how to fix a fluctuating gas gauge

If you've ever had issues with the gas gauge of your car, you know it can be a bit like playing Russian roulette. Maybe you will and maybe you won't run out of fuel. It can be nerve-racking, especially if you're not keeping track of your mileage.

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When you first notice your fuel gauge starting to go it can be a total head-scratcher and even a moment of complete panic. EMPTY?!

Personally, I had my first experience with a wonky fuel gauge while driving over the 7-mile bridge in the Florida Keys. As the name suggests this is a very long bridge and if you've ever driven to the Keys, you'll know that this is a two-lane road with little to no emergency lane pretty much in the middle of nowhere. The crazy South Florida drivers towing their boats do not make the situation less stressful. You do NOT want to get stuck on this bridge.

Circumstances made this experience especially stressful. About an hour prior to reaching the bridge on my road trip, I had a run-in (literally) with some road debris. I hit an outdoor patio lounge chair, or what was left of it, on my way through the Miami interstate system heading South.

I hit a solid piece of the metal chair, it bounced around the undercarriage of my car and then bounced out for the next unsuspecting driver to deal with. Not ideal. After stopping to check my vehicle I found a puncture in my bumper and part of the chair wrapped up inside. Other than that my car was no worse for wear. Unlucky situation but very lucky the damage wasn't worse I told myself.

I continued on my way reaching the gorgeous blue waters visible from the seven-mile bridge, rolling with the windows down and basking in the gorgeous spring air of a tropical South Florida day. I was jolted out of my peaceful and happy state of mind when suddenly I noticed my gas gauge was reading E. Impossible I thought to myself, I just filled up 50 miles back.. Then a horrible thought came to mind. That lounge chair may have punctured my gas tank. I felt the panic well up inside me and began hatching a plan of calling roadside assistance and getting myself to safety.

Well as it turns out I never did run out of gas and when I stopped to fill my tank it was practically full. After restarting my car after topping it off, that gas gauge went right up to F. Relief washed over me knowing that fixing a broken fuel gauge was much cheaper than replacing a gas tank.

If you're finding yourself in a similar situation then this is the guide for you. We'll discuss the ins and outs of the fuel gauge, where your problems are likely arising, signs to look out for, ways to track your gas usage until repaired, and much more. First, let's get into the anatomy of your car's fuel gauge and how it operates.

How Does A Fuel Gauge Work

For accurate information regarding what fuses are in what fuse boxes as well as where to find these fuse boxes refer to the owner's manual of your vehicle. Blown fuses can definitely be a cause of a gas gauge not reading properly and can be worth looking into as it is one of the easiest and cheapest repairs to make regarding this problem.

Signs That You Have A Bad Fuel Gauge

The signs of a bad fuel gauge are pretty straight forward. If your fuel sensor needle moves erratically or more quickly than you feel you are burning fuel this is likely indicative of an issue in your fuel gauge system.

Alternatively the gauge may read F and E all the time regardless of how much fuel you actually have. In some cases the fuel gauge will randomly read E and this can be fixed simply by turning your car on and then back on. This is likely caused by a wiring or sending unit issue.

Can You Drive With A Bad Fuel Level Sensor?

Yes you can absolutely drive your car with a bad gas gauge though it can be a bit like playing with chance if you are not diligent filling up your car regularly. Generally fixing your fuel level sensor is fast and inexpensive to repair, but if you're in a tight spot and can't repair this item really the worst that is going to happen is that you run out of gas. Which can of course lead to more problems.

How To Tell How Much Gas You Have With A Bad Fuel Sensor

If you have a broken gas gauge, a common problem many people face is anxiety and worry of being stranded on the side of the road with an empty fuel tank. If your fuel sensor is no longer operating properly and you don't currently have the time or money to fix it there are ways to estimate how much fuel you have.

Owners Manual

You can find the size of your gas tank located in your owner's manual. Typically the average car has a range of 300- 400 miles and the fuel tank will hold between 12 and 20 gallons of fuel.

By estimating your vehicle's fuel efficiency you can determine at approximately what odometer reading you will next need to fill up. Be on the conservative side of this range and I don't recommend letting it get to the almost empty mark or you could find yourself stuck on the side of the road waiting potentially a couple hours for roadside assistance or walking down the highway to the nearest gas station to buy a portable gas tank.

How Much Does It Cost To Fix A Fuel Gauge?

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