Fluctuating fuel gauge

MAINTTECH0625

MEMBER
2006 NISSAN ALTIMA
3.2L
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
170,000 MILES

The fuel gauge on my car is fluctuating. I've installed a new fuel pump (original cause of the breakdown), but since then the fuel hand just moves around intermittently. Any help to point me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

Thursday, October 22nd, 2020 AT 9:01 AM

3 Replies

BMDOUBLE

MECHANIC
1,139 POSTS

If the new fuel pump assembly came with a new sending unit on it, I would try to re-use the original sending unit, otherwise the issue is with that new sending unit if this issue was not there before it was replaced.

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Thursday, October 22nd, 2020 AT 9:07 AM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
54,144 POSTS

Here are the instructions on how to change out the fuel level sender. Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

Images (Click to make bigger)

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Thursday, October 22nd, 2020 AT 12:29 PM

I-SMOGEM

MECHANIC
118 POSTS

And a bit more on the sending unit. 'if' it wasn't installed in the proper position on reassembly, that could also cause an issue because of sloshing fuel constantly moving the float and thus sending strange signals to the gauge. I've done that on my own vehicle. And it drove me nuts till I dropped the tank again and put it in the proper position. Also, could be bad resistance wire on new sending unit. When it crosses bad spot, sends strange signals too. Hope this helped. Dave

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Thursday, October 22nd, 2020 AT 1:00 PM