Circuit/System Description

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The primary fuel level sensor and the secondary fuel level sensor change resistance in response to the fuel level. The engine control module (ECM) monitors the signal circuit of the primary fuel level sensor, the secondary fuel level sensor, and the type of fuel in order to determine the fuel level. For regular unleaded fuel the ECM monitors a constant signal. When the vehicle has approximately 20% or greater ethanol for E85 fuel applications, the ECM controls a pulse cycle signal where it monitors the signal and calculates the fuel level percentage only during the on pulse of approximately 100 ms.

When the fuel tanks are full, the sensor resistances of both fuel level sensors are low and the ECM senses a low signal voltage on both the signal circuits of the primary fuel level sensor and the secondary fuel level sensor. When the fuel tanks are empty, the resistances of the fuel level sensors are high and the ECM senses a high signal voltage. The ECM uses the signal circuit of the primary fuel level sensor and the secondary fuel level sensor in order to calculate the percentage of remaining fuel in the tank. The ECM sends the fuel level percentage via the serial data circuit to the instrument cluster in order to control the fuel gauge.