98 Tacoma....whacky fuel guage

External Since: Oct 25, 2006 Posts: 9

Just how does a fuel guage work? Mine always reads empty when I get close to
200 miles on a full tank. Sometimes it will not register againg for up to 80
miles or so, sometimes after only a few.I have been using my trip meter B
for a long time to know when to refuel.
Also, the temp dial on the heater runs either full on or luke warm, not in
the usual increments. It seems to reach a slightly "stuck" spot, after
turning further, it goes hot again....ideas? Both problems are easy to live
with, but would be nice to fix them.........Thank you

External Since: Jan 03, 2005 Posts: 235

The fuel gauge is a bobber connected to a resistor strip. As the fuel level
goes down, it moves an arm across this strip, in turn registering a
different level on the gauge. After a while you can get a dead spot in
that strip, so when it moves across that specific part the gauge dies.
Replacement of the sending unit in the tank is the fix.
For the heater, you might want to look at the end of the heater cable.
If you can find it, disconnect it from the blend door and move the lever.
Then you can see if it is the cable that is binding or maybe the gears on
the door.