What Does Code P0463 Mean?
- P0463 definition: Fuel Level Sensor Circuit High Input
- Issue Severity: LOW – Continued driving for a short period of time is okay
- Repair Urgency: Get this fixed within the next month to avoid running out of gas.
- Diagnosis: This trouble code will not prevent your vehicle from running. The most common result(s) is being unable to tell the fuel level of your vehicle. However, if left unsolved, this code could increase the likelihood of your vehicle running out of gas, putting the driver into an inconvenient situation. Use the FIXD Sensor and app to diagnose and fix P0463 yourself, see the most likely fix and cost for this code, access our Mechanic Hotline, and more.
The P0463 code is triggered when your vehicle’s powertrain control module (PCM) detects inaccurate fuel level readings from the fuel level sensor. The fuel level sensor alerts the PCM of the amount of fuel in the fuel tank. As a result of this code, the check engine light is illuminated due to the fuel level sensor indicating there’s more fuel in the tank than the tank can physically hold.
P0463 Causes
There are many potential causes of code P0463.
- Faulty fuel level sensor
- Faulty fuel pump
- Malfunctioning fuel level sensor float
- Faulty gauge cluster
- Damaged fuel tank
- Frayed wiring/connection to fuel sensor harness
P0463 Symptoms
- Check engine light
- Fuel light
- Fluctuating fuel gauge
How Do I Fix Code P0463?
With a fuel level sensor fault, the first step is to get it diagnosed to figure out what is causing the problem.
The FIXD Sensor and app can help you diagnose and fix P0463 yourself by giving you access to detailed engine diagnostics that are easy to understand (even if you don’t know cars), live OBD2 data, and a Mechanic Hotline. You can even use FIXD to clear the fault codes on your vehicle and see if your fix worked, or simply turn off codes that aren’t serious.
> Click here to get FIXD for $19.99 for a limited time!
If your vehicle has this fault and you’re not comfortable diagnosing this issue at home, we recommend finding a RepairPal certified shop nearby to pinpoint the problem and give an accurate estimate for repairs.
These shops can not only help you figure out what’s going wrong before you waste time and money on the wrong parts, but they also offer a minimum 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty and stand behind all their estimates with guaranteed fair pricing.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix Code P0463?
P0463 can be caused by anything from a bad fuel level sensor to faulty wiring to a damaged fuel tank. It’s impossible to give an accurate estimate without properly diagnosing the issue first.
If you take your car to a shop for diagnosis, most shops will start with an hour of “diag time” (the time spent in labor diagnosing your specific issue). Depending on the shop’s labor rate, this typically costs somewhere between $75-$150. Many, if not most, shops will apply this diagnosis fee to any required repairs if you have them perform the repairs for you. From there, a shop will be able to give you an accurate estimate for repairs to fix your P0463 code.
Possible Repair Costs for P0463
For error code P0463, one or more of the below repairs may be needed to solve the underlying issue. For each possible repair, the estimated cost of repair includes the cost of the relevant parts and the cost of labor required to make the repair.
- Fuel level sensor: $864 to $1,023
- Fuel pump: $806 to $967
- Instrument cluster: $804 to $824
DIY Steps to Diagnose Code P0463
Engine code P0463 could be caused by a number of things, including a bad fuel level sensor, faulty wiring, or a damaged fuel tank. If you’d like to try to fix code P0463 at home without throwing money at parts, you’ll want to follow the steps below for proper diagnosis. This is a beginner-level diagnosis, requiring no more than the FIXD Sensor and App and a bit of testing and visual inspection.
DIY difficulty level: Beginner
Tools/parts needed (our top picks from Amazon):
STEP 1: USE FIXD TO ENSURE NO OTHER ENGINE CODES ARE PRESENT.
Use FIXD to scan your vehicle to verify P0463 is the only code present.
STEP 2: CHECK FUEL LEVEL READINGS.
Use FIXD Live Data to measure your fuel level and compare it to the fuel gauge on your dashboard and see if they match. Check to see if you actually have more or less fuel than either of these readings indicate.
NOTE: Not all vehicles support a live data reading of your fuel level.
STEP 3: ADD FUEL AND CHECK THE LEVEL AGAIN.
Add a couple of gallons of gas to your vehicle. Then inspect the fuel gauge and FIXD Live Data again after fueling to verify an accurate fuel reading. If your readings through FIXD are accurate but the fuel gauge on your dashboard is not, you may need a new instrument cluster.
STEP 4: CHECK THE WIRING.
Conduct a visual inspection of wiring around the fuel level sensor and surrounding wiring harness for fraying or disconnection.
STEP 5: REPLACE THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR AND/OR FUEL PUMP.
If the problem persists, consider replacing the fuel level sensor, or the entire fuel pump assembly if the sensor is integrated into it for your particular vehicle.
Common P0463 diagnosis mistakes
Prematurely replacing the fuel pump before attempting to visually inspect the wiring around the fuel level sensor for damage.
Still Need Help Fixing Code P0463?
If you’ve followed the steps above and are still experiencing check engine code P0463, please contact the FIXD Mechanic Hotline if you’re a FIXD Premium subscriber or find a RepairPal certified shop near you to get the right repairs at a fair price. Don’t have a FIXD Sensor yet? Click here to get yours for just $19.99, including a free 14-day trial of FIXD Premium!
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Fixed It But The Check Engine Light Is Still On?
Check engine light sometimes need to be reset manually, check out our article:
How to Reset Your Check Engine Light | 4 Ways To Clear It (With or Without a Scanner)
Recovering autocross and track day enthusiast. Once turned a VW Jetta into a pickup truck. Lives in a van down by the river. Dream car: 2001 Subaru WRC rally car.
