Low fuel reading – TSB 16712

[Ozz]

So I have the issue where the fuel gage reads empty long before the tank is empty. My car is out of warranty. If I were to take it in for this, would I be paying for the repair?

Does anyone know how much the sending unit costs? How hard is it to do the job myself? Does anyone have instructions that they could post (or paraphrase) here?

Thanks.

[Shora]

So I have the issue where the fuel gage reads empty long before the tank is empty. My car is out of warranty. If I were to take it in for this, would I be paying for the repair?

Does anyone know how much the sending unit costs? How hard is it to do the job myself? Does anyone have instructions that they could post (or paraphrase) here?

Thanks.Sorry to tell you this but some dealerships are going to give you a hard time fixing this problem EVEN WITH a warranty. (Sorry that is just me being mad at my dealership.) Maybe you will have better luck.

[03whitemach]

There was a TSB for an updated sending unit. But, TSB's are only covered under factory warranty. Sorry, man. Maybe they could cover it under warranty if your not to far out on miles and time. Sometimes they can get stuff covered if they actually try.

[67435animal]

So I have the issue where the fuel gage reads empty long before the tank is empty. My car is out of warranty. If I were to take it in for this, would I be paying for the repair?

Does anyone know how much the sending unit costs? How hard is it to do the job myself? Does anyone have instructions that they could post (or paraphrase) here?

Thanks.

I went in for this and the dealer replaced it. It was accurate for about a month and then behaved like the old one. I decided to hell with it. I am leaving it alone.

[STLThunder]

It seems I've never owned a car that has had an accurate fuel guage. Most have always showed empty long before tank really is. At least that's better than the other way around. In high school I had a 1960 VW w/no fuel guage, just had to calculate how many miles I could drive on a tank (no tripometer either). Gas was $.35/gal or less back then.

[carfixer]

The fuel guage issue is not a TSB, it is a SSM (special service message). I've fixed many cars with this new sender. Here is a copy and paste of the article:

16985. 2003 CROWN VICTORIA/GRAND MARQUIS/MARAUDER/TOWN CAR - FUEL GAUGE DROPS OFF FULL QUICKLY/READS LOW.
SOME 2003 CROWN VICTORIA/GRAND MARQUIS/MARAUDER/TOWN CAR VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A FUEL GAUGE THAT COMES OFF FULL TOO QUICKLY OR READS LOWER THAN THE ACTUAL FUEL LEVEL IN THE TANK (ELECTRONIC OR ANALOG CLUSTER). TO SERVICE, INSTALL REVISED FUEL SENDING UNIT 2W1Z-9275-AB.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/23/2003

Bring this to the dealer and tell them you want this repair done. While you are there, ask for some "after warranty assistance". If you are the original owner and do have your services done there, they might help you. It is stricktly up to them.

[Petrograde]

Thanks 'Fixer,.. I really need to get off my lazy a$$ and get this fixed before I hit 36K.

[RoyLPita]

I've done mine and it works great.

[merc6]

Sweet Jebus I thought I was going crazy when the fuel low light came on and I was only able to get 12 gallons in a "empty" 19 gallon tank.

[RoyLPita]

I went in for this and the dealer replaced it. It was accurate for about a month and then behaved like the old one. I decided to hell with it. I am leaving it alone.

If this was done in less than one year and 12000 miles ago, It can be done again at no charge to you.

[merc6]

Sorry to tell you this but some dealerships are going to give you a hard time fixing this problem EVEN WITH a warranty. (Sorry that is just me being mad at my dealership.) Maybe you will have better luck.I just got told a few minutes ago that I could run cleaners and 93 to clear the issue up. My reply was last 4 tanks was techron additive and I only fill up with 93 from cheveron. They then said ok and I'm hoping they do fix it.

[merc6]

scratch that! 2 hrs later they said run additives to clean it!

@31,870 THEY WANT ME TO DRIVE OUT OF WARENTY!
:mad: :fire: :mad2: :censor: :bs:

[RoyLPita]

I just got told a few minutes ago that I could run cleaners and 93 to clear the issue up. My reply was last 4 tanks was techron additive and I only fill up with 93 from cheveron. They then said ok and I'm hoping they do fix it.

Whoever said this is full of S---. Also if a dealer won't do this repair, take it to another one.

