99 Camry CE Fuel Gauge problem

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motor822 - 25 Jul 2007 02:45 GMT

I recently purchased a 1999 Camry CE, and noticed that the gas gauge
is not working right. On a fill up, it will only read 3/4 full, and
then when reading empty has about 1/4 tank left. I am thinking it is
probably a bad fuel sending unit. My question is how difficult (or
expensive) a repair is this for a very basic do it yourselfer ?

thanks

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Father Guido - 25 Jul 2007 05:51 GMT

>I recently purchased a 1999 Camry CE, and noticed that the gas gauge
>is not working right. On a fill up, it will only read 3/4 full, and
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>thanks

Hi,

My '99 only shows 3/4 immediately after filling, but within a couple
of hours it does shows full. OTOH, when my fuel guage gets to 1/4 it
is pratically empty, no more than 10 litres (100 km to go), while the
first 3/4 of a tank takes me 550 km. The first 1/4 is good for 250 km
so the gauge definitely isn't linear.

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EdV - 25 Jul 2007 17:00 GMT

I agree that the fuel gauge is not linear, but on all my cars when I
fillup the tank, the gauge reads full, immediately. Even if the pump
stops on the first auto shutoff, I used to fill to the brim but now I
no longer do it. With the high price of gas I quit getting the full
service I just add $20 when I gas up and lasts me for a week,
depending if I make extra trips. My camry can go about >500 miles on a
tank for when I go on long trips but I dont stretch it to 500 but I
add when I reach about 400 miles, even before my warning light comes
on. I imagine how annoying it is to see 3/4 full when you fill it up,
you feel like you have just be robbed and more so empty when you still
have quarter tank left that you feel all the gas just evaporated away.
If that was my car I would jump on the trunk to slosh the gas in the
tank and probably get some stuck thingy loose. But hey its just me,
I'm the guy who would whack the dashboard when I hear some rattling
sound. Maybe you can whack the dash too.. maybe the needle is stuck
= )

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> first 3/4 of a tank takes me 550 km. The first 1/4 is good for 250 km
> so the gauge definitely isn't linear.

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johngdole@hotmail.com - 28 Jul 2007 18:56 GMT

You can order the fuel level sending unit. An online Toyota dealer
should be able to offer a better price. Google around.

The Denso unit should be around $60 or so and you'll need a new tank
gasket. I wouldn't reuse the old one even if it looks pristine. There
may be some fuel line plastic retainer clips that need to be replaced.
While the fuel pressure is relieved change out the fuel filter ($25)
in the engine bay as well. I use Wix fuel filters from the local NAPA
store. Costs a bit more than online.

I wouldn't say the job's difficult, depending on your level of
mechanical skills. But there are obvious safety issues working around
the fuel system. Also, the flare nuts on the filter could have seized
over the years, some owners reported. No problems with mine however.

Check the Haynes manual and decide if you want to do this. Also refer
to the 96 fuel tank component chart (Figure 5) here:

http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/15/75/5a/0900823d8015755a/repai
rInfoPages.htm

> I recently purchased a 1999 Camry CE, and noticed that the gas gauge
> is not working right. On a fill up, it will only read 3/4 full, and
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> thanks

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