Repeated P0461 in my new 2020 Ranger!!

xxEMOxx

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So this code has popped up numerous times 3x on me now.

The first time the tech talked to me like im just a dumb blonde girl.... which I am blonde but not dumb... he told me blah blah never top off your gas tank not even a couple cents this overextends the float and causes issues etc.

I don't do that but I listen and see where they could have a point since they use cheaper and thinner parts on newer cars. Anyway I took my truck bought gas then drove the 25ish miles home.... just as I got off the freeway exit for my last stretch home the light popped on again!!!! The truck has 3070 miles on it.

This is really making me rethink my choice and reaffirming what my B.F. told me over and over Ford = Found on road dead!

Sigh anyone thats had this issue or has advice and feedback id apperciate it. Currently awaiting the service tech to call me and notify me of what our next steps will be.

UPDATE:

Dealer asked to bring truck back and they will most likely have to drop the tank and inspect the fuel sending unit card and float from what I was just told.
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Porpoise Hork

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Possible causes for a P0461 code are;

Open reading in the signal circuit to the FLS sensor
Short to voltage in the signal circuit to the FLS sensor
Short to ground in the signal circuit to the FLS sensor
Failed FLS Sensor / sensing arm stuck mechanically

Since it's a repeating code and seems to return shortly after fueling up, the issue is likely going to be a failed fuel level arm sensor. So yes they will need to drop the tank and check it after scanning the system to see what sensor information they are getting.

It's not uncommon to have a failed float sensor.

And if your BF drives a Chevy tell him, Can Hear Every Valve Rod Or Lifer Every Time... and wait for him to figure it out with a smirk.
 

Jon Olivier

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And if your BF drives a Chevy tell him, Can Hear Every Valve Rod Or Lifer Every Time... and wait for him to figure it out with a smirk.
No joke, my Silverado went clickety-clickety for most of the 17 years I had it.
 

Frenchy

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Lol I would definitely prefer a Ford over Chevy any day after seing the lack of Quality over they recent years. As for the float arm it will probably need to be replaced. Also something to consider as i have heard of this once(also hope no one here is doing such) if you dont alow the fuel tank to go down for a bit(ex: to 1/2 or 1/4 tank) and keep refilling the tank right after a short trip it will set this code or similar. A tech i worked with a few years back ran into this from an old lady always wanting her fuel tank to be full. Kind of dumb but people do things like thay out there.
 
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xxEMOxx

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Lol I would definitely prefer a Ford over Chevy any day after seing the lack of Quality over they recent years. As for the float arm it will probably need to be replaced. Also something to consider as i have heard of this once(also hope no one here is doing such) if you dont alow the fuel tank to go down for a bit(ex: to 1/2 or 1/4 tank) and keep refilling the tank right after a short trip it will set this code or similar. A tech i worked with a few years back ran into this from an old lady always wanting her fuel tank to be full. Kind of dumb but people do things like thay out there.
If anything i am the exact opposite and tend to refuel at the very last moment.... which i hear can kill fuel pumps but amazingly I haven't yet..... ** knock on wood **

I am honestly a toyota fan and had amazing luck with my older hilux pickups and Tacoma's. I loved my 02 Prerunner Tacoma but yeah......

Trucm goes back to the dealer tomorrow morning and hopefully this time they will investigate it further, just a bit disappointed that a brand new truck seems as headache filled as a cash beater thus far.
 


Frenchy

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If anything i am the exact opposite and tend to refuel at the very last moment.... which i hear can kill fuel pumps but amazingly I haven't yet..... ** knock on wood **

I am honestly a toyota fan and had amazing luck with my older hilux pickups and Tacoma's. I loved my 02 Prerunner Tacoma but yeah......

Trucm goes back to the dealer tomorrow morning and hopefully this time they will investigate it further, just a bit disappointed that a brand new truck seems as headache filled as a cash beater thus far.
I can understand what you are saying here. The unfortunate truth for all of us is it is a new truck for the U.S. even though it has been in testing for 8 years before being released(found out from my boss at my dealership). When new vehicles come out they tend to have problems(regardless of how minor or major they are) and usually take a year or two in order for them to be worked out. I myself still loved the Old Nissan Frontier and D21 pickups and even then they had thier problems. Thankfully I have somehow gotten lucky with my tuck(probably built on a Tuesday) and the only thing i have to get fixed is the drive shaft(in another thread). Overall though I still think Ford did a good job on the truck. Hopefully you sont have any more problems after this.
 
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xxEMOxx

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I can understand what you are saying here. The unfortunate truth for all of us is it is a new truck for the U.S. even though it has been in testing for 8 years before being released(found out from my boss at my dealership). When new vehicles come out they tend to have problems(regardless of how minor or major they are) and usually take a year or two in order for them to be worked out. I myself still loved the Old Nissan Frontier and D21 pickups and even then they had thier problems. Thankfully I have somehow gotten lucky with my tuck(probably built on a Tuesday) and the only thing i have to get fixed is the drive shaft(in another thread). Overall though I still think Ford did a good job on the truck. Hopefully you sont have any more problems after this.
I would like to hope so, the fact its only its 2nd model year here kind of turned me off from buying it, but it was extremely hard to pass on the financing deal I got, especially when the comparable Toyota was 15k more and 12 months shorter 0% term.

