Ford CEL P0460

While out these last few weeks, I filled my aux tank at a pump that the ground was slanting away from the pump. As a result, I really topped off the 50 gallon tank. At around 200 miles on the trip meter, the check engine light(cel) came on. Went to Auto Zone and they checked it and it was a P0460, a fuel level indicator fault. After doing lots of searches, it seems that if the gauge doesnt move within 200 miles, the PCM thinks there is a problem and the cel comes on. My gauge never came off of full after the cel came on either, even though I had used a good 15 or 20 gallons of fuel.

There is a tsb for this, and supposedly my truck as it, but the cel still came on. After 3 resets at the Auto Zone, I switched back to my primary tank, ran for 15 miles, then switched back to aux tank and cel didn't re-appear.

So, for those of you that have the auxiliary tank, if you see a cel come on, and its the P0460, its cause you have run over 200 miles and your fuel gauge hasn't moved.

My aux tank is plumbed into the fuel system, so all I have to do is flip a switch and the aux tank takes over, gauge and all.

It also happens if you have a gravity feed tank, and forget to stop the feed after you fill the tank, and drive over 200 miles, cause the main tank remains full.

Tom,

Thanks for that heads up. Since the P0460 is a generic code it applies to all of our trucks so the info is good for Ford, GM/Chevy and Dodge.

By the way, a very helpful site is www.obd-codes.com. They list both the vehicle specific codes and the generic codes for almost every auto manufacturer.

Again, thanks for the information on a very unique problem.

Tom,
If a light comes on, we can push a button on the scan guage and get the code. We have the obd-code website in our favorites.

Tater

I installed a Pollack fuel selector valve and a Facet electric fuel pump to be able to control the flow from my gravity fed system (Tradesman 98 gallon tank with RDS fuel neck kit) so the computer on my Silverado 2500HD doesn't get confused. I have an illuminated switch mounted at the bottom of the dash down by the emergency brake release...just have to remember to turn it off or an overfill can occur...hence the light.

Pat

Great site schrowang

Interesting----I have never had that happen on my '99, even though I have driven more than 200 miles on my aux tank. Does the main tank have to be full and you drive 200+ miles on the aux tank? I always run my main down to a quarter showing on the fuel gauge before I use the aux, and the aux is not tied into the fuel gauge. Good info though!!!

EZ,

I think its because the gauge doesnt move within the first 200 miles. All the reading I did on it, makes it sound like the issue is with the newer vehicles.

Not saying that your 7.3 is old, .

It was a pain going to Auto Zone so many times. Might have to look into getting a Edge Insight to check/reset the codes myself.

Mike, thanks for the link, I've booked marked it for future reference.

Tom,,,, Just drive faster,,, your gauge will go down quicker...

oldelmer1 wrote:EZ,

I think its because the gauge doesnt move within the first 200 miles. All the reading I did on it, makes it sound like the issue is with the newer vehicles.

Not saying that your 7.3 is old, .

And then, it may be like me. I can still do the same things that I did ten years ago, but, just like my '99, seems to take longer to get the same job done. CEL hasn't come on yet. Any day now though. Good to know just a "reset" will take care of the situation!!!!!

ezrider6298 wrote:

oldelmer1 wrote:EZ,

I think its because the gauge doesnt move within the first 200 miles. All the reading I did on it, makes it sound like the issue is with the newer vehicles.

Not saying that your 7.3 is old, .

And then, it may be like me. I can still do the same things that I did ten years ago, but, just like my '99, seems to take longer to get the same job done. CEL hasn't come on yet. Any day now though. Good to know just a "reset" will take care of the situation!!!!!

On my Ram, the CEL will reset itself after awhile but, the OBD code will still be in the computer and need to be cleared. At least that's the way the tech at Bonneville & Sons told me it works.