Parts
$50–300
P0461 — Fuel Level Sensor Circuit Range/Performance
SAFEIs it safe to drive? Your fuel gauge may be inaccurate — not an engine problem, but don't trust the gauge until it's fixed; running dry unexpectedly is the real risk.
What P0461 means
The fuel level sensor (part of the fuel pump assembly inside the tank) is reporting implausible readings — either not changing over a long drive, jumping erratically, or reading outside expected range. The ECM cross-checks fuel level data for EVAP testing and flags this when it doesn't add up.
Most likely causes (in order)
- Float on the fuel level sensor stuck or broken
- Fuel sender resistor track worn (common on high-mileage vehicles)
- Connector or wiring to fuel pump module corroded
- Fuel pump module grounding poorly inside tank
- Wiring harness chafed or shorted between ECM and tank
Symptoms you might notice
- fuel gauge reads wrong or erratic
- CEL on
- EVAP monitor affected
What to check first
Watch the fuel gauge while slowly filling the tank from empty — a healthy sender sweeps the gauge smoothly from E to F. If it jumps, sticks, or stops partway, the float or resistor track is the problem; in most cases the sender is replaced as part of the fuel pump module.
Repair cost & difficulty
Labor
1–3 hr
Difficulty
Moderate
Related codes
P0460P0462P0463