Fuel gauge whackness

[mrjones]

So I was out driving my '01 SLE today with half a tank of gas, and I watched in horror as my fuel gauge did a nose dive into the nether-regions of way past empty in the space of about 5 miles. This is, of course, out in the middle of nowhere. I pulled over and killed the engine, started it back up thinking that would clear things up -- wrong. Still fluttering around empty. I finally pulled over again to turn around and head back to the last gas station I saw, and turned off the A/C to cut down my fuel consumption just in case. The second I killed the A/C, the needle went right back to just below half, and stayed normal all the way home.

WTF?

Anyone seen this before?

[SirMacDaddy]

That sounds some what familar to what happens to me. Whenever i fill up my tank, it takes about 3 to 5 minutes for the needle to go all the way up, and it never touches the full line. also, when im driving and say its on the 1/4 mark, it would go down below that line and then id look at it within 10 mins and it would be above the line. its kinda wierd that its happening to you...i also have an 01, maybe something with that year is messed up

[Fresco Bob]

most toyota gas gauges take a while to move to the full mark after a fill up, so thats normal.

it would also be a good idea to set your trip odometer after each fill up, that way, if something like that were to happen again you would know how far you could still travel on that tank of gas.

this might seem kind of obvious, but were you on a hill when this happened? the gauge can move quite a bit when traveling on a long hill

[that1mexguy]

I haven't experienced anything like that but the closest is similar to what Fresco just stated ... I have seen my gas needle go down if i am going uphill or when leaving my car parked uphill, but other than that nada.

[1st Gen Sol]

I haven't had a problem with my gauges.....but when you have the A/C on while your driving it does kill your gas.

I would take your Solara to the dealership and get the gauges looked at b/c that is not normal for the gauge to go down that drastically while you have your A/C on.

[trdkamuri51o]

if im reading right, you didnt pull out from just getting gas??? thats how i took it, you were leaving your house or something. if you were getting gas, you could have been angled that affects how the gauge reads. if not, go to the dealer as that could be a problem (as in run out of gas cuz it reads wrong)

[TRDmonkey]

My gauge goes up a down too.. its weird but its not alot tho. just like for example its above the line and then goes below it and later it goes back up. weird.

[DatSRBoi]

Its the electrical current problem..I think..Happened to my maxima..

[mrjones]

Thanks for all the replies. To clarify: I had only been running for about 5 minutes when this started, but I was on flat ground with almost exactly half a tank (there are no hills in the plains of South Texas where I currently live). The only gravitational forces that could have moved my gas gauge around would have been from me squealing my tires and flying up to 85, but I think I would have had this happen already if that were the problem

If it happens again I think I'm taking a picture and driving my ass to the dealership. If not... UFOs? I'm stumped.

[DatSRBoi]

Maybe you found area 51 hiding spot. Where in south texas are you from?