• | Perform the Diagnostic System Check - Vehicle prior to using this diagnostic procedure. |
• | Review Strategy Based Diagnosis for an overview of the diagnostic approach. |
• | Diagnostic Procedure Instructions provides an overview of each diagnostic category. |
Circuit | Short to Ground | High Resistance | Open | Short to Voltage | Signal Performance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fuel Level Sensor Signal | P0462 | 1 | P0463 P0464 | P0463 | P0461 |
Fuel Level Sensor Low Reference | -- | 1 | P0463 P0464 | P0463 | P0461 |
1. Fuel Gage Inaccurate or Inoperative |
The fuel level sender changes resistance based on the fuel level. The engine control module (ECM) monitors the signal circuit of the fuel level sender in order to determine fuel level. When the fuel tank is full, the sender resistance is low and the ECM senses a low signal voltage. When the fuel tank is empty, the sender resistance is high and the ECM senses a high signal voltage. The ECM uses the signal circuit of the fuel level sender in order to calculate the total remaining fuel percent in the tank. The ECM sends the fuel level message via the serial data circuit to the body control module (BCM). The BCM sends the fuel level percent to the instrument panel cluster (IPC) via the serial data circuit to display on the fuel gage.
The ignition is ON, with the engine ON.
• | The fuel level signal is less than 3.5 percent. |
• | The above condition is present for greater than 20 seconds. |
• | The fuel gage defaults to empty. |
• | The ECM records the operating conditions at the time the diagnostic fails. The ECM displays the failure information in the Failure Records on the scan tool. |
• | The DTC becomes history when the conditions for setting the DTC are no longer present. |
• | The history DTC clears after 40 malfunction-free warm-up cycles. |
Instrument Cluster Description and Operation
Control Module References for scan tool data
Ignition ON, observe the scan tool Fuel Tank Level Remaining parameter. The reading should be between 4-98 percent.
⇒ | If greater than the specified, test the low reference circuit for a short to voltage or an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal, replace the ECM. |
⇒ | If greater than the specified, test the signal circuit for a short to voltage or an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal, replace the ECM. |
⇒ | If less than 98 percent, test the signal circuit for a short to voltage or an open/high resistance. If the circuit tests normal, replace the ECM. |
⇒ | If not within the specified range, replace the primary fuel level sensor. |
⇒ | If not within the specified range, replace the secondary fuel level sensor. |
Perform the Diagnostic Repair Verification after completing the diagnostic procedure.
• | Control Module References for ECM replacement, setup, and programming |