Katerina Swanson
If your car's fuel gauge is not working, it could be due to a faulty fuel gauge, wiring, or a bad fuel sending unit. The fuel sending unit measures the amount of fuel in the tank and communicates the fuel level to the fuel gauge. If the gauge is damaged by physical impact, water, or electrical issues, it may stop working. To check this, you will need to remove the gauge from the dashboard and test it with a multimeter or an external power source.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Power surge | Can cause a short circuit |
| Short circuit | Can cause a power surge |
| Faulty fuel gauge | Can be damaged by physical impact, water, or electrical issues |
| Bad fuel sending unit | Can measure the amount of fuel in the fuel tank |
| Newer vehicles | Gauge cluster and fuel gauge are difficult to test |
What You'll Learn
Faulty fuel gauge - gauge damaged by physical impact, water, or electrical issues
A faulty fuel gauge can be caused by physical impact, water, or electrical issues. To check this, you will need to remove the gauge from the dashboard and test it with a multimeter or an external power source. If the gauge is damaged by physical impact, water, or electrical issues, you will need to replace it with a new one of the same amperage.
The most common problem that causes the fuel gauge to read incorrectly is a bad fuel sending unit. The fuel sending unit is used to measure the amount of fuel in the fuel tank and communicate the fuel level to the fuel gauge on the vehicle dashboard. This ensures that the driver is aware of the fuel level at all times, as well as warn when the vehicle is low on fuel, and when to visit a gas station before the tank is completely empty.
On newer vehicles, the gauge cluster and fuel gauge are much more difficult, if not impossible to test. To check the fuel gauge itself on newer vehicles, remove the instrument cluster from the dash and you may have to disassemble the cluster to remove the gauge. While gauges themselves can fail, generally the problems are found in wiring or the sending unit, rather than the gauge, so it’s best to rule out all the other possibilities before tackling the gauge itself.
If the gauge is damaged by physical impact, water, or electrical issues, you will need to replace it with a new one of the same amperage. You can use a fuse tester or a multimeter to see if the fuse is blown. If it is, you will need to replace it with a new one of the same amperage.
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Power surge or short circuit - check the fuse box
If your car's fuel gauge is not working, it could be due to a power surge or a short circuit in the system. To check this, you will need to locate the fuse box in your car and find the fuse that corresponds to the fuel gauge. You can use a fuse tester or a multimeter to see if the fuse is blown. If it is, you will need to replace it with a new one of the same amperage.
If the fuse is not the problem, you may need to check the fuel gauge itself. This can happen if the gauge is damaged by physical impact, water, or electrical issues. To check this, you will need to remove the gauge from the dashboard and test it with a multimeter or an external power source.
If the fuel gauge is not the problem, you may need to check the wiring or the sending unit. The most common problem that causes the fuel gauge to read incorrectly is a bad fuel sending unit. The fuel sending unit is used to measure the amount of fuel in the fuel tank and communicate the fuel level to the fuel gauge on the vehicle dashboard.
If you are still having problems with your fuel gauge, you may need to take your car to a mechanic for further diagnosis. They may be able to test the fuel gauge and sending unit to determine the cause of the problem.
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Bad fuel sending unit - measures fuel in the tank
The fuel sending unit is used to measure the amount of fuel in the fuel tank and communicate the fuel level to the fuel gauge on the vehicle dashboard. This ensures that the driver is aware of the fuel level at all times, as well as warn when the vehicle is low on fuel, and when to visit a gas station before the tank is completely empty.
If the fuel sending unit is faulty, the fuel gauge may not be working. This can happen if there is a power surge or a short circuit in the system. To check this, you will need to locate the fuse box in your car and find the fuse that corresponds to the fuel gauge. You can use a fuse tester or a multimeter to see if the fuse is blown. If it is, you will need to replace it with a new one of the same amperage.
On newer vehicles, the gauge cluster and fuel gauge are much more difficult, if not impossible to test. To check the fuel gauge itself on newer vehicles, remove the instrument cluster from the dash and you may have to disassemble the cluster to remove the gauge.
