2001 Windstar fuel gauge

[resabed01]

I've owned this Windstar about 6 months now. I like the van and I'm slowly working through all the problems this thing has. One of the problems is the fuel gauge. When I bought it the gauge would read 1/2 regadless of how much gas it had. I found out quick that the gauge didn't work when one day the low fuel light came on. Ever since we've been using the oddometer to prevent us from running out of gas.

I removed the instument cluster to check the gauge and found a broken wire on it. I fixed that and reassembled to find out now the gauge reads over full all the time. I even purchased a used cluster and swapped electronic boards to see no difference.

My internet searches tell me there is a anti-slosh module somewhere that's the cause of my problems. Does anyone know of this module and where it is?

I have no problem dropping the tank to check the sender but I don't think the problem is there. Afterall, the low fuel light did illuminate on cue.

Any help would be appreciated, Thanks

[resabed01]

Bump

Also, the other day the Mrs. was driving the van and she said all the gauges went bazerk! The tach was pegged to the far right and she couldn't put the van into 'Park" because the tach needle was in the way.

I removed the cluster and moved the tach needle back after which it behaved and went back down to 0. Gauges are working normally now but what would cause this?
Later that day the battery went dead I think because we couldn't put the van into park & remove the key. But would a low battery cause the gauges to freak out?

[sirlancelot33]

I am having a similar problem with my 99 Windstar. If you are coasting, all the gauges go wild until you slam on the accelerator. I thought it was an electrical problem, but that would not be intermittent or based on the transmission, would it?

If you figure it out, let me know...

[sbulldogg]

I have a 2000 SEL and the same thing is happening to me! Have you found a solution to this yet? If so please share!

[Flyingjackal456]

guages going crazy - bad ground
Fuel guage - could be related to the bad ground, but also could be the fuel sending unit (inside the tank) Ford recomends Cheveron Complete Fuel System Cleaner to eat away the sulfer deposits on the fuel sending unit.

[hhguzman]

Hello resabed01

To perform an auto test mode for the Instrument Cluster Gages do the following:

Key Off
Push Odo Switch (the swith on the Cluster) and keep it pushed
Turn Key to IGN
Wait around 4 seconds until the Odometer displays "TEST"
Release Odo Switch
Push Odo Switch once, odometer will display "GAGE"
- Gages will sweep the full range, this will tell you if there is an actual issue with the gages or not. If the Fuel Gage does not sweep the problem will be on the gage.
Push the odo switch again if you want to check something else (Cluster Bulbs, DTC Codes, etc.)

I have the exact same problem with the Tachometer Gage just today! Seems like I will have to disassemble the Cluster and push the pointer back to its position.

Regards!

HGuzman

[resabed01]

Thanks HGuzman for that. Nice to know how to do the self diagnostic and pull trouble codes.

Back to my original post. I guess I did fix it when I found that broken wire. What i didn't know was the gauge worked but was reading way off because the needle needed to be calibrated. What I did was fulled the van with gas, Opened the instrument cluster and pulled the needle for the fuel gauge off. Turned on the key and pressed the needle back on so it reads "full". Turned the key on and off a few times to make sure the needle wasn't getting hung up anywhere. Re-assembled the cluster.

It's been working ever since.