Stuck fuel gauge

[RJacks258]

This seems to be my first real problem since the 100k warranty ended. My truck has over 150k and the other day I filled up the tank and finished the last leg of a short out of towner. When I got home the trip odo said 140 miles and my tank was full. I thought wow, really great mileage for once. Then friday I approached the 260 miled mark, and still full. Somethings up, I filled the truck this afternoon hoping it would free up the float arm in the tank, well I've already driven 160 miles since 4 o'clock. Guess what, still full. Anyone have any suggestions?

[mschn99]

Originally Posted by RJacks258

This seems to be my first real problem since the 100k warranty ended. My truck has over 150k and the other day I filled up the tank and finished the last leg of a short out of towner. When I got home the trip odo said 140 miles and my tank was full. I thought wow, really great mileage for once. Then friday I approached the 260 miled mark, and still full. Somethings up, I filled the truck this afternoon hoping it would free up the float arm in the tank, well I've already driven 160 miles since 4 o'clock. Guess what, still full. Anyone have any suggestions?

odds are your float is stuck....or the sending unit is bad. ive seen plenty of sending units being bad.....and yours sounds like a perfect discription of it....but you still need to test it to be safe. the easiest way to test it is to remove the sending unit (i personally like taking the bed off.....way easier than dealing with the fuel tank) and measure resistance from the power wire to the main ground of the sending unit (there are only two wires for the sender).....it should range from roughly 15-30 ohms min to 130-200 ohms max.....that is off the top of my head, but should be close........to check that just hook up an ohm meter and measure with the connector disconnected.......put the float at the bottom and slowly go up....check to see that the resistance goes up or down (depending on the vehicle) with the float........Marc

[igoslow]

Here is a silly question- if the sending unit is broke, will the low fuel light still illuminate?

[strokin_early_99]

I had this happen a few months ago, the float got stuck in the up position.

It was stuck in the access hole at the top of the tank. When I pulled the unit the float came out first. I tested it at that time and worked just fine. I have a spare in the garage because I got one from the wrecking yard to replace it when I dropped the tank.

[Deeno]

Mine did this a few months back. With mine the guage was showing around a quarter tank and it gradually started rising towards the full mark while I was driving I filled the tank one time with the motor running and thats when it started acting up. The guage acted funny for a good while but eventually started working normally. Any more I shut her down when I fuel up.

[bigcountrysg]

Originally Posted by igoslow

Here is a silly question- if the sending unit is broke, will the low fuel light still illuminate?

No because the low fuel light works off the fuel level sending unit. I just repaired mine. Mine was not completely broke but it was off by a 1/4 tank.

Marc, you say it is easier to remove the bed then the tank. After doing this repair I can have the tank out of the truck in less then 30 minutes. All you need is a floor jack. To remove the bed you need other equipment or a few buddies to help you out. I replaced my sending unit by dropping the tank and had the truck back together in less then 2 hours.

By the way the fuel tank level sending unit is 340 at the dealer. The cheapest it was found for me was 250. I got a whole tank complete from a local junk yard for 150. I didn't use the tank. I just used the pick up tubes and fuel level sending unit. You will also need a big pair of channel locks or a fuel tank lock ring tool.

[NCHornet]

Sometimes the float will become stuck. Many of these issues can be solved with a good wallup to the side of the tank with a rubber hammer. I would at least try this before you go dropping the tank. I have a LB, CC so I have the 40 gal tank. Mine will not start dropping off full til about the 200 mile mark, but you know your truck and when something isn't right. If you do have to pull the tank I would go ahead and do the tank mods while you have it down.

[jbaviation03]

I am about to replace the forward fuel tank sending unit in my 1996 model F-350. What mods are there for the 1996 diesel models? Thanks, Joe

[blksmk]

I gave the fuel tank some love taps and then I went out and drove through some pretty rough stuff, down some bumpy back country roads, And flew over some speed bumpns in the tractor supply co. parking lot then I shut her off and started her back up. Problem fixed.

[blksmk]

Originally Posted by Deeno

Mine did this a few months back. With mine the guage was showing around a quarter tank and it gradually started rising towards the full mark while I was driving I filled the tank one time with the motor running and thats when it started acting up. The guage acted funny for a good while but eventually started working normally. Any more I shut her down when I fuel up.

Every one of my fords from brand new have done this its a ford thing. When you fuel up with the truck running the guage wont right after I left the lot with the '99 F250 I fueled up with it running and it diddn't move so I shut it off and started it back up and it went to full.