03 Tundra fuel gauge not working

Hello my name is Pablo and i just recently purchased an 03 Tundra with 213k miles. The fuel gauge doesnt work well and at times it says empty when I filled with gas. Could this be an issue with the gauge itself or something else?

Thanks

 

Hola and welcome, Pablo.

Hopefully your problem is as simple as this. https://www.tundras.com/threads/stuck-fuel-gauge.66843/

 

I have the same issue.
Banged on the dash didnt work

 

Try banging on the tank on your next fill up.

 

Do you know how to use a digital multimeter (DMM)?

It's typically one of two things. Either there's no change in electrical resistance/voltage from the tank float (i.e. it's stuck or malfunctioned) or the dash gauge isn't responding to the resistance.

I don't know the specific electrical output or impedance the fuel float should be sending out, but I'm guessing you can easily find out and test for it! If you see something with a DMM, then I'd lean towards the gauge cluster.

 

Like from under the truck? By hand?

 

Yes, if the problem is the float is hanging up, hitting the tank while filling might just dislodge it. It would probably work best with someone controlling the fuel nozzle while the other lays underneath hitting the tank in various places as it's filled. Sounds and may look silly but it just might work and won't cost you anything.

 

I tried no difference. I kicked it hard as i could with not much space to work with

 

As Shifty mentioned above, it's either going to be a faulty fuel gauge or a faulty sending unit. Unfortunately the sending unit/float is inside of the fuel tank, so the tank has to be removed in order to replace it. I'm not sure on the specifics of testing the fuel gauge on our Tundra's but I'd start there before dropping the tank.