I noticed it was broken shortly after a long day of auto-x testing. I guess with a low fuel load that the arm is more free and could bend itself with its own weight given enough lateral loading.

You must of been pullin some serious lateral G's. LoL


Wonder what metal its made of, and if they should go with something a tad bit heavier to maintain strength?

FWIW, my gauge has slowly started working fine again. It was perfect until I used a bottle of Techron. Then suddenly on the next fillup, I had the last two lights out (closest to 'full'). With about 4-5 more tanks, first the second to last light came back on, and now they all light up again after a refill. I'm suspicious that the Techron applies a coating to the sensor that F's things up until it dissolves/wears off.

Interesting...I haven't filled up since I did the Techron thing, but I will definitely be thinking of this when I do. Thanx for the heads up! :tup:

I have been using Techron for years, but I usually wait until a long road trip when the car has a chance to run through the fuel treatment under full operating tempatures. I keep a few bottles in the garage and put one in before a trip.

I've always had issues with the last dot not lighting up but now I filled up and it's showing one for less than 3/4 of a tank :(

It's the fuel level sensor. I had the same problem with my X-Terra.

I know this thread is really old but I'm hoping to get some help with this issue. My '09 base 6MT has recently developed an issue like this where it will say that I've got about a 1/2 a tank but I will be out of gas on the side of the road. It's happened twice: first due to the problem just popping up out of nowhere and second due to not resetting my odometer/mileage counter after filling up. I'm thinking like everybody else said that the sending unit or the sensor to read the fuel tank is bad/broken. Any tips/suggestions so I don't have to pay the dealership +$500?

'10 AT here ran out of gas at 1/4 tank (dots) and 100 miles to empty went to 0 in 2 miles. Everything was squeaky clean when I replaced the fuel pump as a result. I now fuel up at 1 dot prior to 1/4 and definitely before 100 miles to empty and it usually takes 2-3 gallons.