Fuel level sensor

What it means

A float in the fuel tank moves a sensor that tells the gauge, and the computer, how much fuel is left. These codes mean the signal is missing or does not change the way it should as fuel is used.

Codes in this group

Bank 1 is the side of the engine that has cylinder 1. Sensor 1 is before the catalytic converter and sensor 2 is after it. More terms explained.

What you may notice

• Fuel gauge stuck, jumping or reading empty or full all the time
• Low fuel light on with fuel in the tank
• Distance-to-empty figure wrong

Common causes

Most likely first:

• A worn sender unit in the tank
• Corroded connector on top of the tank
• Damaged wiring
• A faulty instrument cluster (rare)

What to check first

• Until it is fixed, track fuel by distance: reset the trip meter at each fill
• The engine is not affected, but running out of fuel can damage the pump

Have a mechanic confirm. A fault code tells you which system reported a problem, not which part has failed. The same code can have several causes, and they differ between car models. Use this page to understand the code, then have a qualified mechanic test the car before any part is replaced.

After the repair

Once the cause is fixed, the code can be cleared with a scan tool, or the warning light goes out by itself after several trips without the fault. Clearing a code without fixing the cause only hides it for a while. More about clearing codes.

Related codes

Engine overheating or overspeed (P0217), Radiator cooling fan circuit (P0480), Vehicle speed sensor (P0500), Idle speed control (P0505), Brake pedal switch (P0504), Engine oil pressure sensor (P0520), Air conditioning pressure sensor (P0530), Battery and charging voltage (P0560). All codes.

Written in November 2026. These are generic OBD-II codes, the same on all makes. Causes and repair steps differ between models.