Fuel sensor

KALLY MILLER

MEMBER
2007 CHRYSLER PACIFICA
4.0L
6 CYL
AWD
AUTOMATIC
191,000 MILES

The fuel indicator starts at full, when it gets below half but higher than a quarter it drops to empty. Was just dealing with it till the check engine light came on. The code said fuel sensor. Where is it? Is it an expensive fix? Also when I pump gas, I can do about three gallons then it shuts off every quarter of a gallon. Very irritating. What can I do about that?

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,869 POSTS

The fuel level sensor is attached to the fuel pump assembly in the gas tank. What you described was a fairly common problem in the mid 1990's, and the same observations of half and quarter tank were also common. The "proper" repair is to replace the sending unit, but there is a very good chance you will have the same problem in a few years. Instead, a better fix is to pop the float arm off and bend the moving contact slightly to put more pressure on it. That will stop it from having that intermittent connection. No cost for parts, but it still takes about an hour to drain and remove the tank.

The filling problem is caused by the over-fill valve at the bottom of the filler tube. It is blocking fuel flow and must be replaced or repaired.