I thought only old cars have fuel gauge problems

"450X_FTW" (mistermic) 11/12/2015 at 11:58 • Filed to: None

0

21

My 2012 Ram 1500 had an issue pop up, twice in the past month. This time I was able to catch it on video. My DTE (distance to empty) was at 130 miles when I got on the road, about 10 minutes later I look back down and it’s already at 70 miles to empty, and I did not reset anything. It kept dropping, quickly, so I started recording it.

I had about 1/4 tank of fuel left, but the gauge showed E, really E. The DTE kept dropping all the way to LOW. I had a serious worry that my fuel tank had been punctured. Michigan roads are littered with scrap, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Pulled into a gas station and filled it up, only takes 23.5 gallons ( I have a 32 gallon tank)

After the fill up the gauge has behaving normal the past couple of days.

I’m not saying it was aliens, but I think it was aliens.

Future next gen S2000 owner > 450X_FTW 11/12/2015 at 12:04

0

Failing fuel level sensor?

dogisbadob > 450X_FTW 11/12/2015 at 12:04

0

Fix it again, Tony :p

450X_FTW > dogisbadob 11/12/2015 at 12:05

2

still better than the Daimler era

450X_FTW > Future next gen S2000 owner 11/12/2015 at 12:06

0

That’s what I was leaning towards. Problem is I think in order to replace it, you have to drop the fuel tank just to get to it. and with mine being the 32 gallon tank, I’ve heard it sucks even more to man handle around

Future next gen S2000 owner > 450X_FTW 11/12/2015 at 12:10

1

I just did the one on my wife’s Saab, you will probably have to drop the tank as it is probably on the fuel sending unit. I drove her car around until it had a gallon or so in it. The tank was plastic so it wasn’t that bad.

If you tank is plastic, your should be okay. They are pretty light.

450X_FTW > Future next gen S2000 owner 11/12/2015 at 12:13

0

Mine is plastic as well, just big. And one thing that always annoyed me is Chrysler was ULTRA conservative when calibrating DTE with that truck. Even if it says 50 miles to empty you still have about 9 gallons of fuel left

vondon302 > 450X_FTW 11/12/2015 at 12:16

0

My wifes 06 mustang does this about every 10 to 18 months (stored in winter) I’ve found a bottle of fuel injector cleaner clears it up.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > 450X_FTW 11/12/2015 at 12:22

0

I had this happen once last year. I had started out the drive with ~1/4 tank in my town&country. It was below freezing, the DTE dropped from 100+ to 45 on the highway (I average high 20s HWY), and it had minimum 4 gallons in the tank when I filled.

Once I filled, it hasn’t happened since. Although I haven’t started it after sitting with under a quarter tank in freezing weather too often in its life.

I don’t know if that was the culprit, but the fact that additives in washer fluid can permanently ruin the washer-fluid level sensor in these things, well, I suspect it’s something along those lines for me.

Future next gen S2000 owner > 450X_FTW 11/12/2015 at 12:22

1

It is a bit awkward but I used a piece of plywood and balanced it on a floor jack to move it around and then out from under the car. I never trust the DTE in any car. Of course with an electronic fuel gauge I’m not sure why I trust that any more than a DTE.

450X_FTW > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 11/12/2015 at 12:29

0

That did happen to me as well, the washer fluid sensor. Learned to never use fluid that contained Rain X, as it apparently leaves a film on the sensor to always tell you it’s empty

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > 450X_FTW 11/12/2015 at 12:30

0

Did you replace the sensor yourself, or have the dealer do it?

450X_FTW > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 11/12/2015 at 12:37

0

I did it myself, Pretty simple on the Ram. Take the front grille off and it’s right in front against the washer bottle. Think it was a $2.50 part from the dealer

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > 450X_FTW 11/12/2015 at 12:42

0

Ok. My dealer wanted much more than $2.50, but i found it for that online for that from a different dealer. Just didn’t know how much pain I was getting into.

I do my own brakes and such, so I’m not scared of a little work. I’ll have to find it on the T&C.

450X_FTW > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 11/12/2015 at 12:50

0

Found a picture I could use. That part circled in red is the sensor for the washer bottle

BigBlock440 > 450X_FTW 11/12/2015 at 12:53

1

I’ve only had that happen when the tank was low and I just filled up. I knew it was full, but for some reason the needle didn’t move. I figured it was a sticking float, possibly an electrical glitch, but it only happened twice and when it’s cold out.

Aliens is as good an explanation as any.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > 450X_FTW 11/12/2015 at 12:54

0

Woof, yours seems to be in a far worse location than mine. I want to say i can reach my sensor from underneath.

450X_FTW > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 11/12/2015 at 12:56

0

Not at all really. The grille is held in by 4 bolts from the top and snaps in at the bottom. Take those 4 out and the grille comes right off

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > 450X_FTW 11/13/2015 at 11:40

0

My Chevy is the same way, but I only have a 26(!) gallon diesel tank.

When it dings “LOW FUEL LEVEL”, you still have 5 gallons and can go about 70 miles at most.

But look at it this way, it is alarmist so I don’t have to re-prime the fuel system if it runs out.

GreenN_Gold > 450X_FTW 11/13/2015 at 16:21

1

It doesn’t seem all that unusual to me. Some DTE’s are calculated based on how you’ve been driving. So if you had been getting “good” mileage up to that point, and now you’re doing ~80 mph so you are using fuel heavily (and maybe the engine is cold), the DTE is going to drop fast. And it’s going to warn you that, at your current usage rate, the fuel isn’t going to last much longer.

The gas light in my car usually comes on around 100 miles to empty. And if I fill right when the gas light comes on, I find my tank is only ~75% empty, similar to your figures.

450X_FTW > GreenN_Gold 11/13/2015 at 16:27

0

It NEVER resets this fast, and my DTE sure as hell wasn’t below 30 miles like it was stating. It also never drops 80 + miles in 10 miles of driving

GreenN_Gold > 450X_FTW 11/13/2015 at 19:23

0

I will defer to your first hand experience.