Ran out of Gas

I just ran out of gas but my gauge showed that I had at least an eighth of a tank left, well above the empty mark. The low fuel light never came on. I put a half-gallon of gas that I had in the bed of the truck and it started right up. Why doesn't the light work and do you think this is a gas sending issue?

 

I have random readings like that on my 18. Sometimes it runs dry at just under a quarter tank, other times it will go way below E and still get me home. I think its a voltage issue in the sending unit

 

I haven't had the tank open on my truck yet, but many vehicles use a simple float system (foam float on an arm or post, typically) to track the level of gas.

When your tank isn't reading correctly, one of three things is usually true:

- The float is stuck, and percussive slapping of the tank may free it up, same with a fill-up of the tank
- The sending unit that the float interacts with is bad and needs to be replaced (sometimes it's integrated w/fuel pump, so full pump replace req'd)
- The dash gauge or ECU isn't properly reporting or interpreting (respectively) the resistance on the float's sensor itself

The obvious solution here is a full tank of gas to see if the needle goes higher or not, then note your mileage, and watch to see if you hit half a tank within 125-150 miles.

If you have a scan tool that can read the resistance sensed by the tank fill sensor, that can speak volumes also.

Not sure if this helps?

 

Possibly burned out ?
Have you changed the bulbs to LED or are they still incadescent ?

 

Lol a full tank of gas is the most expensive option lol

 

I don't consider it an expensive option. If you drive your vehicle, you had to put gas in it anyway, so it's not costing much of any added money by the mile when fuel prices are stable for more than a few days.

 

Just had this happen on my 2008. Ran out with 1/4 still showing on the gauge and no low fuel light. Wife drives this truck now, so when I borrowed to visit my dad, truck shut down a block from his house. As a long shot, I called my dad had him bring down about 3/4 of gallon that he had at the time. Truck started right up and off to the gas station I went. Put 25.1 gallons in the tank. Got home and told the wife we have a bad sending unit and that she needs to re-set trip A on every fill up and that she better be looking for fuel when she gets close to 300 miles.

Not sure how long it's been non-functioning as I would always fill up at or above 1/4 tank when I was driving. My wife, on the other hand, ALWAYS waits for the light.

 

Had the same thing happen on my 08'. My wife was driving thru morning traffic in Austin (I-35) when truck died. She was able to pull off to slight shoulder on left side of interstate before an emergency vehicle pulled up and offered a few gallons of gas. I don't believe the low fuel light was even on, had 1/4 tank when she left house. Anyway, we're really lucky that she didn't get in an accident, had our 8yr old (at the time) in the back seat. I took truck to my local mechanic, and he confirmed that there was a bad sending unit in fuel pump. Had it replaced and never happened again, although we did try to keep tank at 1/4 and above since then. Traded the 08' for my 16', which happened to have another bad fuel pump on. Used TSB-0166-19 for the 16'.

 

I believe OP has an 05 with the newer cluster so there's no incandescent to burn out.

 

Yeah, really. It would be cheaper to have a shop replace the fuel assembly than fill the tank.

 

Good to know....suppose it then could be LED burned out and if not, the troubleshooting gets a little more intense.

 

should probably just trade it in for a KTM

 

I agree, this is mine

 

I'm paranoid and don't trust fuel gauges. When the gauge gets to half, I fill it up. On a 22 yr old truck, I can't chance the float and sender are working correctly. Hope you solve your problem.

 

OP hasn't been back since posting. We can only assume that he/she is currently stranded without fuel somewhere and will perish. Let this be a lesson to fill your tanks at the halfway mark, or reset your odometer and fill up every couple hundred miles.

 

That's what I used to do with my old '89 Ford Ranger. The gauge would read full until it was dry. Fill, set trip odo, no problem. I live in a very rural county. I'm not going to get stranded for a few gallons of fuel.

 

I know, definitely the kinda bike a db such as you would ride

 

You tryin to get my digits or what?
It’s working lol

 

Gotta ask, who is Dr. Kurtis and why do you dislike them? Don't break forum rules on politics or something though. If it's like that, just PM me.

 

I tried looking up drkurtis, too. Lol

 

Lol, he’s my buddy. We had these made for his graduation. He hates being called doctor.

 

That's awesome!

 

sigh, a guy can hope