fuel gauge problem

[mike650]

Intermittently my fuel gauge does not move to the full position after I've fill the tank. It occurs about once every 2 or 3 months and usually fixes itself soon after but not this last time. I had a little less than half a tank of fuel. Filled 'er up but the needle only moved to around half a tank; since then it's moved to 3/4's of a tank. I've only driven our X from the fuel station, 2 miles, to my house.

Is there a reset or should I disconnect / reconnect the batteries? Fuel sensor bad? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Any help would be appreciated.

-Mike

[ExcursionPSD]

I'm guessing you have not shut off the motor while refueling.

The PCM gets input from the fuel float sensor, and uses that input to send a signal to the gauge as to where the needle should be positioned. This prevents the gauge from bouncing around up and down hill.

When the engine is started, it immediately sets the guage to the position that corrresponds to the fuel float. If you fill up with the engine running, it will take a long time to change the needle position.

[mike650]

ExcursionPSD, thanks for the reply.

I shut off the motor 95% of the time when refueling. I'm pretty sure I did so this time as well. If memory servers me, it only occurs when I start the motor after filling up.

-Mike

[MotionMan]

Mine has done this a few times but it always goes back so I just live with it, it was a surprise the first time though, now I see it is common.

[mike650]

Update:

Bad fuel pump sensor. Total cost of parts and labor close to $1000.00. They have to remove the tank and the new sensor is an updated version, so they say. Thank goodness I purchased the premium service warranty, good till 2009, it's completely covered.

-Mike