Fuel Sender Fix?

Hello everyone, I currently own a 2012 4runner with a little over 250,000 miles, and it still runs like new. Last year in February I had about a little over a quarter tank of gas left on my gauge, I was driving up a hill and my car started to sputter out, luckily I was able to pull over safely. I got my OBD2 reader out and nothing popped up, I then called the dealership I bought the truck at, got it towed there, and they ended up just putting a gallon of gas in, and it started right up. They said the fuel sender was reading wrong, but it would cost $1000 to fix since they would have to drop the tank, which makes sense for dealer service. My friend who builds baja trucks said he could do it for me for very cheap. I am wondering if it is just a recalibration that is needed, and how I could do that myself, or should I just let him drop the tank and replace the fuel sender all together.

It is weird though, because on my fill up before, the gauge dropped all the way to the bottom when it was empty, but since then, it kind of fluctuates, sometimes it will empty out at a quartertank, but in some cases it will amost reach the empty icon.

I would appreciate any words of wisdom. YEW

 

Sounds like the same deal that happens on the 3rd gens when the in-tank sending unit fails. It's a simple arm with a float that sweeps a series of contacts depending on fuel level and after 200k miles, the contacts are simply worn out. The part is $100 but dropping the tank is a pain. A lot of people cut a hole in the floor to access it and make it a 1 hour job instead of a 4 hour job. Doesn't really hurt anything to do the floor cut...why TOYOTA didn't do it is beyond me. Best part is, future fixes are easy peasy.

 

10+ years old 250k.

I'd just watch the odometer instead of going through the pain of changing it.

 

Since the vehicle is in great shape and everything else is great I would have your buddy do it the right way and forget about it for the rest of the vehicles life. It’s not hard at all but is a little time consuming.

 

My 2011 with similar miles had a bad sending unit. Same issue-1/4 tank and died on freeway. Gallon of gas and fired right up. I ordered a OEM part from here-https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/oem/toyota~tube~assy~fuel~suct~77020-35150.html and had a mechanic guy help me. Pain in the butt without a lift. Hardest part is not lowering tank-it's releasing the fuel and vent lines on top of the tank. They clips are brutal and there is no room to work. They take tremendous pressure to release and reinstall and you have little leverage laying on your back.

If dealer is $1,000 for fuel pump/sending unit assembly installed? I would do that. It's not an outlandish price for a crappy job.

 

Have fun I'm sure there is worse stuff to do out there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrzX_K-jcuo