda hard to tell.

 

Called the "Stealer" this morning and they quoted $500 a piece to fix either the gauge or the sending unit, and said that is more likely a sending unit issue. Anyone around L.A. or O.C. California want to make a couple hundred bones?