my fuel gauge is not showing the right amount of fuel when i get down just below a half tank. when i fill up the guage works fine but after i get below half it seems to read it wrong. it almost seems like it is reading the level but not displaying it correctly, i can tell its going down over time but it drops waay below the empty line when i know i still have gas. im not 100% sure how the level sensor works. if its an arm with a float on the end can the arm be bent somehow? has anyone came across this before?

 

Probably gonna need a new sensor. Rather common problem.
Read up here, it might explain how thy work and how they go wrong.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...runner-199822/

 

^Must have been posting @ same time. On my last one the contact was coating with gunk. I cleaned it up and works good so far.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199/terrys87-86-4runner-2nd-chance-247386-new/
If you check this thread there is a pic that shows what it looks like. It is a float on an arm that swings. Mine does the same thing. When I get to about half a tank it drops to E. Probably just needs to be pulled apart and cleaned where the contact rides.

 

You were very Lucky if that was all your took.

Here in the greater Salt belt I just prefer to live with my bad fuel sender I fill the tank every 120 miles and don`t worry.

I know to pull it apart is gonna be expensive!!

 

awesome guys thanks for the tips. i guess ill tear it apart soon. how much does a new sending unit usually run?

 

If you are not going to order one online, I would reccomend Import parts on North pacific hwy, past the mall by jack in the box. They are my main source for oem quality parts, they don't sell the chinese junk. As far as cost, IDK, haven't had to replace mine yet...

 

Mine cost around $120 from the dealer. If anyone knows a cheaper source, please chime in. I need one for my MR2.

 

man reading that tripped me out a little i JUST got off the phone with somebody who said the same exact thing, then i saw your from here too. haha

i got a quote for $55 from the junk yard but they asked if it was a 4 pin connector or anything else. i havent taken mine out yet so i didnt know all i could tell u is it does not have a low level light

 

and carbureted

 

I had done a part number clarification thread on these a while back. Might want too run a search for that thread of mine. There is alot of different types these. If yours is a non-sr-5, then yours is probably like mine, 2 wire senor. That sr-5 model had 3-wire. 3rd wire was the low level light. I don't remember seeing a 4-wire one.

 

well import parts didnt have it, 130 from toyota! well now im taking it into work tomorrow night to pull it down. if i come across a broken resistor like the one shown on xxxxtreme's posted thread what possible fixes could i make? is solder a possibility? im hopin for just dirt and gunk on it but im workin with 264k on it so im guessing its going to be torn up

 

xxxtreme22r,

So, what if my tank is the original non SR5 model, but I have done the SR5 gauge swap? I am still having issues with the tank level gauge, but the Low level light has always worked.

 

They're repairable, but not easily. And not worth it. I think someone had found me one for this truck for like $90 or something like that. Auto Parts places didn't have it. Only seemed to have the sr-5 version.

If you get one from a yard, please have this in mind, this is a very common issue with these.

As far as the sr-5 gauge goes, I did that swap, it doesn't add the light, so not sure what you mean with that. Wasn't aware that he non-sr-5's had the low level light.

 

hey, this might be helpful, today i made up my mind to pull my fuel level sending unit out and check it out. I had the usual problem with it reading only on the upper level of the fuel range. I was prepared to go to the stealership for a replacement, but upon inspection. the wiper arm was not making contact all the way through the range. so a slight twist with needle nose pliers and a check with ohmmeter problem solved cost 0.00!!!!

as a side note you dont have to be really picky with what ohms are where 200 or 20k as long as the numbers go up and down with the swing arm I hope this helps someone it would have helped me.

89 4runner 3vze auto

 

I had a similiar issue, except the resistor itself had a break half way down. Which explains it only read at half and full. I ohmed the resistor thats how I found the open. Researching a retro fit and tempted to buy one from Toyota.