Faulty Fuel Gauge Readings!

[marky0071]

Hi Everyone,

My 02 Santa Fe is giving me faulty fuel level readings, the fuel level indicator is showing 3/4 full then almost empty. When I fill it with gas it seems full and the next day it goes down to 1/4 full etc.

I can't put any more than 30 bucks in the tank....there is fuel in the tank but it's not reading how much!! Also my empty light never comes on.....................

Any suggestions?

Mark.

[sk8er0918]

It could be your floater, to be honest I really dont know much about your problem. I know my cars fuel guage is not that great. Ill fill the car up and once it gets past a quarter of the way it drops a lot faster. As for the light, I have never seen mine. I am a college student and I cut it pretty close when having to put more gas it in and I never see the light on. I also noticed with my car the tank does not completley fill up when the pump stops so I let it sit for a bit and fill it back up. i.e. One day I filled the car the pump stop and so I started driving and it still needed about a quarter of gas left. Also the gauge moves very slow when moving back up after putting gas in it. I hope I helped if even a little, im sure someone knows a lot more than me.

[lovemysantafe]

The Santa Fe's fuel tank is designed in a so-called 'saddlebag' shape as it has to clear the center propshaft in the 4WD models. Even the 2WD models have this fuel tank shape, obviously to reduce manufacturing costs. Because of the design of the tank, there are two sender units, one in either side. It averages each to most accurately determine the amount of fuel in the tank. Chances are you've got a bad contact in one side or one sender unit has gone bad. I'd get it into your dealer and have them check to make sure the floaters and the related sender units are working properly. I think they'll find something is not right. Also, the 2002 model had the 17 gallon tank which was notorious for shutting off prematurely and pretty much having to be 'force fed' the last 5 gallons.

I had a photo I took of the fuel tank while my Santy was on the lift last time I changed the oil. It's gone missing...