On my fuel gauge when I went to work yesterday on arrival gauge showed 1/4 tank when I left for return trip after sitting 12 hrs. It read way below Empty but my little red low fuel light was not lit. I knew I had more fuel then it showed so made the 50 mile trip home. About 30 miles into the trip the gauge went up to a little under 1/4 tank which was the correct reading. Before when this would happen I would tap on the dash and gauge would read what it should. What does this sound like a poor ground in the instrument cluster? I did already have the sending unit out of the tank and cleaned it a couple of yrs. Ago could it be gunked up causeing this erratic reading or is it something electrical? When I got home I stopped to put fuel in 10 gallons and gauge read properly at about 3/4 tank.

i think another cleaning is in order.

my gauge started acting up a couple years after cleaning.

luckily the low fuel light is accurate.

i think a new sender will fix the issue long term. as cleaning seems to be a temporary fix

i now zero my trip odometer at fill up, and around 400 miles i know i'll be needing a fill-up soon.