Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

fuel gauge always registers as full

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    fuel gauge always registers as full

    I have a slight problem. Ever since i purchased the car, the fuel gauge always reads FULL. However, the fuel low light works, so my best guess is that the fuel tank sender is still operational.

    Symptoms:
    * Fuel gauge is always full
    * Fuel low light WORKS
    * Temp Gauge WORKS

    Probable Causes:
    * Ground Nut is loose (checked)
    However, i checked that the ground nut is not loose, and opened up the cluster to clean up the ground contact of the fuel and temp gauges
    * Sender is bad? (not checked)
    * Wires between the sender and cluster is bad? (not checked)


    Question:
    * if my low fuel light works, does that mean my ground on my cluster is working?
    * also, if my low fuel light works, does it mean the sender works to some degree?
    * could i just have a bad fuel gauge? if it always reads full? (when the engine is off , it reads empty )
    * what is the resistance in ohms when the gas is full , vs when the gas is empty?
    * does the sender has 2 independent systems for activating the empty light as opposed to the gauge?

    hypothesis:
    * if my grounding was wrong to my cluster, i would read empty on my fuel gauge?
    * thus, since the resistance of the fuel gauge, since it reads full , would be near 0-5 ohms
    * therefore, there is probably a short somewhere, such that, it always reads very little resistance.
    * my fuel low light works, because it is a different pin, which is not shorted.
    * also, due to the fact that my low light works, the sender ballast works properly?
    Last edited by inwoo; 10-17-2007, 05:52 PM.

    #2
    My guess would be a shorted sensor or sensor wiring. With the float at the top (full tank) the sender has 0 ohms and with the float at the bottom it will read 56 or 74 ohms, depending on year of production.
    The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
    Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

    Comment


      #3
      I had the same problem. I replaced the sender and its fully operational now.
      sigpic

      Comment


        #4
        The sender is stuck, AKA bad. Go ahead and replace it and im sure your problem will be solved
        sigpic

        Comment


          #5
          Why not check the sender first using the information jlevie posted. No point in replacing a part that isn't bad.

          Comment


            #6
            i'm going to check the sender today,

            i don't understand how the sender could be "bad" or stuck.. if the low fuel light works ...
            i'll find out for sure today, and report back.

            Comment


              #7
              i just checked,

              pulled the sending unit out.

              when the float is at the top, it reads about 3ohms
              when the float is at the bottom, it reads 10ohms...

              However, the low fuel light registers, just like it behaves on the cluster.

              I ordered a new sending unit, and will report back in the forum.

              Comment


                #8
                Try firmly tapping the guage cluster right where the fuel guage is. I have this problem, and its caused by a wire in the back of the cluster shorting in and out. I'm too lazy to fix it.

                Comment


                  #9
                  yeah it's definitely not the gauge. when resistance is applied over the cable, the gauge functions over the range in 74-0 ohms

                  Comment

                  Working...
                  X