[python357]

Is this an 03 300a issue only, or does it go beyond that?

[RoyLPita]

Is this an 03 300a issue only, or does it go beyond that?

Mine needed it done and it is a 300B.

[merc6]

car is being shipped to Va from TX. If not by then I'mm gonna call alot of people up. The extended warenty requires me to pay a small deductible to fix it(Carmax). Red McCombs Ford off I-10 near calaghan

[Marauderjack]

Mine in my 04 reads OK......50-75 miles to come off of "Full"....10 gallons to fill when at 1/2 and 17 gallons to fill it when the fuel light comes on!!

I remember when Shell was selling gas with a bunch of sulfur in it and it corroded the sender causing the gauge to read crazy......I think Shell replaced a bunch of Ford senders.....Was it in Florida??

Marauderjack

[merc6]

buddy had his 40th aniversary running on 6 cylinders when he filled up at shell in TX. I stay away from them and their Vpower depositives.

[Vortech347]

Wow. I just did a search cause I was baffled that my gauge drops to 1/2 a tank super fast then stays there forever. I e-mailed that TSB # to my friend at ford. Hopefully I can get it done before my warranty wheres out. So basicly I can drive this baby till it hits E and not worry huh?

[RR|Suki]

Mine in my 04 reads OK......50-75 miles to come off of "Full"....10 gallons to fill when at 1/2 and 17 gallons to fill it when the fuel light comes on!!

I remember when Shell was selling gas with a bunch of sulfur in it and it corroded the sender causing the gauge to read crazy......I think Shell replaced a bunch of Ford senders.....Was it in Florida??

Marauderjack

I do about the same, usually 16 gallons to fill once the light comes on

[RF Overlord]

17 gallons to fill it when the fuel light comes on!!
usually 16 gallons to fill once the light comes on'jack and Suki:

FYI, do a search for the post about not letting the tank get below 1/4, especially with a blower...something to do with the design of the baffles in the fuel tank; at less than 1/4 tank, and under hard acceleration, the fuel can flow away from the pickup, causing a major lean-out.

[SergntMac]

I don't think anything is broken, it's just the way it is. Fill up, gauge reads full. 35-40 miles later, it's down a quarter tank. Low fuel warning comes on, and I pump 16-17 gal. back to full. Doesn't seem to impact mileage, and I think it's been around a while. My '91 GM does the exact same thing, 'cept it's 50 miles to 1/4 tank, and a full up adds 15-16 gal.

[sweetair]

Mine is a 2003 300B. Not a prob yet. I'm going to have my bro-in-law take a look @ all the TSB's before my 3 yr is up, miles are not a problem. He is a shop foreman @ Ford. Good luck with the replacements.

[jgc61sr2002]

I agree with Mac. The low fuel light just lets you know that you will need fuel soon. IMO no two guages will read exactly alike.

[whoskal]

My grandad always said that the top half of the tank costs just as much as the bottom half does....... in other words just keep it full:D

[younga1]

OK, Fuel guage goes to the FULL peg and stays there. 116 on tank and it still reads full when the check engine light comes on. I drive it to the dealer who feeds me the "sulphur content in Texas fuel" line and that the "Ford TSB indicates I should run Techron for three tankfulls and both problems should resolve".

I turned 35K on the way to the dealer and felt they were just trying to jerk me to 36K and tell me I was SOL. Then the service adviser indicated that he felt this was :bs: and that he had a sending unit on order overnight and would have it replaced and me back on the road tomorrow.

Does anyone know the real story on this issue:confused:

[Bowman9]

I don't think anything is broken, it's just the way it is. Fill up, gauge reads full. 35-40 miles later, it's down a quarter tank. Low fuel warning comes on, and I pump 16-17 gal. back to full. Doesn't seem to impact mileage, and I think it's been around a while. My '91 GM does the exact same thing, 'cept it's 50 miles to 1/4 tank, and a full up adds 15-16 gal.

I just noticed this problem after owning the car for three years.
Before my commute to work would be 6-7 miles round trip, but now I'm driving about 45 miles round trip.
I filled up the car to Full on sunday, drove to work and back on monday with a quick side trip to pickup my perscriptions, the trip odometer read about 50 miles and my gas gauge dropped to 3/4 of a tank.

I'm sure glad I found this post, because at 1/4 of a tank a day I would saving money by not working.