Gas tank/sensor/gauge problem???
 

Hi all,

I think I have a problem with my tank, sensor and/or gas gauge.
For the last couple of times my gas gauge was reading almost
empty (warning light came ON). I went to fill it up and it filled up
with only 12 gallons. Isn't our tanks 18 gallons???
Any ideas why this is happening??
Is it possible that my gauge is reading empty when in reality
has 6 gallons left???
Please let me know what I can do to find and solve the problem.
Also, please let me know how many miles on average do we get with
full tank... I'm going to fill it up and see how many miles I get
until I'm reading empty on my gas gauge.

thanks

maguirre
00' SR5, 5spd, V6

If there's 6 gallons left and you keep filling up when the light comes on, you'll never run out of gas! :laugh:

gas gauges arnt too expensicve- get a secondhand one at a junkyard- urs is most likely going faulty- it will be easier to see if that is the problem first

I have the same problem, I have never been able to get over 13 gallons of gas into the tank. I have run it down to the bottom of the E line. I read in the owners manual that our tanks are 18.5 gallons.

I know that there was a recall on some toyotas about the gas gauge not reading the correct level, but according to Toyota my VIN was not affected.

I would like to get an answer on why it doesn't seem to read correctly. I average around 250-280 on a full tank. That is with a good mix of city and freeway with the A/C on.

Maguirre,

I also have a '00 and it was covered under the Toyota TSB for the fuel gauge problem. Do a search on the forum for the TSB #, get familiar with it and coontact the dealership. It should be a free fix.

This is a very common problem and there are quite a few threads about it already:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/how-access-fuel-sending-unit-99-a-65310/

Also follow the links in there.

Thanks for all the info guys,

I went thru alot of threads regarding this problem. I didn't know it was
something very common among 99 - 00 4Runners...
I guess I'll live with my problem since it isn't that bad. My gauge reads empty when it's not... There other way around would be really bad... my condolences for those with that problem.

I read somewhere that there's a document referencing VIN #'s to this problem. Can anyone expand on this and let me know where to find it.

Thanks again,

maguirre
00' SR5, 5spd

TSB EL-010 and EL-010-99

You need both.

link doesn't work

I have never been able to fill up past the 15+ mark. I always figured we had 16 gal tanks.

Our tanks are 18.5. I contacted Toyota today and they told me that the TSB is only good for 3/36000 from original date of purchase. So if we wanted it done now we would have to pay for it.

I'm thinking of just ordering the parts and do it myself. According to Toyota they will provide a parts list for us.