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First of all...I just discovered this forum -- and promptly joined. So, hello to all.

Now, down to business....

About a week ago, my until-now problem-free 1999 Outback with 192,000 ks suddenly developed a problem with the fuel guage. It simply stopped working altogether and the "check engine" light came on. I took it to my local Toyota garage (no Subaru dealer close by) for an oil change and a check-up. Of course, after putting it up on the hoist, the problem disappeared -- gauge worked fine, light not on. Yesterday, I filled up. When I started the engine, the gauge didn't work again. The next time I started it, the "check engine" light came on again. I called the nearest Subaru dealer (very far away) and they said they had no idea -- or, at least, they couldn't make a diagnosis over the phone.

Any guesses? Any suggestions?

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It's probably the fuel level sender unit. This is a very common, and welll known, problem with Subarus. In fact, my 1999 Forester has a probem with the sender unit, as well. Small world, isn't it? In fact, Subaru has had problems with their sender units for years. Why don't the Subaru engineers lift their noses out of their rice bowls and fix this problem? Who knows?

 

Anyway, it's not the end of the world. Do a search on this site. You may be able to fix the problem yourself, if you don't mind working on an open gas tank.

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There are two sending units in two sections of tank separated by the drive shaft. The info you need is available by searching and the job is easy. I cleaned both sending units in less than an hour with no prior experience. Access is through two plates in the cargo floor right behind the rear seat under the rug of a wagon, and in the trunk of a sedan. I do not know that the fuel senders have any impact on giving a check engine light, but they commonly fail in a way where the guage fails to read at all, or reads low.

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Since the two problems seem to be linked together I am wondering if there may be a power problem of some sort to the fuel gauge and to something else that is being monitored by the ECU. As far as I know, a problem with the senders will not cause a code to be set in the ECU.

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To Mattocs:

 

Did the CEL light also come on when this happened? Just wondering how the two symtoms are related. Also, it is my understanding that overfilling the tank may cause damage to the charcoal filter canister as gas liquids can cantamiate the filter that is meant to handle just vapors.

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To Mattocs:

 

Did the CEL light also come on when this happened? Just wondering how the two symtoms are related. Also, it is my understanding that overfilling the tank may cause damage to the charcoal filter canister as gas liquids can cantamiate the filter that is meant to handle just vapors.

 

CEL was coming off and on at the time, but I believe it was the coolent temp sensor. He may need new gas tank sensor thingers...it seems to be a common problem...but mine worked after I did it and I have not had any other problems in over 1 1/2 years.

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QUOTE=Cougar]Since the two problems seem to be linked together I am wondering if there may be a power problem of some sort to the fuel gauge and to something else that is being monitored by the ECU. As far as I know, a problem with the senders will not cause a code to be set in the ECU.

 

I can actually watch the gas needle go all the way from the top of the gauge to the bottom in about 10s seconds. When that happens, the CEL always goes on. So yes, there is a link between a malfuntioning gas tank sender and the CEL.

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Had a similar problem with a 98 GT, bad feul guage readings and erratic CEL function. Traced to a bad ground wire from the main fuse panel under the hood by the battery. Worth a try before you change out the senders in the tank which can be costly. I know I did just that.

 

 

Glenn

 

 

First of all...I just discovered this forum -- and promptly joined. So, hello to all.

Now, down to business....

About a week ago, my until-now problem-free 1999 Outback with 192,000 ks suddenly developed a problem with the fuel guage. It simply stopped working altogether and the "check engine" light came on. I took it to my local Toyota garage (no Subaru dealer close by) for an oil change and a check-up. Of course, after putting it up on the hoist, the problem disappeared -- gauge worked fine, light not on. Yesterday, I filled up. When I started the engine, the gauge didn't work again. The next time I started it, the "check engine" light came on again. I called the nearest Subaru dealer (very far away) and they said they had no idea -- or, at least, they couldn't make a diagnosis over the phone.

Any guesses? Any suggestions?

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