Gas Guage

[blackdogxj]

I have a 97 Xj, i just put a new fuel pump in it last month...now my guage is intermiting....it goes up to where it was, then it drops to E then after i kick the tank it goes back up for a little bit then goes back to E...what can this be??? bad sending unit???

Thanks
Brad

[Dan1990XJ]

Did you replace it with a factory replacement? On my 90 XJ the float on the aftermarket fuel pump was completely different and had to be replaced by the one off of the old pump, The aftermarket one was getting stuck against the side of the tank. Hope this helps.

[rock hard]

Sounds like a bad ground to me... try disconnecting the quick disco in the wiring harness... and givin both connectors a good cleaning..

[blackdogxj]

i just replaced the pump, i didnt replace the whole thing....dam i dont got $250 sitting around to be putting that whole unit in..

[MJR]

Sounds like a typical sender problem. You can pull it out and just replace the sender.

[Gridikal]

They actually have a recall on the sending unit for the 97 year. Mines a 97, but, missed it by a month- I had to replace at my own expense. Go to the Jeep website and they have a place where you can run the VIN to get recall info.

[rock hard]

CDX recall site...

http://www.jeep.com/webselfservice/jeep/index.jsp?screenName=recall&country=us&emailUrl=goToEmailForm%28%27R%27%29

[MJR]

They actually have a recall on the sending unit for the 97 year. Mines a 97, but, missed it by a month- I had to replace at my own expense. Go to the Jeep website and they have a place where you can run the VIN to get recall info.

The recall was # 755. "1997 Model Year Jeep Cherokee (XJ) Vehicles Built Through May 9, 1997"

[Gridikal]

The recall was # 755. "1997 Model Year Jeep Cherokee (XJ) Vehicles Built Through May 9, 1997"
Which I think is pretty unfair- Jeep knows a lot of the 98's got the same senders as the 97's, not to metion they didn't even cover all the 97's! :mad:

[txmaced]

I have a 89 that has something simuliar. The gauge fluctutates as the pressure on accelerator varies. Fuel filter has been replaced and engine replaced before this started.

Any ideas?

[RichP]

Which I think is pretty unfair- Jeep knows a lot of the 98's got the same senders as the 97's, not to metion they didn't even cover all the 97's! :mad:

Yup, I agree, I'm getting back at them by driving my XJ for a million miles Take that DC....:laugh3:

My 98 does the same thing but I'm NOT going to pull that fuel pump till it goes bad, funky sender I can live with and drive by tripmeter... been living with it for the last 180,000mi or so...

But that won't stop me from buying an unlimited, want one before they soccer mom it with IFS and a V6...

[MJR]

I have a 89 that has something simuliar. The gauge fluctutates as the pressure on accelerator varies. Fuel filter has been replaced and engine replaced before this started.

Any ideas?

I'd check the ground wires at the engine oil dipstick tube mounting.

[txmaced]

Since I just replaced the starter I would hope all the grounds are tight.

[browneee]

Hi Guy's I'm new to this thread... I've been away from JeeP's for a little while, but I'm back again... Previously I use to own a 42 Flat fender "far from stock"...

Recently I purchased a 94 XJ sports...

I'm not realy familiar with XJ's but I'm learning. I seem to have the same problem. When I fill up the tank, the gauge registers full. After a day or two it will creap down to "1/2" then drop off to "E"... Is this a problem with the sender unit ? If I replace it with a new one will it happen to that one to ?

[RichP]

Not sure, the sender problem is usually a 97+ problem but if it works when full, works part way then dies I'd say it was the sender. My 98 registers full when I fill it, stays that way for 50 mi or so then starts to drop to 3/4, then around 100 drops to below E and stays there till I fill it again. I drive by my trip odometer and have for a long time.

[txmaced]

Hey Rich, you sure it is a 97+ problem? That's the way mine works on the 89 as well as the flucutations.

[RichP]

If you do a search on gas gauges here you will see that about 99% of them are 97+ XJ's. But I suppose that it has to happen to older ones too, be a kicker if a previous owner put one of the defective new ones in at some time in it's past...
It is kind of funny, I've had things fail on this jeep that I have NEVER had fail on any other vehicle I have ever owned. A/C evap for one and the gas tank sender for another, both big ticket items labor wise to have repaired, often wonder if it's planned that way as a method by which DC supports the service depts at jeep dealers... after all, how many people are going to drop their own gas tanks or remove their entire dash board at home...
Same with the TJ's, they have this little plastic lever that operates the flapper in the heater box, redirects the air up to the defroster vents, they break. Thats a $600 repair, entire dash has to come out to replace a $6 part...

[MJR]

I'm not realy familiar with XJ's but I'm learning. I seem to have the same problem. When I fill up the tank, the gauge registers full. After a day or two it will creap down to "1/2" then drop off to "E"... Is this a problem with the sender unit ? If I replace it with a new one will it happen to that one to ?

Sounds like a sender issue. The good thing is you don't need to drop the fuel tank to change it on yours unlike the 97-up. Just make sure you have less than 1/2 tank of gas. Sender problems happen to lots of other vehicles not just DCX ones.

[browneee]

Sounds like a sender issue. The good thing is you don't need to drop the fuel tank to change it on yours unlike the 97-up. Just make sure you have less than 1/2 tank of gas. Sender problems happen to lots of other vehicles not just DCX ones.

Well after reading that it's a common occurance on JeeP's I think I will stick to driving off the odometer... I've heard it's an $800 replacement in Australia !

[Boris T]

Which I think is pretty unfair- Jeep knows a lot of the 98's got the same senders as the 97's, not to metion they didn't even cover all the 97's! :mad:

I am with everyone else... my early 98 (SeptI believe) has the same sending unit problem. This is not the only occurance in the Chrysler product lines. The 93-95 Dakotas (including the one I owned) had the same problem.

Oh well, trip odometer works good for me but it irritates the wife.
Hasta

Travis

[MJR]

Well now the replacements last. When the recall first came out it was hard to get a good replacement.

[RichP]

Well now the replacements last. When the recall first came out it was hard to get a good replacement.

Of course, you don't think DC was going to let all those crap ones go to waste did you :D All they had to last was the length of the warranty or to show the recall was done and they were free and clear. Grrrrrr

[MJR]

Of course, you don't think DC was going to let all those crap ones go to waste did you :D All they had to last was the length of the warranty or to show the recall was done and they were free and clear. Grrrrrr

No because of the recall we just had to replace them till we got a good one. I do not believe a recall part can fail without the manufacturer having to cover it again. Also any customer pay replacements have a 12mo/12K parts warranty.

[spazegun2213]

hey, is there a guide for replacing this part yourself? I mean droping the tank or not i would rather do it if i have all the tools i need.


thanks
-Spaze

[MJR]

hey, is there a guide for replacing this part yourself? I mean droping the tank or not i would rather do it if i have all the tools i need.


thanks
-Spaze

There is a special spanner wrench for removing the pump assembly but a BIG pair of channel locks might work. You might be able to drop just the right side if the tank doesn't have much gas in it.

[txmaced]

I will look into doing the sender replacement after I get some other things
done like brake pads and shoes.