The most common problem that causes the fuel gauge to read incorrectly is a bad fuel sending unit. The fuel sending unit may come separately from your new fuel pump in the box. See below for how to install.
Gauges themselves can fail, generally the problems are found in wiring or the sending unit, rather than the gauge, so it’s best to rule out all the other possibilities before tackling the gauge itself.
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Wiring issues - check the gauge cluster
If your car's fuel gauge is not working, it could be due to wiring issues. To check this, you will need to remove the gauge cluster from the dashboard. You may have to disassemble the cluster to remove the gauge. On newer vehicles, the gauge cluster and fuel gauge are much more difficult, if not impossible to test.
The most common problem that causes the fuel gauge to read incorrectly is a bad fuel sending unit. The fuel sending unit is used to measure the amount of fuel in the fuel tank and communicate the fuel level to the fuel gauge on the vehicle dashboard. This ensures that the driver is aware of the fuel level at all times, as well as warn when the vehicle is low on fuel, and when to visit a gas station before the tank is completely empty.
To check the fuel gauge itself on newer vehicles, remove the instrument cluster from the dash and you may have to disassemble the cluster to remove the gauge. While gauges themselves can fail, generally the problems are found in wiring or the sending unit, rather than the gauge, so it’s best to rule out all the other possibilities before tackling the gauge itself.
Tracking down fuel gauge issues can be a pain. It’s one of those critical gauges that if it doesn’t work, can leave you stranded, or at least, constantly tracking your mileage out of fear of running out of gas.
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Newer vehicles - more difficult to test
On newer vehicles, the gauge cluster and fuel gauge are much more difficult, if not impossible to test. To check the fuel gauge itself on newer vehicles, remove the instrument cluster from the dash and you may have to disassemble the cluster to remove the gauge. While gauges themselves can fail, generally the problems are found in wiring or the sending unit, rather than the gauge, so it’s best to rule out all the other possibilities before tackling the gauge itself. Tracking down fuel gauge issues can be a pain. It’s one of those critical gauges that if it doesn’t work, can leave you stranded, or at least, constantly tracking your mileage out of fear of running out of gas.
The most common problem that causes the fuel gauge to read incorrectly is a bad fuel sending unit. The fuel sending unit is used to measure the amount of fuel in the fuel tank and communicate the fuel level to the fuel gauge on the vehicle dashboard. This ensures that the driver is aware of the fuel level at all times, as well as warn when the vehicle is low on fuel, and when to visit a gas station before the tank is completely empty.
If the vehicle fails to start up, you can hear the engine misfiring or the car accelerates noticeably worse than normal, the ignition coil may be defective. This can happen if there is a power surge or a short circuit in the system. To check this, you will need to locate the fuse box in your car and find the fuse that corresponds to the fuel gauge. You can use a fuse tester or a multimeter to see if the fuse is blown. If it is, you will need to replace it with a new one of the same amperage.
A fourth possible cause is a faulty fuel gauge itself. This can happen if the gauge is damaged by physical impact, water, or electrical issues. To check this, you will need to remove the gauge from the dashboard and test it with a multimeter or an external power source.
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Frequently asked questions
The most common problem that causes the fuel gauge to read incorrectly is a bad fuel sending unit. The fuel sending unit is used to measure the amount of fuel in the fuel tank and communicate the fuel level to the fuel gauge on the vehicle dashboard.
The fuel gauge can fail if it is damaged by physical impact, water, or electrical issues. To check this, you will need to remove the gauge from the dashboard and test it with a multimeter or an external power source.
To fix your car fuel gauge, you can replace the fuse that corresponds to the fuel gauge. You can use a fuse tester or a multimeter to see if the fuse is blown. If it is, you will need to replace it with a new one of the same amperage.
On newer vehicles, the gauge cluster and fuel gauge are much more difficult, if not impossible to test. To check the fuel gauge itself on newer vehicles, remove the instrument cluster from the dash and you may have to disassemble the cluster to remove the gauge.
If the vehicle fails to start up, you can hear the engine misfiring or the car accelerates noticeably worse than normal, the ignition coil may be defective.
