Affected Component: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

Date Published
NOV 11, 2014
NHTSA TSB #
10098891
TSB Document
Summary
SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN THAT THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWS EMPTY AND/OR THE DISTANCE-TO-EMPTY ON THE MULTI-INFORMATION DISPLAY (MID) INDICATES “0” WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANK.THIS MAY BE A NORMAL OPERATION OF THE FAIL-SAFE FUNCTION:1.IF FOREIGN MATERIAL (CONTAINED IN A POOR-QUALITY FUEL) ADHERES TO THE FUEL GAUGE SENDER UNIT, THE FAIL-SAFE FUNC-TION INITIATES BY FORCING THE FUEL GAUGE AND THE DISTANCE-TO-EMPTY TO INDICATE “ZERO FUEL AMOUNT”.2.IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FOREIGN MATERIAL IS DISLODGED BY SHAKING OF THE FUEL DURING DRIVING OR REFUELING, THE FUEL GAUGE WILL RETURN TO A NORMAL READING, BUT THE DISTANCE-TO-EMPTY WILL CONTINUE TO READ “0” UNTIL THE NEXT REFUEL-ING OF 3 US GALLONS (10 LITERS) OR MORE.TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE FOLLOWING CHANGE HAS BEEN MADE:1.THERE IS NO MASS-PRODUCTION CHANGE TO PREVENT ADHESION OF FOREIGN MATERIAL TO THE FUEL GAUGE SENDER UNIT. SO THE FACT REMAINS UNCHANGED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE AND THE DISTANCE-TO-EMPTY INDICATE “ZERO FUEL AMOUNT” WHEN FOREIGN MATERIAL ADHERES TO THE FUEL GAUGE SENDER UNIT, AND THE FAIL-SAFE FUNCTION INITIATES.2.TO EQUALIZE THE RECOVERY TIMING FROM THE FAIL-SAFE MODE, THE LOGIC HAS BEEN CHANGED SO THAT THE DISTANCE-TO-EMPTY RECOVERS FROM “0” TO A NORMAL READING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FOREIGN MATERIAL IS DISLODGED (AT THE SAME TIME AS THE FUEL GAUGE).