Thread: Fuel gauge nightmare

Originally Posted by PK2000GT

Alright...after plugging computer into cpu, I found one code: p0463 and it happens to be my fuel pump sensor. So, in two weeks she is going under the knife.

Don't pay for a new sensor until whomever works on it has verified that the wiring between the sensor and the voltage supplied to the sensor is correct, and that the original sensor is in fact defective. A simple resistance check of the sensor with an ohmmeter will take only a minute after gaining access to it, you do not even have to remove it from the tank to check it. If possible, tell whoever is doing the work that you will authorize doing the work to actually remove and replace the sensor only after he has actually verified that the problem is not the external wiring to the PCM or that the sensor failed a resistance check with it installed in the tank. If they don't agree to this than go find someone else who knows how to properly troubleshoot electrical issues.

Originally Posted by AJ1G

Don't pay for a new sensor until whomever works on it has verified that the wiring between the sensor and the voltage supplied to the sensor is correct, and that the original sensor is in fact defective. A simple resistance check of the sensor with an ohmmeter will take only a minute after gaining access to it, you do not even have to remove it from the tank to check it. If possible, tell whoever is doing the work that you will authorize doing the work to actually remove and replace the sensor only after he has actually verified that the problem is not the external wiring to the PCM or that the sensor failed a resistance check with it installed in the tank. If they don't agree to this than go find someone else who knows how to properly troubleshoot electrical issues.

There is a very in depth discussion of this issue in the P0463 code up in the Check Engine Light Trouble Codes Sticky posting in the start of the General Tech Discussion threads listing. Everyone should read about what could cause a particular code in this reference material before doing anything else! P0463 Sensor level high could indeed be caused by a failed (open circuited) sensor, but it could also be due do to a broken wire or a dirty (high resistance) connection in the wiring connector at the sensor. Since you problem seems to come and go, the latter might be the case, but the sensors themselves can also go intermittent. By Sensor Level High they mean the voltage returned from the sensor that is measured at the CPM is higher than normal, this would be caused by not enough resistance from the sensor to pull the voltage down to the expected range. If there is about 5 volts between the two leads coming from the PCM to the sensor at the connector with the connector removed from the sensor itself with the ignition on, then wiring is likely OK.