I filled my '04 Supercrew Lariat up with gas the other day and the fuel gauge didn't move over to full after I cranked the truck up. The info center also show the same miles left before empty that were there before I filled it up. I drove it a short distance, cut it off and restarted the needle went over to 1/2 full and stopped. Next start up it went up more and finally after about fourth restart it ended up at full. What is going on?
I really don't want to take it in for fear I will have the same problem I did with my wife's '03 Expedition. We took it in the dealership to have the backup sensors fixed. Before we dropped it off it still had that nice new leathery smell. A week later I got it back and it smelled like a totally different vehicle. I know that sounds funny but it smelled different inside. I do not want this to happen to my pride and joy truck if they have to go into the dash to do repairs. I would absolutely die if I got it back and it smelled stuffy inside.

 

Was the key on when you filled it up?If not it could be a sticking sending unit in the tank,which is mounted on the pump.

 

If it eases your mind any I had a 2001 SD do this to me. I dunno why it happened or even how. The truck was ~5 months old, I filled up with gas, the fuel hand didn't move but after about a day's worth of shutting it off and cranking back up it fixed its self and has been accurate ever since.

 

My 2000 Winstar did the same thing one time. That was about a year ago. It has not done it again. I have read other post about this with no real explaination. So no answer.

Mike

 

My truck did the same along with my wifes '02 Explorer. It happened to both during our sub zero cold snap, they both did it once and not since. Both vehicles spot on accurate before and after....I guess I would have a wait and see attitude before taking it in to the dealership as you could end up back and forth trying to diagnose it.

 

The key was not on when I filled it up and it has done this twice now. Funny thing is, one fillup in between the two times it did it the needle went over fine. Then the next time it did it again.

I noticed the "miles left til empty" in the info center reflected the amount of gas that was showing on the fuel gauge. As the amount increased so did the miles til empty reading each time I restarted. Does anyone know the mechanics of how the sending unit and the computer for the info center work together? When my needle goes over to full and my miles til empty reading doesn't show an increase or vice versa is when I'm really going to be worried.

I don't want to take it in to the dealership but I have noticed a shudder in the rearend when I put it in drive and turn the wheel to drive off. It only happens when the truck is cold. I have also noticed that if I come to a complete stop wait a few seconds and then take off it doesn't shudder. Does anyone know if the shudder will get worse or cause a major problem? I guess I should go ahead and get the updated clutch pack that has been discussed on other posts alot.

Thanks for all the feedback given so far!

 

My Screw did this exact same thing last November while I was on a trip to Dallas. I knew the tank was full, but the guage didn't budge immediately, and only over quite a long time of driving did it finally move above half. I don't know about the message center readout, didn't look there. After the next fillup, the guage acted normally and it hasn't done this since.

 

I get a similar delay in the outside temp gauge...on a sunny spring day in San Antonio it still read 49 degrees from the night before. The local bank sign said it was 65 degrees. After 30 minutes of driving it crept up and read properly.