Fuel Gauge Has Given Up - Need Advice.

mcwatson · September 24, 2005

A couple of days ago, got in the car to go to work, got about half a mile down the road and my fuel gauge light came on and the needle was resting at the bottom. I knew I had half a tank the night before so thought either gauge is broken, tank is leaking or someone has had the fuel out.

Went to garage and filled up and proved there was fuel in there. Re-started and all was okay, read full.

Yesterday, driving along and guage suddenly went to empty again and since then its stayed on empty with the light on regardless of engine restarts and anything else.

Any ideas what the problem could be and how it could be fixed. I'm thick with the workings of a car so need to talk dumb to me!!

Looking forward to anyone's advice!

MrADeveci · September 24, 2005

Fuel sensor in the fuel tank might have gone ? or be dirty even ......

mcwatson · September 24, 2005

Fuel sensor in the fuel tank might have gone ? or be dirty even ......

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Is that a dealer job to fix or could I do it? And is the sensor accessible or is it taking the tank out/replacing?

Rob · September 24, 2005

sounds like a dodgy connection TBH, but i have found if when u start the car if u just leave the key for a sec in the ON/RUN position before starting then this wont happen.

if the actual gauge is dodgy it means a new speedo along with a new mileage

crazylex · September 24, 2005

Don't know about Lexus, but old cars used to have a ball ***** type of idea, as level went up on and down so did the ball, can't remember how it measured the level at the electric end, I think it went up and down a metal strip like tin foil that wore out.

They called it a sender unit, very very easy to change if its like this.

Could be lose or corroded connection aswel.

mcwatson · November 7, 2005

Finally got chance to get under the car at the weekend (had a 60k service done but not by a dealer).

Tried the advice given and unclipped the sensor on the fuel tank and reconnected. Turned the ignition on and all looked well. And then during the next journey, it went again. And now I find it worse than ever ie. it fails more and more and for longer and longer.

Going to the dealers will be a last resort as I'm sure they will want lots of money.... maybe I can close my eyes (not when I'm driving obviously) and it will go away at some point.

But if anyone else has any good ideas, please post them!

Monster-Mat · November 7, 2005

if you can determin exactly what is at fault, i will have one here you can have :)

Edited November 7, 2005 by Monster-Mat

lexus boy · November 7, 2005

well if it is working on and off i would go with rob and say a dodgy connection

i dont know if anyone has got the wiring for the IS 200 as my books havent arrived yet. so you can trace any connections.

Penport · November 7, 2005

This happened to me a few weeks ago - only once though - after a very heavy storm the night before. I put it down to damp in the circuitry as the problem resolved itself once the car warmed up - hasn't happened since.