The amount of gas in a car plays a huge role in its level of functionality. The only way that you will be able to keep the fuel gauge in your car accurate is by having a fully functional fuel gauge sender. This sender is mounted in the fuel tank of a car and sends the readings that it gets regarding the fuel level to the gauge on the instrument cluster of a car. Every time that you use your vehicle, this sending unit will work to ensure that the readings you get regarding your fuel level are accurate.
The fuel gauge sender is supposed to last for the lifespan of the vehicle, but in some cases this is not what happens. Some of the older vehicles out there have a standalone sender, while others have it built into their fuel pump assembly. Having a bad sender will lead to you running out of gas and being stranded due to the inaccurate readings you get. The senders have a float that is attached to them that go down in the fuel in the tank. Over time, the float and the fuel gauge sender will become worn and may start to give inaccurate readings.
In order to have this type of sender replaced, the gas tank will have to be removed. Due to the amount of complexity that is involved in this type of work, it will be best to let a professional to handle it. In most cases, the warning signs that your fuel gauge sender is going out will be quite noticeable. Failing to notice and act on the signs that are given can produce a variety of negative consequences.
When the fuel gauge sender is bad, here are some of the things that you will notice.
- The fuel gauge will only read empty even when the tank is full
- The gauge will only read full regardless of the amount of fuel in the tank
- The instrument cluster gas gauge will only work on occasion
Having the fuel gauge sender replaced by a professional mechanic is the only way to ensure that the job is done the right way.
