1996 LS400 Intermittent fuel gauge

[Howplum]

My fuel gauge is getting temperamental. Occasionally, when I turn on the ignition, the needle will show very little fuel, and the orange light comes on. However, if I turn the ignition off and then back on again the reading is correct, although it might take 2 or 3 tries. Is this a known issue?

I assume it's electrical, but whether it's the gauge, the sender or the instrument cluster board is a mystery. I've read about capacitors giving trouble, but I have no idea what their function is.

Can anyone offer any clues please.

[runsgrateasanut]

Howard, I don't know if this thread on the other forum may give you a clue as to what to check?

Q. below it sounds like your query but no answer other than above.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-2nd-gen-1998-2005/923590-fuel-light-blinking.html

 

 

 

[Howplum]

Thanks for that Stuart, although multimeters are a black art to me, so I may need to enlist help. Short term, I'll just keep it topped up, although long journeys are some way off, I imagine.

 

[Malc]

never had a problem with my fuel gauge ............  other than there's never usually enough of the stuff showing ( sorry, a joke )

Malc

[BigBoomer]

Reset the Trip Odometer when you fill up. That way you know how far you've gone since the last fill up.
Carry a steel 5 or 10 litre can of petrol around with you just in case. 

[runsgrateasanut]

You could try taking off the negative terminal at Battery and waiting twenty minutes before re-connecting.   Then leave for ten minutes before starting the Car.

As you had the Cluster out recently it may be something to do with the time interval you should always allow before working on the cluster though  I believe this has more to do with the Air bag.

Perhaps worth a try especially if it was working properly before your unfortunate connector issue.

[Howplum]

Thanks Stuart, I'll try that. At the moment it's working more often than not, but these things rarely have a habit of fixing themselves!

[runsgrateasanut]

Sticking needles being an exception to the rule Howard.   They don't stick  during colder weather!  My own stuck AGAIN yesterday, and I'm somewhat hesitant in removing the cluster and wiping the sticky away. My 1993 car is one to which this can be done, so I understand.

 

 

[Howplum]

Both the fuel and temperature gauges on my car appear to be sealed units, so I'm not sure if the sticking needle syndrome applies.