92 XJ Laredo, 3.5" lift, 31s, AX-15, 4.0, 279k. Jeep runs and drives great, is my DD. When I turn right when moving at any speed my fuel gauge drops like its losing power and the jeep stutters like it is not receiving fuel. This does not occur when the tank is full and is exacerbated when running around or below half a tank. Does not happen at all when turning left. I have not pulled the fuel sending unit yet, but that will probably be what happens unless someone can shed some light on what may be happening. I got underneath the jeep while running and messed with the wires thinking that perhaps there was a poor ground connection that un grounded when turning right, but I'm satisfied that is not the case. Again, any ideas would be awesome.

 

Turn signal or the physical turn?

 

Anybody know if there is any sort of fuel "Bucket" inside the fuel tank, that the pump and sock fit into?
I know some tanks have them (to avoid fuel slosh when cornering)
The plastic tank on a YJ has one for sure........................I've been inside one before.
If this is the case, it is possible that the "Bucket" has come loose, and has moved inside the tank.........................(this happened in the YJ, not sure how?)
Also, has your tank been hit/dented? That could have an effect with this......


I know the early XJ (thru-'96)has a steel tank, so it may not have a bucket.............


I know I can run my fuel tank really low..............Like, needs 18.5 gallons low.................(have on a couple of occasions) and not have the issues you are describing...............(mine's a '96 with the same steel tank that you have)

 

Wally, Actually turning, not signal.

And my tank is in good shape. I would wager that a previous owner has replaced the fuel pump/sending unit previously as there was clearly a change in the wiring, however as I said I crawled under and inspected/messed with it pretty good trying to replicate the loss of fuel with no success.

I hadn't heard of a bucket before. Interesting. What I am having the hardest time with is the fact that I can turn left at quickly as possible all day long and nothing, but when I make even a slight right hand turn my fuel gauge drops, and if I turn sharply I will get a stutter and its almost as if the gauge loses power.

Surely I am not the first person this has happened to?

Additionally, This started about three months ago, and seems to be getting worse. Started out that it would only do it when turning very sharply with less than half a tank. Took me awhile to figure out what the correlation was. It's becoming far more noticeable.

 

Since the fuel pump/sender is over towards the right side of the tank, it makes sense that you would have the issue when turning right (all the fuel goes over to the left side of the tank) and not when you turn left...........


You are probably going to have to pull the pump/hanger out and take a look.....................(easy to do)
Wouldn't hurt to get a new tank o-ring for when you put it back together.......


It's possible that one of the straps/clamps that hold the fuel pump on the hanger broke or came loose, and the pump has shifted somehow................Possibly if someone was in there previously, they didn't put things back together properly.........


Shine a light in the tank if you can, to have a look...........