Circuit Description

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Isuzu Trooper. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Fuel level sensor is an important input to PCM for enhanced evaporative system diagnostic. Fuel level information is needed for PCM to know volume of fuel in tank. Fuel level affects rate of change in air pressure in Evaporative (EVAP) system. Sending unit is a float in fuel tank which moves a wiper arm across a variable resister. Low fuel level causes high resistance in sending unit and this is recognized by PCM because circuit operates at a corresponding low voltage. When circuit is continuously open or has a high resistance connection with 12 test failures within 80 test samples, DTC P0461 is set.

When DTC sets, PCM illuminates MIL on second trip after fault was detected. PCM will store conditions present when DTC was set as freeze frame data in the FAILURE RECORDS data.

DTC can be cleared with scan tool, or by disconnecting battery voltage feed to PCM.