Hi guys, I bought a 99 limited a couple months ago and I have been filling with gas around 1/2 tank. This week I went a little further and ran out of gas just below 1/2. I searched this and it seems like this is a big issue. Most of the threads are from 04 or 05, Has there been any new updates like a recall. If you go by vin it says that my truck needs the sending unit and the gauge, I can't see it needing both, I have been a tech for 10 years and have had good luck working on toyotas but some of the issues with these trucks is starting to make me wonder. Any help or info would be great, I don't mind changing the sender but the dash unit seems a little much.

Thanks Mike

 

well i knew a buddy that had this problem on his big ford diesel truck (the ones that have 2 gas tanks). i guess there is a hose that sucks up the gas in the engine in the tank, and his broke off halfway so one of his tanks is always half full lol.

not sure i doubt its the same, probably just something wrong with the guage. im not sure how you would check this hmmm.

 

Yeah I have 99 and it seems to be an issue with my 4runner too! Let me know if you find out what the problem is and how you solved it

 

toyota do not have a tube like this. the fuel pump goes all the way down into the tank, almost to the bottom. It anything brakes, you wont get any fuel at all.

sounds like the sender is just bad.

 

Yeah, but considering it is a Ford, I believe it.

 

There was a problem similar to this with the new Mustangs. It was determined to be too much sulfer in the gas that caused the gague in the tank to stick. I don`t know where your from by your tag, but most of the problems I read about were from up north.

 

You might try some Lucas UCL which lubes the entire fuel system...if its a sticking sending unit it may help.

 

There was a technical service bulletin (TSB) for this a few years ago. I had the same issue and I took it to the dealer for a no-charge repair.

Here is a copy of it:

Make: TOYOTA
Model: 4 RUNNER
Year: 1999

Service Bulletin Number: EL01099
NHTSA Item Number: 610059
Summary Description:
SUBJECT REGARDING FUEL GAUGE HORIZONTAL CALIBRATION PROCEDURE. *TT

Check this link for recalls and service bulletins:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/tsbs/tsbsearch.cfm

 

Has anyone had this fixed as a recall? What are the updated part numbers for the sending unit?

Thanks Mike

 

several threads for this on T4R.org

we are all 3rd gens on that forum

 

The new senders are a different shape, and the 'pivot' location is lower.

The original senders IIRC had the pivot near the top, and the gauge wire arm would swing between 6-9 o'clock.

The new ones with the lower pivot and shorter arm, swing between 6-12 o'clock and are much more accurate due to the higher resolution sender.

HTH.

This is from memory, it's been over 5 years since I changed one of those things. I may be speaking out of my ***

 

Does anyone have a part # for this updated part?

 

part numbers, both previous and current are in the tsb.

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/larsdenne...Inaccurate.htm

 

Oh yes, there is a new updated gauge to go with the sender.... I couldn't remember that until seeing the bulletin again. LOL.

I wonder what parts for that cost? Prolly more than a couple hundred bux. Let us know.