Circuit Description

The fuel level sensor is an important input to engine control module (ECM) for the enhanced evaporative system diagnostic. Fuel level information is needed for the ECM to know the volume of fuel in the tank. The fuel level affects the rate of change in air pressure in the evaporative system. Several of the enhanced evaporative system diagnostic sub-tests are dependent upon correct fuel level information. Fuel level DTCs should be diagnosed before other evaporative system DTCs because they can cause other DTCs to be set.

The sending unit is a float in the fuel tank which moves a wiper arm across a variable resistor. Low fuel level causes high resistance in the sending unit, and this is recognized by the ECM because the circuit operates at a corresponding high voltage. When the circuit is continuously open or a high resistance connection or short to ground, DTC P0462 will be set.