Seen fuel sending units bad on these........RARELY gauge in dash cluster.

 

I have a 2003 and it does the same thing with the fuel gauge. It happens about once a month. I am never close to dealer when it happens to show them. Neeless to say I am getting frustrated with this issue as well.

 

It's nice to know I'm not the only one experiencing this. I contacted Toyota (corporate) and they gave me some lame answer about not being able to diagnose problems without a technician looking at it. All I was asking though is if others had reported the same problem. It's obvious from looking at this forum that others are having the same problem. Guess I'll have to take it back to the dealer (again!) to see if they can figure the problem out. I'll mention the fuel level sending unit, gr8hunsy. Thanks!

 

I also have this problem on an '03 model. I don't have any info on the basic circuit design and how it ties in with the fuel computer, but the symptoms appear to be an electronic problem as opposed to a sensor or readout device proplem. Anybody got the problem fixed yet? My vehicle is at 49k miles and I am going to take it in shortly for the ball joint recall and at least get them to document the fuel gaugr problem.

 

Wow, sounds like this is a common issue with the 03's. Ours does the same thing, we have 44k mi on it. Has there ever been a TSB for this problem? Or are we just the lucky few to have the same exact issue...?

 

My oil pressure gauge is stuck at the bottom often, even though it is serviced often and the oil is at a fine level. It scares me sometimes though.

 

My '03 does it, and it seems to be occuring more often. Dealer denies ever hearing of the problem. Seems to occur more when the outside temperature is warm.

 

Damn, my 03 has the fuel gauge problem.!!

Dealer told me to take it and I'd have it the same day. They've seen the problem.

 

My '03 does it also. First noticed it after a brushless car wash with the underneath jets. Think the moisture is the root of the problem. I have an '04 Tundra and it took awhile to get from 1/4 to 3/4 when I started it early the other morning. Only had it two weeks, .

 

I was going to ask about that. We just had a big rain from a hurricane and I had 1/4 tank last night and it showed empty this morning. Added another few gallons and have left it running, gauge is starting to rise past "I'm gonna die" light being triggered. Think I'll fill my back up can as an in case. Thank you for your observation. Mine is an 02, but it's been acting funny lately. The battery has been dying. All connections look good but this Interstate is 12 years old and that's bloody grand for a battery.

 

wow, same here. I have this problem too.

 

My 2004 has had the oil pressure sending unit replaced and my gas guage - as well, does not show "full" after we fill it up. It only shows 7/8 full. Dealer checked and indicate no fault - as the gauge is reving correct voltage. Nice, huh? Look at the d_mn needle!

But then again, I own a lemon Seq truck......last Toyota I'll ever buy.

 

gotta 01 and the fuel gauge is doing the same....will take it to the dealer and get it fixed pronto (thank god for extended warrenties!)

 

My "03 had problem with both gauges. I beieve there was a service bulletin on the oil presure gauge. Dealer replaced it under warranty long ago. Gas gauge problem too. Dealer replaced the sending unit, the ball that floats in the tank. Everything is now a okay!

 

Fuel Gauge

Hello, I have the Sequoia 03 as well. I had the fuel issue and the oil guage issue as well last week. I also have the drive green out. Any ideas on if I can replace the fuel and oil sensor unit myself and the has anyone replaced the drive light.

 

Fuel Guage problem with 2002 Highlander

I wonder if anyone else has had the fuel gauge problem with a Highlander. I have about 95k miles and it now shows empty most of the time, although occasionally it will move to half or even full. Any ideas?

 

My Sequoia goes from FULL to EMPTY much to quick.:lol::clap:

 

I also have a 03 Sequoia with the same problem. My fuel gauge will stay in E once in a while with Orange new-fuel light on. However, the electronic gauge by the rear-view mirror display still shows the correct DTE (Distant To Empty). So it can't be the sender unit like some earlier suggestions, as the sender unit would send the signal to both the instrument cluster and the rear-view mirror diaply.

So any ideas what could be causing this????

 

I have the same problem with my '01 fuel gauge. I use the info on the digital DTE and also reset my trip meter when I refill. The fuel gauge works 99% of the time, it is just annoying and could confuse the wife. Also my green drive light went out for over a year and has just recently returned to life. Also, my rear window up/dn control has not worked since I bought the vehicle 3 years ago. I verified the motor is good so I guess it is the relay that clicks in the rear door panel. I am disappointed in the electrical glitches in the truck. VW

 

If you haven't fixed it yet, replacing the original oil pressure sending switch with a new one will fix this and it's very easy to get to. Right on the front of the engine. They upgraded it after finding a bunch of bad ones.

 

Oil pressure sender is easy. Fuel sending unit is probably a bear. Usually you have to drop the fuel tank and access it from above. You might get lucky and find that Toyota built an access panel under the rear cargo carpeting, but I wouldn't bet money on it.

 

I joined the forum just to find an answer to this problem. I bought a Haynes repair manual but wiring diagrams of the fuel system were not included. My drive green indicator lamp just quit, what luck. Is there a part number for the lamp that can be replaced? As for my fuel gauge, if it malfunctions it is on start up and the needle drives way below empty, the DTE still is calculating correctly so the problem I think would be with the gauge as other components are getting correct fuel level information.

 

Hi Hoss,

There is a part available from Toyota however they charge way too much. I took the cluster out, removed the tiny bulb assembly and replaced the actual bulb with a bulb from Radio Shack for less than $5. It's done sort of like replacing the bulb in a string of miniature Christmas lights. Take the bulb out of it's plastic socket, push the new wires through and bend them to match the old configuration. BTW, my DTE works correctly when the fuel gauge is messing up too. I also looked at the other gauges to see if maybe it's a CVR problem but they look to be unaffected.

Paul

 

thank gracious i never had this problem:lol:

 

Anyone ever find the cure for this?

Mine does this about once a month but I don't think it's the sending unit because the computer on the mirror seem to work. Anyone ever find out what exactly fixes this?

 

I still think it's the fuel sending unit. I believe the on board computer resets the DTE when it senses a fill-up. Then I think it subtracts miles from that number based on the MPG calculations in the on board computer. I don't think the DTE calculations are based on the fuel level dropping. If they were, then when you go up or down hill, or when the fuel sloshes in the tank, the DTE would go up and down. It doesn't do that.
:headbang: