Fuel gauge problems

Tiny
PEAKKR
  • MEMBER
  • 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 115,000 MILES
The fuel gauge will only go to half full, even with the tank full. How to correct this?
Sunday, March 29th, 2015 AT 10:46 AM

17 Replies

Tiny
ED-WEEZY21
  • MECHANIC
  • 248 POSTS
I am a certified Hyundai technician and we see that problem all the time. Typically the fuel gauge problem is along side a check engine light but not always. This is a common problem for the fuel senders to go bad on these. These gas tanks have one fuel sender on the fuel pump under the driver rear seat and it has a fuel sender on a sending unit under the passenger rear seat.

Replace both along with new locking rings and gaskets and be sure to install the fuel senders exactly how they came off. Disconnect the battery whenever working with fuel. Here is a guide and diagrams (below) to help you see what you are in for when doing the job. Also in rare cases I have seen the gauge itself go bad. Your car has a trap door so you don't need to remove the fuel tank.

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.
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Saturday, April 4th, 2015 AT 6:15 AM
Tiny
LISA HARRISON
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
  • 6 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 92,000 MILES
Six cylinder all wheel drive automatic 92,000 miles.

Sometimes when the car is idling, the fuel gauge will all of the sudden drop down to empty and the fuel light will come on. It happens when I have on the air conditioner. When I turn off the air and start to drive and it will eventually go back to normal. This has happened three times in the past week.
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Thursday, May 4th, 2017 AT 9:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi Lisa,

I would suspect a bad ground. Check those behind the headlight tightened onto the inside of the fender.
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Thursday, May 4th, 2017 AT 9:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MORASSVINE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
  • 79,000 MILES
My fuel gauge started to show empty when I just topped it off. Now it is all over the place. I might show full when I just filled it but when I turn it off and get back in to restart it it shows empty or maybe half full. You never know what it is going to read. Any ideas?
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Thursday, May 4th, 2017 AT 9:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Check the fuel sending unit in fuel tank, It most probably has poor contacts.

It is internal of fuel tank.
If you remove the second row of seat and lift the carpet, you would be able to access the service hole.
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Thursday, May 4th, 2017 AT 9:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MORASSVINE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks, I have removed the seat and found the access hole, but how do you remove the black metal plate to get at the sending unit?
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Thursday, May 4th, 2017 AT 9:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
You need a special tool to turn it like a bottle cap to loosen and remove, after disconnecting the hoses and wire connector. Remember to release the fuel pressure first. Unplug the fuel pump relay and crank engine until it fails to start.
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Thursday, May 4th, 2017 AT 9:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ROY KNIGHTON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
  • 69,000 MILES
I had an issue with check with the check engine light and wrong fuel readings. Had the code checked and stated issue with fuel sensor. I replaced both sides and seemed all good, no more check engine. (Although that was sporadic, so not sure that is gone). Went to fill up car and the needle gauge will only got to three quarters full. Any thoughts on next steps? I used OEM parts.
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Monday, April 1st, 2019 AT 8:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
The gauge sender may have been messed up or float is messed up due to replacement of sensor. See pictures on how to check sender. See pictures on how to check it you need an ohm meter.
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Monday, April 1st, 2019 AT 8:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ROY KNIGHTON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I found the problem. One the passager side, the float was hung up on the fuel line and would not raise to the full position. After assuring the float had unrestricted access, I put the thing back together again and the full gauge shot to full and the electronic range recalulated based on a full tank of gas.
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Monday, April 1st, 2019 AT 8:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Great news.
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Monday, April 1st, 2019 AT 8:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JOE P GILDAY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2007 HYUNDAI SANTA FE
  • 3.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 94,000 MILES
I changed my fuel level b sensor and my gauge is showing empty and fuel light on no codes or check engine light on. When I started it my gauge was reading half and I had a check engine on.
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Monday, April 1st, 2019 AT 8:02 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If you have an auto parts scanner it will not read codes for fuel modules. Only a professional model can do that. Replacing the sensor may not have been the problem only for engine light. It can be a fuel level sender for the gauge or a shorted wire or even a bad dash so everything has to be checked to see what the problem is. It may be not getting voltage or sender is bad. Ground wire to sender see if gauge goes up to full if it does the gauge is good. If nothing happens when doing this then it may be a bad gauge or wiring issue.
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Monday, April 1st, 2019 AT 8:03 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ZCASTOR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I replaced both my fuel sending units and it would read a quarter full after replacing and now it doesn't work at all. Code p2068 comes up also.
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-1
Saturday, December 12th, 2020 AT 5:59 PM
Tiny
KIPROTICH LAGAT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I had my Fuel gauge reading empty on my Hyundai Santa Fe 2015 2.4L. Replaced the level sensor, and it started showing the fuel level and decreasing as I used it. On adding the fuel, the gauge doesn't change but still shows the fuel dropping level as I drive. It's almost like I have not added fuel at all. Any ideas or advice?
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Tuesday, December 20th, 2022 AT 12:15 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
Hi,

I have to ask a favor. I need you to start a new thread specific to your vehicle. We try to keep the threads specific to the year, make, model, and question type so it is more helpful to others. Your vehicle being a 2015 and the original post was for a 2009 will likely confuse people.

Simply copy and paste your post on a new thread.

Here is the link:

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/new

I hope you understand.

Take care,

Joe
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Friday, December 23rd, 2022 AT 12:32 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
The circuit is pretty straightforward, the fuel level sensor goes directly to the instrument cluster so since you already did the sensor, I would replace the cluster. Here is the fuel level sensor wiring diagram so you can see how the system works and I have included how to change the cluster out as well, check Google for a rebuilt cluster. Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.
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Friday, December 23rd, 2022 AT 12:33 PM

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