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1993 LS400 - Fuel Gauge - VERY weird problem (?!?!)

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Old Jan 19, 2009 | 04:03 AM
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Unhappy 1993 LS400 - Fuel Gauge - VERY weird problem (?!?!)

Ok, guy's help

I took my cluster out to replace my speedo gauge (bought the new one from lexus) , and did it OK, it works...
After couple of months I took the cluster out again, and replaced my temperature gauge (also spent $$$ in lexus)...

Now, after couple of months, my fuel gauge started acting crazy...it moved up!
Another words, when I fill the car up, my fuel gauge goes even more up then what the max is...
On a bit up from half tank mark my fuel light started glowing so I went and fill the car up...it was on the reserve

It is proportionally moved up

It light's up and everything normally, but it only does not measure the amount of fuel in the tank correctly...

Please, if anyone has any idea what could of gone wrong?

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Old Jan 20, 2009 | 09:16 PM
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Come on guys, help me please

Idea or anything?

Last edited by Twix; Jan 20, 2009 at 09:21 PM.
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Old Jan 21, 2009 | 07:31 AM
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Sounds like you may have moved the fuel needle when you were installing the others. I would fill up the tank completely, then remove the cluster and just push the needle back to the correct "full" mark. Done.
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Old Jan 21, 2009 | 08:57 AM
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Just to confirm

When I take the cluster out, that needle moves freely...
When I switch the car off, it goes back to below empty (like it used to do before).

If I fill the car up, and cluster is disconnected petrol needle is below empty mark, and if I push it with my hand to full it still drops down to below empty as the cluster is still not connected.

What do I need to move?
Attached Thumbnails 1993 LS400 - Fuel Gauge - VERY weird problem (?!?!)-petrol_gauge.jpg  
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Old Jan 22, 2009 | 05:30 AM
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I have this exact same issue guys. Come on help us out here.
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Old Jan 24, 2009 | 10:53 PM
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Please guys

I'll grab a photo when is on reserve (just a few more days and my car will be), so I'll post a picture...
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Old Jan 25, 2009 | 07:47 AM
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my gas gauge when full is stuck at half..........anyone has this problem?
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Old Jan 25, 2009 | 08:03 AM
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could it be a faulty capacitor? even though its new, it could still be bad. search in the stickied thread about the instrument gauge problem.
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Old Jan 26, 2009 | 02:48 PM
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That's a really strange problem, I haven't seen this before. I can tell you for sure that when I turn my car off, the fuel needle stays put, it doesn't drop all the way down. I really can't tell you what the problem is...

You could try replacing all the caps on the clusters circuit boards because they cause a lot of cluster problems. For example, on my LS the fuel needle wouldn't go all the way up after filling up completely, it just went about 3/4 up. After I recapped the boards the problem was fixed. I'm not sure if recapping will fix your problem but it's pretty cheap to try this.

The other thing you may want to do is get a cheap used cluster on ebay and try that and see if you get the same problem.
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Old Jan 26, 2009 | 09:55 PM
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I know it was mentioned 100 times, but can anyone tell me which are the caps that are used for fuel needle?

I will buy them and replace them, and let everyone know if that is the issue...

Thanks
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Old Jan 27, 2009 | 10:37 AM
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Default capacitors for cluster ls400

http://apaqdigital.com/ls400/instrument_circuit.jpg
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Old Jan 27, 2009 | 12:28 PM
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Thanks ffcgary1...

I hope to catch time now for this weekend and do it, doe I'm just thinking which cap would be better, electrolytic or tantalum (as I read that cap is 4,7uF 25V, and I can find both of them here)?

Any suggestions?

Thanks once more!
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Old Sep 26, 2009 | 07:14 AM
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Hm...bringing this from the dead...

I just replaced the C142 cap (4,7uF 25V), and the issue is still there
My tank is still "full" above full and empty on the middle of the scale
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Old Sep 26, 2009 | 08:07 AM
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Hmm that is pretty wierd... How about when u turn the car off does it drop?
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Old Sep 26, 2009 | 10:07 AM
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If you have a manual, I would go through the trouble-shooting procedure.

You could very well have as good of a chance of a sender issue as a gauge issue.
Colin
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