SANTA FE GAS GAUGE PROBLEMS...HELP!!

I HAVE A 2002 SANTA FE (21,000 MILES) THAT WHEN THE GAS IS ABOUT 3/4 FULL,
THE GAS GAUGE READS EMPTY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS
PROBLEM THREE TIMES. NOW, FOR AN ADDITIONAL TWO TIMES AT THE DEALERSHIP,
THE PROBLEM IS THE REVERSE. WHEN THE GAS GAUGE SHOWS THAT I HAVE 1/2 TANK
OF GAS, THERE IS ACTUALLY NO GAS. I HAVE BROKEN DOWN TWICE BECAUSE OF
THIS. HOW MANY TIMES SHOULD ONE HAVE TO GO TO A DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT A
PROBLEM (AND HYUNDAI ENGINEERS FROM THE CORPORATE OFFICE GET INVOLVED AND
STILL NO RESOLUTION). NOT ONLY IS IT DANGEROUS, BUT TO BE INCONVENIENCED
AND LOSE WORK TIME TO KEEP GOING BACK AND FORTH FIVE TIMES. ANYONE HAVE
ANY ADVICE WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE? IF THEY CAN'T GET IT RIGHT AFTER THE
5TH TIME I BRING IT TO DEALERSHIP, SHOULDN'T I BE ABLE TO TRADE IN MY CAR
FOR A SIMILAR SANTA FE WITH COMPARABLE MILEAGE, BUT ONE THAT DOESN'T HAVE
THIS PROBLEM??

 

Find out if your state has the "LEMON LAW". If so, your dealership
will be faced with buying back your car if it turns out to have been a
lemon. This is only true if the car was purchased brand new.

viewing the trip odometer. For exaple, whenever the odometer starts to
get close to 350 miles, than it's near empty and time to fill up. I
have never driven a Santa Fe so I have no idea how many miles it can go
between fill ups. If there are more than one engine offered and
depending on the choice of transmission -- this should vary. Gas tank
size also being a factor.

 

That is a bummer!
It seems that if they replace the sender, and verify no shorts or damaged
wiring that should take care of it! The only other part is the gauge, which
can be tested by shorting the sender leads. I would insist they replace the
sender and the gauge if they cannot find one to be the definiete culprit.
Let us know what they finally find.

 

Top posting corrected

Lemon Law applies to USED as well.
At least it does in NY State

 

There is a technical service bulletin listing the correct fuel senders for
a range of vehicles. If the wrong sender (or senders) is/are installed
the problem you are describing could occur.

Your vehicle actually has two fuel senders. The tank has two low places,
one on each side, so a fuel sender is installed on each side. If I recall
correctly, the specs for the two senders are not the same.

Whether you have the right to pursue lemon law action will depend on the
laws in your state.

 

where is the oe purge value on a 2003 Hyundai sonata