Hello all,

Recently while playin with the kids I got my 2002 expedition (2wd/eddie bauer) stuck in soft sand. After getting her out, I noticed my fuel gauge was now reading "half" full when almost empty. Of course, I didn't become aware of the issue until I made a 50 mile trip on what I thought was a half a tank and ran outta gas while at my destination.

Has anyone had an issue with the gas gauge reading almost half a tank when it's actually empty??? I mean EMPTY!!! Gauge says half and the poor truck will start to die when coming to a stop (no fuel to the sending unit...). I'm gonna pressure wash the undercarriage (since I believe the problem started after getting stuck in the sand...)....

Thanks for any input!!!

 

Is it just stuck at half or does it bounce around?
Have you tried filling the tank to see if the gauge goes up to F?

 

It's as if the truck believes it has half a tank when it's really empty. When you put half a tank worth of gas, the tank reads full. Unfortunately, due to today's economy, I have not been able to fill the tank and do not know what the response will be.

So it is not "stuck" at half, that is just the knew empty spot. And no....it does not bounce around. It works just fine, at least between half and full.

 

Welcome to FTE.
You can count on getting help here amost always without getting bashed unless you start a war.
I suggest that you disconnect your battery for a couple of minutes and while you are waiting clean the posts and terminals. The cleaning might not cure the problem but it's a maint. thing that is often overlooked. Then reconnect the battery and that resets the CPU, hopefully that will cure it. The next step would be to drop the tank and clean the connection at the tank. I would try the battery first.

 

So now you're the self-appointed welcome wagon? Where's the cake?

 

There have been 3 guys on the BMW forum with stuck fuel gauges that have used Chevron Techron and it cured the problem. I personally don't see how, but it would be worth a shot for $8.

 

You were here first and you could have said welcome if you were so inclined.

 

It has been awhile, but I am still dealing with this problem with the following variations:

1. When gas gauge drops slightly below half, the engine wants to, and sometimes does, die when coming to a stop.
2. I ran her till she was completely out of gas and would no longer restart today. Gas gauge was reading 1/4 tank. I had a 2 gallon can with me and kept on truckin...

I was hoping it would drop to empty if I just ran it, but to no avail. Although, I haven't seen her at 1/4 tank since this all began.

How can I get her back to normal???

I used to run her below the "E" line and didn't have this stalling out problem!

What to do?????

 

You would have to take the sender out of the tank and bend the float arm a bit straighter.

 

Are you sure you didn't put a big dent in the tank when you were stuck? The fuel tank hangs below the frame and you could have easily damaged it.

 

There is no "apparent" damage to the tank. I was thinking the same thing about the sender...ill pull the tank and check it out..

 

Someone mentioned they noticed an access panel right above the gas tank, by the pump location. If there is one there, then you wouldn't have to drop the tank.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ml#post9562775

 

I thought there would be a panel, but from what I read, (up to now) I was gonna drop the tank... I will search for the panel later today and update findings.
Thanks for the great info!!!

 

Any luck on that panel Chazrik?

 

Had the same issue on my 2000 Expedition and dropped the tank. Put another sending unit on, with the float, strapped the tank back up and found that it did not resolve the issue. Is there something else I'm missing? Anyone?