Jump to content


Recommended Posts

Posted

First time Toyota owner, I've just bought an 02 Avalon Grande (and loving it!). So far I've only found one fairly minor fault with it. The fuel gauge reads fine till it gets down to about a quarter, after which it does a nose dive. The distance to empty can drop from about 140 or so down to 20 or less, rapidly followed by the low fuel light coming on. I figure this is due to a problem with the fuel sender unit.

I've been able to grab some electronic copies of US workshop manuals for the Avalon and Camry but none show the fuel tank or sender. How big a job is it one these cars? Do I need to drop the tank or is it accessible from the boot? I haven't had an opportunity to look at it yet, so any pointers will be appreciated.

In the event that I cannot repair the unit myself, how much should I expect a replacement to cost? So far I've had wreckers quote anything from $110 to $165, which to me seems an absurdly high price for just a sender.

Posted

First time Toyota owner, I've just bought an 02 Avalon Grande (and loving it!). So far I've only found one fairly minor fault with it. The fuel gauge reads fine till it gets down to about a quarter, after which it does a nose dive. The distance to empty can drop from about 140 or so down to 20 or less, rapidly followed by the low fuel light coming on. I figure this is due to a problem with the fuel sender unit.

I've been able to grab some electronic copies of US workshop manuals for the Avalon and Camry but none show the fuel tank or sender. How big a job is it one these cars? Do I need to drop the tank or is it accessible from the boot? I haven't had an opportunity to look at it yet, so any pointers will be appreciated.

In the event that I cannot repair the unit myself, how much should I expect a replacement to cost? So far I've had wreckers quote anything from $110 to $165, which to me seems an absurdly high price for just a sender.

Sorry to bear the bad news, but that's how they are designed.

Full means you have enough fuel and empty means you've driven too far without stopping for a drink. Everything between is just an image and is not a linear correlation of litres of fuel remaining.

I took a photo of my Aurion when it was new, showing 438.6 km travelled and 290 km cruising range ... Yet the gauge was at the half way mark. My economy was 7.82 by the end of the trip, so a range of 895 km from 70 litres. From there it starts to drop quicker and quicker, and the cruising range leaves lots in hand (166 km in my case).

Any repair or replacement will not help, unless you get really serious and design your own sensor. They are not designed to be serviceable.

Posted

Sorry to bear the bad news, but that's how they are designed.

Hi 450HP/tonne.

Thanks for the reply but it appears I may not have been completely clear about the problem. When I say the gauge does a nose dive I mean it drops almost instantly when it gets to a certain point. It's not the normal non-linear drop that is the result of the tank shape and other factors. I'll be getting LPG fitted in about a week and a half, after which I will be able to attack this little problem properly.

Posted

Sorry to bear the bad news, but that's how they are designed.

Hi 450HP/tonne.

Thanks for the reply but it appears I may not have been completely clear about the problem. When I say the gauge does a nose dive I mean it drops almost instantly when it gets to a certain point. It's not the normal non-linear drop that is the result of the tank shape and other factors. I'll be getting LPG fitted in about a week and a half, after which I will be able to attack this little problem properly.

Now I see why you asked ...

In the Aurion, the sender unit is part of the fuel pump assembly. It involves removing the rear seat cushion, some sheet held on by butyl and then some screws. The Aurion contacts are exposed and could be cleaned or you cold perform a test on it (just be sure to have the pump isolated if you switch the ignition on!). Other than that, the sender is not serviceable (again, for Aurion).

Check the manual you have and follow the fuel pump removal procedure would be my advice. Find out what's causing it and clean or replace as required.

If the sender is part of the pump assembly, this may explain the cost ...


Posted

Sorry to bear the bad news, but that's how they are designed.

Hi 450HP/tonne.

Thanks for the reply but it appears I may not have been completely clear about the problem. When I say the gauge does a nose dive I mean it drops almost instantly when it gets to a certain point. It's not the normal non-linear drop that is the result of the tank shape and other factors. I'll be getting LPG fitted in about a week and a half, after which I will be able to attack this little problem properly.

Now I see why you asked ...

In the Aurion, the sender unit is part of the fuel pump assembly. It involves removing the rear seat cushion, some sheet held on by butyl and then some screws. The Aurion contacts are exposed and could be cleaned or you cold perform a test on it (just be sure to have the pump isolated if you switch the ignition on!). Other than that, the sender is not serviceable (again, for Aurion).

Check the manual you have and follow the fuel pump removal procedure would be my advice. Find out what's causing it and clean or replace as required.

If the sender is part of the pump assembly, this may explain the cost ...

Thanks for the info. I would have been wasting my time trying to get at it through the boot. :) At least I won't have to drop the tank.

If the innards of the sender still use the same "technology" as every other car I've ever had it might be a simple matter of re-spacing the wires that the wiper sweeps (much like the wires in a toaster element). Of course my luck tends not to work that way.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



  • Join The Club

    Join the Toyota Owners Club and be part of the Community. It's FREE!

  • Latest Postings

    1. 1

      Touchscreen unit for 2012 Aurion Sportivo zr6 cost

    2. 1

      Touchscreen unit for 2012 Aurion Sportivo zr6 cost

    3. 7

      Concerns about Fuel Consumption in Kluger Hybrid

    4. 0

      New owner 2024 Prado questions

    5. 0

      Selling my 1972 Landcruiser FJ Pickup

    6. 0

      How to permanently turn-off lane assist

    7. 1

      Air conditioner not switching on when vehicle is started

    8. 0

      Hiace 300 series 2019 V6 petrol- Spark Plug Replacement

×
×
  • Create New...

Forums


News


Membership