I could really use some help guys!! I'm replacing the fuel pump in my '04 cause it's absolutely toast and I've come across a riddle i can't solve...

while draining the tank i noticed that the level sensor hasn't been dropping below 1/4 of a tank and yet the pump was just moving air.

finally i said to heck with it and popped the ring off and looked inside and from what i can see, this tank looks pretty damn empty:







i inspected the level assembly and it seems functional and free of obstruction... i reintroduced the new pump and turned it on and the level still reads just over 1/4 of a tank.

i've done my due dilligence and searched for similar issues and i failed to find my answers, i hope someone will be willing to lend some wisdom.

is this what empty looks like? ...if so, what reason would make the level sensor so far off.

any suggestions on how i might remedy this issue? please advise, i'm in dire straits here

 

okay, it looks like the pumps ability to feed from the other side of the tank was shot as the pump began to die.

someone had another quarter of a tank just hanging out on the other side of the car