when you put gas in, it jumps all the way up to full and then when you start to drive it jumps all over the place. Basically I have to wait till the low fuel light comes on to put gas in. I am pretty sure its the fuel sending unit, but where do you buy just the sending unit without having to buy a whole new fuel pump??? Or is this something I can fix by taking the fuel pump out?

 

WOW, i have the same year...same problem. I tried a new gas cap and that seemed to work for a little while. But it still does it. i think there must be a leak somewhere. I bought a new Fuel pressure regulatro (dampener) but haven't installed it yet. I think i might find something when i drop the gas tank.

The dealership will doagnose your problem for 65 dollars. A fuel pressure regulator costs 81. now I am hoping that was the problem.

I noticed the problem started after many many fillups where I would shake my truck to get the gas to bubble up and i would top off the tank to fit as much fuel in there as possible. So i think i have either fried the pump or the regulator...or made a hose bust.

 

let me know what you find out please. While driving this gauge moves all over the place, one minute its past the empty and then the next minute you are full.

 

I have a 98 Ram and i have the same problem. It mainly stays in the full area for a day or osthen it will all of a sudden be at a quarter of a tank. Personally ive just learned to know how much i gas i have left by driving, i pretty much push it passed the empty everytime but if you figure out a way to fix it let me know.

 

Its the fuel pump sending unit inside the tank. Same problem on my 1995 Dakota I used to have, I had it quoted to me at a stealership for $300 for just the part, no labor. Took it to a reputable shop, they did the whole thing (part, labor, everything) for around $250.

Take it to any reputable shop (not a dealership), and they'll usually diagnose the problem for next to nothing if you also get the repair done there. But I'm 99% certain that its the sending unit, because what you guys are describing is exactly what mine did.

 

If you are lucky
and the ceramic behind the fuel level sender resistance strip is not cracked
you might be able to fix this 'wild gauge' problem
by adding a bottle of
Chevron Techron Concentrate 'Plus'
to each of your next 3 tanks of gas.

The 'Plus' is important
as this is a new version of Techron
designed to clean sulfur deposits off fuel gauge resistance strips

The 3 bottles of Techron will be a gamble of $36
and the fuel pump assembly costs $230 (Autozone)
to $310 (NAPA)
to $370 (dodge dealership)

 

I know a local junkyard and they have a nice 2nd gen with the bed already off. I was gonna grab their sending unit. now I am gonna do it and just swap it out. I bought a new fuel pressure regulatro, so i will just replace that with the one on the junkyard pump.

It should hold me over and not cost that much. HOWEVER, it might be the resistance strip. I had my dodge sit for a year when i was deployed, and it has never been the same. I think the gas must have tarnished something....and maybe it tarnished the strip. Good call.

I am gonna trop the tank this weekend.

Thanks!!!