Fuel gauge quit :(

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Fuel gauge quit :(

JC2+2 · Poncho Master!

Disconnect the wire to the sending unit. The gauge should read overfull. If it does, problem is sending unit shorted to ground. If still reads empty, the wire to the gauge may be shorted to ground. And to check the gauge, the sending wire will have to be disconnected at the gauge. Pretty sure no printed circuit for your cluster so shouldn't be too hard to do.

deleted · Guru

......the tank sending unit only works giving more or less ground. If you disconnect the wire from it your gauge should go one way to the end , if you touch the wire to the steel someplace ( ground ) then the guage will go the other way to the end. If the guage does this then the sending unit is faulty. If gauge does nothing then it is a problem with the wire or guage itself. The guage also has a power wire going to it so could check that too.

bjburnout · Uber Guru

Check the ground from the sending unit to the frame......these sometimes corrode and fall off.
Ensure it is getting good ground and if the problem persists do the diagnosis listed above.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

You should be able to locate the fuel gauge connector in the trunk, disconnect it there for diagnostics. I like the idea of checking to ensure you haven't lost ground as well, you should clearly see where the ground gets screwed to the chassis, and are prone to break off.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Thanks for the hints guys, I'll let you know how it turns out. Hopefully just a weak ground, but I'm prepared to drop the tank if need be.

The car is soon getting all new custom rear control arms, a new Hotchkis stabilizer and a 3.55 Eaton posi. So if I need to drop, that'll be the time when it's in the air.

One would think a sender would be good for more than 4 years!

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

I remember GM still had NOS sending units when I had my Laurentian. They might have one for your year.

seventy2plus2 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

The sending unit should be readily available, through any of the retailers or ebay. It's the ones with the 1/4" return line are VERY hard to find.

JC2+2 · Poncho Master!

Guys, a poor ground will act the same as an open circuit (which it really is) and will read overfull on the gauge. Only a grounded out circuit at or before the sender will cause the gauge to read empty.

-- Edited by JC2+2 on Monday 9th of June 2014 08:32:30 PM