Vdub328

OK on my 2k3 when I fill it up the needle goes to the top and dte is >350 miles. The dte and needle drop normally until 1/4 tank or 125 miles. Then it remains stationery until yesterday day when I sputtered into gas station with 1/4 tank and 127 miles left! (I know this topic is old,beat to death, however no definitive answer was ever reached or confirmed in old threads so....)
On my particular car, this seems to be more of intermittent issue as occasionally, it'll read under 100 miles or less than 1/4 tank and will drop accordingly only to mysteriously rise back up again for no reason. I have looked this issue up on these forums and have come up with either the sending unit is bad, the cluster is bad, or there is a short somewhere. I'm leaning towards the short since OCCASIONALLY (more often not than it does) it reads the correct amount of fuel. I know I could fill the tank whenever it gets below half, I do.
One more thing, my trip button on steering didn't work when I bought car as there is an aftermarket stereo. I grounded the brown wire from the unplugged harness behind it and that made it work again. I'm convinced that there is a wiring short or connector unplugged somewhere. This issue is driving me nuts!!! I also did the instrument cluster malfunction per the service manual by holding trip meter button down while turning key to on position wait one second and then push it 3 times. This procedure DOES indicate malfunction as the needles on the gauges don't set in the middle and the dte light blinks. What it tells you next to do in the service manual is not clear and I'd like to determine this myself rather than fund my local dealer.
Please help? Any suggestions ideas!?!? Thank you for the input.

losifanatic

I just replaced the sending unit with no avail. My needle is was off most of the time. Subscribing to hopefully get an answer

nestorlugo

iTrader: (11)

Since Los changed the unit you should change the cluster if is still bad than the short is the answer

Max139617

iTrader: (9)

Had a similar issue, you need to replace the cluster

Vdub328

I've read numerous posts in this forum of people replacing the sending unit to no avail. Based on the malfunction diagnosis test (hold trip meter button down while turning key to on position, release for one second then tap three times) it would appear that there is a short or the cluster is bad. My next question, to anyone would be, how to determine what would need to be changed? Clusters are $600 new.....thanks!

QueensMAX

It is the cluster..We have changed soo many 2002-2003 clusters due to bad fuel gagues. You have two options, to buy a used cluster or you can send the cluster out to be repaired..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2002-2003-02...tWnHOj&vxp=mtr

nestorlugo

iTrader: (11)

A used cluster is your best option, who cares about the difference in miles if you don't plan on selling!

losifanatic

Just tested my gauge. Yup fuel gauge is off. Reading really low when testing. Guess I will be sending it off for repair.

Cotozic

This just came to mind... But it could be worth trying an obd2 connector and your phone with an obd2 app to read your gas gauge which will also tell you if the sending unit is working right, if at all.