How Much Does a Fuel Level Sensor Repair Cost?
The fuel level sending unit, located inside of the fuel tank, will send your vehicle a constant signal indicating how much gasoline is left in the tank.
If this sensor were to fail, then, unfortunately, you would have no clue how much gasoline is left.
Fuel level sensor repair cost
The cost of a fuel level sensor repair will greatly depend on the vehicle you drive, your geographical location and the mechanic/dealer you choose. From our research, the average professional costs, including all parts, will cost anywhere from $250 to $650. The parts, on average, can cost $80 to $400, while labor, seeing it’s a relatively quick repair, can cost $80 to $250. In most cases, a technician will want to replace the fuel pump as this part often needs to be removed in order to replace the level sensor.
At AutoZone, for instance, the top-selling fuel level sensors .
CarComplaints.com, a popular website where car owners can look at the most popular issues with certain makes and models, noted a few models which had fuel level sensor issues. The 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe, for instance, had more than 30 complaints, with the average repair reported being $595. The GMC Envoy, another problematic car, had 10+ complaints, with the average repair reported being $150.
How does the fuel level sensor work?
In most cars today, this part will have a mechanical arm-like device which will extend from the top of the tank, acting like a float you would see inside of your toilet tank. As the fuel fills up your tank, the float moves up, increasing the needle on your dashboard display. If this float reaches a low enough level, then the dreaded “low fuel” light will turn on.
The symptoms of a bad fuel level sensors
While a vehicle can be driven just fine without a working fuel sensor, it can be hard to “gauge” how much fuel is left in the tank, leaving most people to either fill up when they feel it’s right or jotting the down the mileage every time after a fillup. When a unit fails, the fuel gauge will often cease to function properly or in some vehicles, the “check engine” light will illuminate, which will send an OBD code indicating something is wrong with the sensor.
How a failing sensor is diagnosed
In most cases, spotting a failed fuel level sensor is relatively easy. To diagnose, the technician will either read the OBD code if the “check engine” light is on and/or the voltage from the fuel sending unit will be compared to the actual specifications. These readings, if off, can indicate failure has occurred, according to RepairPal.com.
The repair process
Once the fuel level sensor is confirmed as the faulty part, the sensor will then be removed from inside of the fuel tank. In most vehicles, this is done by removing the service access panel, which is beneath the trunk lining or near the backseat, but this isn’t always the case as some cars may need the entire fuel tank removed in order to access the sensor inside. When the fuel tank has been accessed and/or removed, the fuel level sensor is then disconnected from the tank and electrical wiring and a new sensor and oftentimes, a new pump will be inserted as well.
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