I hope this is the only hiccup I have to deal with for a decent while.... although I do have a full coverage warranty for the 1st 6 years bumper to bumper for 72k. Then I have Geicos mechanical breakdown insurance as a secondary line of defense as well but idk how long Geico allows it to go, i think its like 7 years 120k but ill have reread my terms.

Anyway fingers crossed this issue gets resolved without any headaches and they give me a Mustang GT or Raptor loaner vehicle.
 

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just a bit disappointed that a brand new truck seems as headache filled as a cash beater thus far.
I don't get it. It's a new truck, and sometimes you get a bad part. It's a warranty item that Ford will fix at no cost. So why are you complaining about cash? If you think you're getting bad service at the dealer, go to a different dealer.
 

thewhiteranger

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Possible causes for a P0461 code are;

Open reading in the signal circuit to the FLS sensor
Short to voltage in the signal circuit to the FLS sensor
Short to ground in the signal circuit to the FLS sensor
Failed FLS Sensor / sensing arm stuck mechanically

Since it's a repeating code and seems to return shortly after fueling up, the issue is likely going to be a failed fuel level arm sensor. So yes they will need to drop the tank and check it after scanning the system to see what sensor information they are getting.

It's not uncommon to have a failed float sensor.

And if your BF drives a Chevy tell him, Can Hear Every Valve Rod Or Lifer Every Time... and wait for him to figure it out with a smirk.
:like: yes it does!!! ...... the chevy v-8 makes all kinds of noises I drove my 2000 for 15 years with the noise and took it in numerous times for it and always got the 'normal operating condition' but did get the powertrain extended to 100k - sold it with 150k on it and the noise was getting louder but still running strong. both make good trucks, I just liked the ranger better than the Colorado

good luck with the fix hopefully no more issues after that.....
 

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Thankfully I have somehow gotten lucky with my tuck(probably built on a Tuesday)
It is funny you say that - my truck was built on a Saturday (when they were doing overtime), and I was REALLY worried about that. (Never buy a vehicle built on Monday or Friday) But after almost 14 months and 13,000 miles, I've been trouble free other than a minor leaky mirror turn signal. Sometimes it is just the luck of the draw I think.
 

Porpoise Hork

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It is funny you say that - my truck was built on a Saturday (when they were doing overtime), and I was REALLY worried about that. (Never buy a vehicle built on Monday or Friday) But after almost 14 months and 13,000 miles, I've been trouble free other than a minor leaky mirror turn signal. Sometimes it is just the luck of the draw I think.

Pull the mirror signal out and double check that the bulb is fully seated. There are two flat tabs on the housing that fit into the rubber plug end and if they are not seated all the way in or the plug rotated so it doesn't seat all the way it'll leak. I discovered that the passenger side on mine was not seated correctly when I went to swap the incandescent bulbs for LED's.
 

RedlandRanger

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Pull the mirror signal out and double check that the bulb is fully seated. There are two flat tabs on the housing that fit into the rubber plug end and if they are not seated all the way in or the plug rotated so it doesn't seat all the way it'll leak. I discovered that the passenger side on mine was not seated correctly when I went to swap the incandescent bulbs for LED's.
Nope, the housing seal had a leak. The little seal was not installed correctly when the halves were put together. It was a simple thing to replace. Our own @Willcuts93 fixed it for me - he works for a dealer near me. As he said, it took longer to do the paperwork than it did to replace the housing.
 

rang19ca

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Anyway fingers crossed this issue gets resolved without any headaches and they give me a Mustang GT or Raptor loaner vehicle.
Aren't dreams wonderful things. :LOL:
 
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xxEMOxx

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I don't get it. It's a new truck, and sometimes you get a bad part. It's a warranty item that Ford will fix at no cost. So why are you complaining about cash? If you think you're getting bad service at the dealer, go to a different dealer.
I never once complained about cash, I said that IME I have had cash beaters that gave me less to no problems then this truck has given me. Not that this truck has given me alot of issues so far, but at 3k Ive experiences a windhsield that cracked within 3 miles, this check engine light, and the tranny shift issues, I guess I expected/assumed better build quality for a $30k truck. Also going to another dealer isn't always an easy proposition when you 25 30 miles in the country.
Aren't dreams wonderful things. :LOL:
They are, no Raptor got a 6 mile XLT F150 as a loaner.... nice truck but HUGE and stuff clearly wasnt placed for shorter people although even my BF said the window buttons are annoyingly far to reach for and push. Definitely not ergonomic unless your 6'4".

So dealer said the sending unit is bad something is sticking and causing the CEL to come on because of it so the sending unit needs replaced. Problem there, its on back order and they do not have an ETA for when it will be in stock.

:(

At least they got the ball rolling without much hassle. Now its just a matter of waiting on Ford for Parts.
 

rang19ca

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They are, no Raptor got a 6 mile XLT F150 as a loaner.... nice truck but HUGE and stuff clearly wasnt placed for shorter people although even my BF said the window buttons are annoyingly far to reach for and push. Definitely not ergonomic unless your 6'4".

So dealer said the sending unit is bad something is sticking and causing the CEL to come on because of it so the sending unit needs replaced. Problem there, its on back order and they do not have an ETA for when it will be in stock.

:(

At least they got the ball rolling without much hassle. Now its just a matter of waiting on Ford for Parts.
[/QUOTE]
I'm glad that 1st. they found the issue and that 2nd. they got you a loaner even if it is a F150.
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