Gas guage f'ed up!!!

[ftn96]

Gas guage f\'ed up!!!

I just filled up this morning adn 41 dollars later the guage was pegged at full. No problem.

Then at lunch I was sitting at a light and noticed that the guage was now reading a little less than half. It wont budge when I floor it or slam on the brakes.

Where do I start? I searched the archives, no such luck.

Will work for parts, beer and sex.
90 Jimi,350/700R4/241/10bolts/3.73's/33's/4"
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://mccordhouse.freeservers.com>http://mccordhouse.freeservers.com</A>

 

[dyeager535]

Re: Gas guage f\'ed up!!!

My guess would be sender, since if you lose ground, it should peg out and stay that way. COULD try making sure all the related contacts (fuel gauge, sending unit wires) have a good connection..probably easier than dropping the tank : )

Dorian
My K5 and Chev/Olds tech/links page: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://yeagerd.home.mindspring.com/index2.html>http://yeagerd.home.mindspring.com/index2.html</A>

 

[behemoth]

Re: Gas guage f\'ed up!!!

$41 is "no problem"? You using 97 octane from the most expensive station in town? I know - prices are a bitch - and I have the 23 gal. tank and I ask the attendant for loan papers everytime I fill up.

behemoth K5

 

[ftn96]

Re: Gas guage f\'ed up!!!

LOL!! Well, it is a problem. But I have a 26 gallon tank and the octane was 87 and it is running about 1.40 round town here in Nashville.
Update on the gauge. After it sat for a couple of hours between lunch and miller time, the gauge had climbed back up to full tank, then after about 5-10 minutes of driving, it just all of a sudden started dropping, all the way back down to a half tank. This is really too wierd, even for me.

Will work for parts, beer and sex.
90 Jimi,350/700R4/241/10bolts/3.73's/33's/4"
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://mccordhouse.freeservers.com>http://mccordhouse.freeservers.com</A>

 

[behemoth]

Re: Gas guage f\'ed up!!!

I hear ya man. I paid $1.52/gal. in Louisville last week.

Sounds like the sensor is going south on ya. I'd look into it since you don't actually know how much fuel you have - unless you stop and top off every two days or so.

behemoth K5

 

[Wheels]

Re: Gas guage f\'ed up!!!

Check the ground coming from the sending unit. Should be on the drivers side on the front crossmember that holds the tank up. Could have rust or corrosion on it that is affecting the reading. If that doesnt cure it, could be the sending unit. The plug on the back side of the dash may have some dirt or corrosion on it also, but more than likely it's the ground at the sending unit.

 

[ftn96]

Re: Gas guage f\'ed up!!!

Well, hell, I drove all 13 miles to work today adn it stayed on full. So it appears to be working now. It usually stays on full for a couple of days before it starts to plummit towards E.
Now that Im saying this, I'll go to the bank in a minute and it'll start freaking out again.

Will work for parts, beer and sex.
90 Jimi,350/700R4/241/10bolts/3.73's/33's/4"
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://mccordhouse.freeservers.com>http://mccordhouse.freeservers.com</A>

 

[JimmyDie6.2]

Re: Gas guage f\'ed up!!!

this post is going to sound weird, but this is what I went through with my K5. when I had my diesel motor in the truck and I had the tank filled, it would read a quarter full when it was totally full. when the truck was empty it would read empty. When I switched the gas motor in and filled it, the gauge would read almost half full. then empty when it was empty. I noticed some of my lights in the dash weren't working, so one day I replaced some blown bulbs and made sure the gauges were having a good contact in the dash....well...WALA....the gauge now reads perfectly..I have a 31 gallon tank I think..the optional tank if thats means anything..and yes it used to drive me nuts too. so do all your dash bulbs work?? if not start there.....js

 

[HarryH3]

Re: Gas guage f\'ed up!!!

Hey behemoth, be glad you don't have a Suburban!

The tank on my '94 holds 42 gallons. Filling up that monster is painful on the ol' wallet!

BTW folks, a bad ground won't make a GM fuel gauge read low. It will cause the gauge to peg past full. Somthing else is going on in the circuit to cause the flakiness reported above.

<font color=black>HarryH3 - '75 K5</font color=black>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://ThunderTruck.ColoradoK5.com>http://ThunderTruck.ColoradoK5.com</A>

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Re: Gas guage f\'ed up!!!

My gage never gets above 1/2 tank,but e is empty!LOL I'll fix it one of these days.

 

[FWP]

Re: Gas guage f\'ed up!!!

Harry's right. Typically 100 ohms= full, short to ground=empty. Have fun if it's wiring problem. NOT.