[beachfront]

I have had a headlight die and now my gas guage is acting up...

When I fill up, the gauge will randomly drop from F to E, the range/miles left number on the dash info box will also do the same ... then they go back up like nothing is wrong..

I have read in the other forums that ethanol can cause a buildup on the fuel sensor and they all recommeneded a fuel cleaner be added to a tank of gas ..

any suggestions on a good cleaner??? or do I just hit autozone, ask for a cleaner and dump it in the tank?

Thanks again..

 

[gooseyloosey]

Oh boy beachfront, you've had a busy couple of days. Since things always happen in groups of 3, look on the bright side... you're more than halfway through.

I'd avoid putting anything in the tank, and I doubt ethanol is the culprit as it tends to dissolve things that gasoline can't very well.

One guess, it could be something going on with the sender especially if its reverting to normal after wigging out. I don't know how easy it is to access the sender in the Sport. Some cars allow access to it and the connector from the interior via a hatch (good) others require you to drop the tank (bad). If this keeps acting up, try to find the plug that connects the sending unit at the tank. Take it apart, clean the electrical contacts with electronic cleaner and see if that solves the problem before trying anything more drastic.

Fyi, if there is access from the inside, sender replacement is usually very easy---not as easy as replacing a bulb but a DIY. Just don't smoke when you do it. :thumb:

 

[umbertob]

There are two fuel level sensors in our fuel tanks (one in front, one in the back), so determining which one is shorting out may be tricky without a diagnostics tool that should record the corresponding trouble code. They do not sound like the easiest components to get to, scroll down to pages 5-7:

 

[gooseyloosey]

... and we have a drop job :doh:

Thanks Umberto, interesting read!