Erratic Fuel Gauge

My 87 4runner does the same thing. I did a google search and it seems this is a common failure. I haven't pulled mine out yet, just figured to replace the sending unit till I call the Toyota garage and they said $180 for the parts. My understanding is that the 'low fuel' light is a separate sensor, so I'm just going to go by that. When I first bought the thing the light came on so I think it works, but I never let it get low enough to know for sure. The guy at the Toyota garage mentioned some overpriced braket inside the tank that sometimes rusts away. I haven't pulled the pump to check it out yet, but if someone's been there and done that, I'd also appreciate knowing if it's something that can be fabricated. I'm sure not putting $180 into the fuel gage of a 4runner that I paid $100 for.

If you know the approximate mpg you get, you should be able to use that as a gauge of gallons used.

Bearman

udok wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@enews4.newsguy.com:

Mine does this to. my '88 has no tripmeter so i'm always recording my milage. I'm gonna fix this thing eventually.

Anyone do this job? How is it best done? any tips?

I bought my '87 4runner (with 22re) about three years ago and I was surprised to find the same problem. There does not seem to be an inexpensive fix, but we've found a reasonable (no-cost) solution: We re-set the trip odometer when we fill the tank. When the tank gets to within about 1 gallon from empty the 'low fuel' light starts blinking during braking and acceleration. I usually start thinking about refilling when I see 275 miles on the trip odometer -- when my wife drives she doesn't worry until about 325 miles. Go figure ;-)

Dennis

bearman wrote:

As did my '85m thanks to the clueless PO installing a new battery backwards. Turned out to be the sender, new sender and its work fine since then.

I scrounged around the local UPullIt, and couldn't find one for a '78 PU. Toy trucks always get picked over quick!

I DID find one out of a Toyota sedan that worked for me! As I recall, I had to modify it a bit. But it was (relatively) cheap. Plus, it was easy to pull since all the gas tanks are already pulled, and in the trunk/bed of the vehicle, per regulation.

What did you change? If it was the sender is this part separate from the fuel pump? My pickup is an 89 and the Haynes manual does not say anything about a sender other than lumping them together. Is there a float in there? Nobody said yet what really could be wrong. What part should I be looking at? Udok

I was wonder if the sender is anything like my Ford truck. The Ford looked kinda like the inside of a rheostat and all I did to it was take emry cloth to the surface of it and it has worked fine for the past 4 years. Guess I'll have to pull the pump out and find out. At least the tank doesn't need to be dropped.

Let me guess, it will be your fault when she runs out of gas :-)

Sender is toward the back of the tank, look for the wiring going to it from the rear wheel well. Sender should read 3 ohms at full and 110 ohms empty. It likely has a float on it and you'll need to lower the tank to get to it.

rear wheel well. Sender should read 3 ohms at full and 110 ohms empty. It likely has a float on it and you'll need to lower the tank to get to it.

Gee thanks. One reply that makes sense. I will check it. Udok

Sender is toward the back of the tank, look for the wiring going to it from the rear wheel well. Sender should read 3 ohms at full and 110 ohms empty. It likely has a float on it and you'll need to lower the tank to get to it.