14 Responses
I just replaced the AC/Heater Mode Door Actuator on my 2015 Ford Fusion which involved taking off the driver’s side dash and instrument panel (it was honestly a nightmare!). After putting everything back together, I jumped the battery to start it up and the Engine light stayed on. The FIXD unit identified code P0463 and a number of others. I instructed it to turn off the Engine light but the codes persisted. I’m not sure if everything just needs to reset after having the instrument panel disconnected for so long or if I didn’t reconnect something properly or if wires somehow got damaged (I only had to unplug two things though). I’ll drive it around a bit and see if everything clears. If not, I’ll pull the dash and instrument panel off again and check its connection (all the gauges are working and lit up, btw). Any other ideas if none of that clears the codes??
will the fuel sensor cause 2014 dodge grand caravan to fail emissions?
“Check to see if there are any other codes along with P0463 and clear your Check Engine Light with FIXD.”
Can the FIXD tool actually clear this code? I would think not, since it’s emissions related.
Yeah my 05 Ford explorer has a fuel cap can that maybe be the problem
Code P0463 Instructions say not to let someone try to sell me a whole new sensor unit or fuel pump until I visually check the wires to the sensor looking for chafing, disconnect, or frayed wires. I went to an auto supply store and they could not find any such units for my car and tried to find fuel sensors and pumps for other cars that might work on my 2006 Hyundai Azera LE. Where are these wires that I am supposed to inspect? Do I have to go to a dealership to get this repaired?
My problem is just the opposite. Had the fuel pump replaced.drove it 500 miles and it was fine. Husband was driving into work this morning and all of a sudden the low fuel light come on and the car just died. We had to have it towed home. The gas gauge is not working, the low fuel light is on and also check engine light. I went ahead and put 2 gallons of gas in the tank. The Gage did not move and the car would not start. Added another 3 gallons of gas and I knew the tank was full because the gas came out the spout. Try to start the car and it started. I knew I had to have had better than a half a tank in the car when it died on the road. I have started the car 12 times and it has started. With that being said the low fuel light is still on, the engine light is still on and the gas gauge it’s not moving.
Frankly, you should take your vehicle back to whomever replaced your pump. There are two possible issues at first glance. 1, the “new” pump has failed or is failing and should be warrantied; or 2, the connector to the pump is loose or a wire is loose causing intermittent failure of the system. My understanding is that a failure of the fuel level sender inside the tank (and associated with the new pump) will not cause the engine to stop or interfere with a restart. But a faulty connection at the fuel pump, which contains both the wires to the pump and wires to the sender, could cause either the low fuel warning when the tank is obviously not empty, or could cause the pump to stop working. The fuel injected engine relies on constant high pressure from the pump. If the pump fails or the wires disconnect, the engine will stop almost immediately, and will not restart. An intermittent fault (wiggle fault) can cause problems to come and go randomly. So take it back to your repair station and have them pull the tank and verify pump, sender, and all connections.
i changed my alternator on my 2005 chevy tahoe and then drove about 400 miles with no problems at all the next day my †ruck comes up with a check engine light so i get home from work and plug in my obd reader and nothing at all. i had no power coming out of my OBD port under the dash so i look up how to fix it and come to find out the OBD port is powered by the cigar lighter fuse under the hood. i change the fuse and obd reader works. dosnt really bother me because i havent had a fuel gage for over a year now, but first time it threw a code.
Mine caused by hitting deep water at high speed. Dried out after 36 hours.
What just happened to me earlier was, I needed a jump so i brought my battery jumper out and placed it over and on the air filter or carburetor cover and radiator. It sits more sturdy there and it can reach the turminals. Well i placed. The red cable to the positive. and black to the neg. i set the charger on got in my 2006 frontier and turned the key. At the same time the engine was turning over the battery jumper slid moved a bit. Causing the positive cable to snap off leaving the negative intacked on the negative terinal while i jumped out of the cab to undue the thenjumper that is when i noticed what had happen. I quickly turned off the jumper and disengaged the negative cable. Then my truck started making a loud clicikng sound. I drove it around a bit. Then went home . Three hours later i went to start it up . again i needed a jump. I jumped it. Took off and notice my engine light on now. And now my fixd code is PO463.
Im suspecting. Im dealing with
coded: PO463
Frayed wiring/connection to fuel sensor. Because something had to happen when neg cable was left attached to the battery while the battery jumper was connected and in the ON position. Im thinking something backfired . im hoping no severe damage. Please somebody that has the knowledge please tell me what to look for and do. anybody .Im a Damsel in distress!
I seriously doubt that the jumper cable disconnecting had anything to do with frayed wires, which in this case would most likely be at the fuel pump/ wiring harness interface. A dead battery by itself can cause electrical anomalies, and is more likely the reason the PCM was confused about fuel level. The question here would be do you have an issue either related to or coincident with the dead battery, or do you have a problem with your fuel level sensor that you didn’t know about. First, fix the battery issue so you do not have recurring dead battery problems. Then, have someone clear the code and drive normally. If it comes back, you have a problem at the fuel tank. If it does not come back, it was just an issue due to electrical fluctuations with a dead battery and a jump start, which you can disregard.
My 2005 chevy Silverado left blinker doesn’t work i have checked the bulbs there good checked fuses good wiring is good ..when i put the blinker on and hit the brakes the left blinker light comes on and stays on until i let the brake off. ??
I had this problem with my Astro van on the right blinker, I bought a new harness for the bulb Wich came with one wire instead of two, I connected the one wire and disregarded the second wire and lights work perfectly
It’s probably internal in the tank if it was me I get the tank dropped unplug the wiring harness look at the wires check for voltage on the sending unit side if that checks out ok then I would change the pump assembly have you ever ran it below a 1/4 tank