2004 - fuel gauge stuck on empty

[tmanes123]

Hi,
I'm a Newbie.
I have a 2004 with Edge Trim. The fuel gauge has been pegged to (below) empty for about a year. All other gauges work fine. I replaced the pump / sending unit assembly shortly after the problem started, but no change with the gauge. I thought it was the Anti-slosh, but I now understand that the 2004 was the first year without that module. I'm sure you know) the gauge cluster is no longer available.

I'd appreciate some advice if anyone has thoughts.

 

[pjtoledo]

does it move when the key is turned on/off?
2 options, either the needle is physically stuck on something, or the electronics are telling it to bottom out.

pulling this from a 2005 manual, hope it's the same for a 2004.

the sender in the tank varies from 145 ohms for full to 22.5 ohms for empty.
the yellow/white is power coming from pin 12 of connector C175 at the computer, goes to the sender in the tank.
that wire is spliced and also goes to pin 7 of connector C220b of the instrument panel, still yellow/white.

as the float moves the sender in the tank the current changes, the instrument panel monitors the changes
and processes it to move the needle.

at the tank the black/white wire is the ground for the sender.

 

[tmanes123]

does it move when the key is turned on/off?
2 options, either the needle is physically stuck on something, or the electronics are telling it to bottom out.

pulling this from a 2005 manual, hope it's the same for a 2004.

the sender in the tank varies from 145 ohms for full to 22.5 ohms for empty.
the yellow/white is power coming from pin 12 of connector C175 at the computer, goes to the sender in the tank.
that wire is spliced and also goes to pin 7 of connector C220b of the instrument panel, still yellow/white.

as the float moves the sender in the tank the current changes, the instrument panel monitors the changes
and processes it to move the needle.

at the tank the black/white wire is the ground for the sender.
[/QUOTE

It doesn't move when the key is turned on / off, but it got lower over time. When this first happened, I hit a bump in the road and it worked fine for a few minutes and then stopped again. Then, for the last year-ish, nothing. BUT, for the first couple of months, the needle was pegged at "E" and then over a short period of time, it drifted lower to below "E" and was then pegged at rock bottom. I don't think the needle is stuck. THANKS for the info!!

 

[superj]

you have a connection that is bad somewhere since you hit a bump and it worked. unfortunately, who knows if its under the truck, on top of hte tank, behind the gage cluster, where ever?

my 98 mazda b2500 had that same issue you have. it ended up being the float got pin holes in it and stopped floating. not the same issue though because hitting a bump didn't make it work, ever.


its funny, my current 04 edge likes to read lazily. sometimes it will drop to empty out of nowhere and sometimes it will stay on empty for a while after filling up.

maybe its the gas we have here in texas, ha ha ha

 

[tmanes123]

you have a connection that is bad somewhere since you hit a bump and it worked. unfortunately, who knows if its under the truck, on top of hte tank, behind the gage cluster, where ever?

my 98 mazda b2500 had that same issue you have. it ended up being the float got pin holes in it and stopped floating. not the same issue though because hitting a bump didn't make it work, ever.


its funny, my current 04 edge likes to read lazily. sometimes it will drop to empty out of nowhere and sometimes it will stay on empty for a while after filling up.

maybe its the gas we have here in texas, ha ha ha

All,

Thanks for all your help.

I checked the electrical and it indicated that the fuel sender was bad (which had already been replaced). Turned out that the float was "floating" loose in the tank and not attached to the sender. I had paid a "mechanic" to replace the pump back when I thought you had to drop the tank to replace it. Then, I watched him pull the bed in 15 minutes without having to drop the tank. I felt like a fool. Anyway, it appears that he didn't push the float arm completely into the clip on the sending unit. SMH...

 

[superj]

glad you got it fixed