Fuel Level Sensor A trouble code?

[jtaborsky]

Is this code from the sending unit, the fuel pressure sensor, or...? Do I need to drop the tank?

 

[Vindictus]

What is the code your getting?

 

[jtaborsky]

Is this code from the sending unit, the fuel pressure sensor, or...? Do I need to drop the tank?

P0461. Also P0442, but i don't think they could be related.

 

[RonD]

You are correct, the codes are not related

P0442 Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (small leak)
Check to make sure fuel cap gasket is OK
On start up, the EVAP system puts a slight Negative(vacuum) pressure in the gas tank then sees if it can hold the Negative pressure, if it slowly loses pressure then P0442
If it can't hold Negative pressure at all then:
P0455 Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (gross leak)
So P0442 can be a cracked EVAP hose, even small crack in Filler hose or gas cap


P0461 Fuel Level Sensor Circuit Range/Performance
This is the gas gauge and sender/float in the gas tank code

Computer has these codes to choose from:
P0460 Fuel Level Sensor Circuit Malfunction
P0461 Fuel Level Sensor Circuit Range/Performance
P0462 Fuel Level Sensor Circuit Low Input
P0463 Fuel Level Sensor Circuit High Input
P0464 Fuel Level Sensor Circuit Intermittent

What year is this Ranger, not a 1987, lol?

Is the gas gauge working OK, not erratic?
This code can not effect performance in any way, it is just letting driver know the gas gauge may not be acurate
1989 and up Rangers use Senders and gauges with these OHMs
16 OHMs Empty
158 OHMs Full

P0461 indicates at some point the OHMs were higher or lower(out of Range) than they should be, but not always lower and not always higher, that has different codes
Or that the OHMs changed rapidly between 16 and 158(performance) which wasn't just from gas sloshing around in the tank


Its good to look up codes on a full list, like this one: https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/obd-ii_trouble_codes/
You can see the codes the computer can chose from, so the codes it does NOT use can help you diagnose what its NOT, lol

Our Rangers never had fuel pressure sensors, just FYI
Just the air pressure sensor for the EVAP system

 

[jtaborsky]

Vehicle is a 2010 Explorer.

Gas gauge does not work well. At times it is accurate, other times it is off, and a few times I have watched the needle jump around.

Thanks for description of P0461. Rockauto lists two fuel sending units. Is one "A" and one "B"? Which is which?

 

[jtaborsky]

Update (because it drives me nuts when people leave threads unresolved):
I replaced in-tank fuel pump and sender, and the light has not returned.

Another reason for me to dread new vehicles.