You WON"T find a simpler technique for accurately testing the gauge and sender. The later part of the video even covers how testing can be done with a scanner on the newer vehicles! Enjoy! Thank you for stopping by, Jeff.
I wanted to tell you I just watched your video I have a 2000 Toyota Echo with a fuel gauge that is stuck on full so another video for my car we'll be following that but yours was very informative a great education thank you great job...
Hi Hoagie. Sometime in the future I did plan on doing a video on the one of a kind things created here for that buggy build. There is quite the list for that one!
Jeff, excellent job. That Ranger is so sweet, the oil rustproofing certainly works. I'd be dressed in surgical clothes to work on that Vette! Haha! Gorgeous car.
Hello Crag. I bought a CJ5 new years ago, had lotsa mods and custom painted. Watched it disappear due to rust and decided to find something that worked! Thanks for stopping by, Jeff.
Great tips as always Jeff! I sure could have used that tool for finding the break in a circuit. I was helping a friend fix a tail light problem on a big tilt bed truck. It turned out to be a break in a wire halfway down the frame of the truck. I was so happy when I finally found it! lol
Hey codes and coffee. I have a Hyundai i20 2010 model and have fuel gauge problem, not giving correct fuel reading. I took it to Hyundai and they told me I need to change the instrument cluster, which too expensive to replace. Everything on my cluster works , I just want to know is such a problem fixable or do I need a new
Your welcome. Actually I thought my gauge was going bad where the sender was just replaced! Thru lotsa searching I finally found a USA made sender this time. :>)
Cool way of checking things,,,,do you know how to check a Willys 6 volt fuel gauge if its out of the dash. only has two wires to it, are those power,6 V and wire from the sender?? Not sure it the sender or gauge
Jeff Some people said if you keep filling your fuel tank all the way up to the max..your fuel pump is not going to last the extra miles..? After how many miles or years you should change your fuel pump..?
96 Villager, when I turned off the engine, the index pin won't go down to zero, is it right? My 2010 Corolla will show zero when I shut off engine. Please advise.
Thanks!!! There is so much that can be done with those these days. 20+ on board modules is quite common now and they all have to be accessed separately! Sure is different from the early 80's when they first came out. Recently my friend wanted to buy a truck from a car lot. I went along & brought the scanner. The guy had to come along for the ride. Lots to look at and while in transit the guy asked what I was all looking at. That can't be answered in one sentence. I told the guy I can turn the check engine light on right now if you would like! When we got back the guy seriously looked at me and asked - you didn't do anything to the truck did you? Haha, I did find several $ things that weren't disclosed and seems they knew about. Thought I'd include a LOL for ya. When you get better at running one there is all kinds of fun to be had!
2JEFFS1 --]] The Temperature gauge needs a "resistance value" or a Voltage? to be applied to the temperature gauge to see the needle moving from C to F? When I disconnect the temperature sending unit/temperature sensor can't I just use a variable resistor potentiometer and watch the temp gauge need moving from C to F? the temp sending unit/temp sensor is a thermistor which is a variable resistance But i dont' know what my temperature gauge is wanting a resistance and a voltage or just only a resistance in order to move that temp gauge needle from C to F?
ok scratchin my head head on this one, fuel gage not working when i got the truck no problem tested sending unit and it was bad got a new one tested with ohm meter before install tests good did a dry test outside of tank before install and when i simulate full tank the gage starts towards full but when it gets to a 1/4 it stops and kinda ticks so i tested the fuel gage by grounding sending unit wire (to tank ground wire) and it goes right up to full, then i installed sending unit as it needed replacing anyway, so each part test good on its own but once installed it will go up to 1/4 tank when key is turned on then creep back down to empty, ant thoughts?
Here's a question. My problem is my gauge reads half of what in. (1/2 tank read 1/4). Checked the wire and the gauge and sender 33ohms. As soon as you plug the wire in the wire drops to 15ohm which is what is causing the false reading what you think it is been trying to figure it out
Connecting the gauge into the circuit will put a slight load on it. I was thinking possibly the sending unit (might be) the issue. If you had it out of the tank it could be compared to a new one. If not installed one could return if that wouldn't be the problem. Make sure the sender/tank has a good ground to start with. Another note for you. Some of the newer vehicles one has to remove the needles off the gauges to solder in new dash lamps on the circuit board. If you have one of those - did someone previously have apart and didn't replace the needles back on correctly? A few thoughts, hope this helps, Jeff.
I Have Dodge Caravan 2004, 6 cyl. Mecanics have quote changed out everything. My gas gauge still does not work. when I fill it up it shows full, but after driving 150 miles it shows almost empty so now I have keep track of my mileage. What do you think???
Hi John. Kinda sounds like the float arm on the sending unit is hanging up or defective sending unit. I have had poor luck with the aftermarket/cheaper ones. Where you had your vehicle repaired it would be nice if they would stand behind their work and parts. And if the sender needs replacement again I would recommend an OE one. (original equipment) They cost more but some have been upgraded in design to be more ethanol resistant which can cause early failure certain style older type senders. Hope this helps for your bad deal going on there John, Jeff.
Hi. Question. When doing the gauge test. is the green wire just a jumper? It looks like you have it from the gauge going to your fender cover? Then you say you ground it. Just a bit confused on this part. Thanks.
The connector to the rear sender is disconnected. The green wire is connected to the gauge in the cab. By disconnecting it the gauge will stay on empty. (connector clipped to the rubber mat) By grounding it the gauge went to full. (white wire) This test shows the gauge is good, able to read the full sweep.
my fuel guage needle is stuck near the middle and a light shows up saying " low fuel" and the speedometer only works if the radio is off, all other guages work. any suggestions as to what can be the problem? its a 2002 escalade
Wow - never heard of that one. GM does offer rebuilt instrument clusters. Perhaps check with a dealer for that problem would be your best bet. (just what no one likes to hear) ;>)
I have a 1998 grand cherokee lorado and the fuel gauge acts intermittently. I've read this car's history and this code shows up: code P0463, fuel sender volts high (gas gauge). Any idea what this is all about and how I can fix this issue? Btw, the engine is the 4.0L straight six, 4 wheel drive, fully automatic.
Being intermittent usually is a sign the sender is going bad. If possible see if there is a connector that is accessible at the tank and try to do your testing there. I read a while back that the ethanol in the gas is creating havoc on certain sending units. Some of the replacement ones coming in here have a info sheet in the box saying they have changed/upgraded the replacement part/sender to accommodate for that condition.
I have a 1997 GMC Sierra 1500 and it has a problem of the gas needle moving under braking or stopping (usually goes down about a quarter of a tank) but it normally goes back up but it is a annoyance and sometimes it doesn’t go back up to the same spot
Thank you this helps. Now I just have to figure out wires for a vw bus vanagon. I guess I might have to drop tank to get to sending unit. Mine was all over the place then nothing.
I took my truck to get the fuel pump and sender Replace. When I got my truck back the gauge was still not Working after filling up the tank. I took my truck back to the dealer so they can check their work they've confirmed There's nothing wrong with the sender and the fuel pump. oddly enough though at about half full tank the gauge starts working. I filled up The Tank with the engine on and saw the gauge go up. once it reached half tank full it went back down to empty. Any thoughts?
I am here, you are there. Electrical is tough to.... I kinda suspect the sender, I always bench test components in to day's times where their is so much crap quality before installing....Or wrong one installed....
Hello William. After reading your comment I think I would UPS you the snow if I had your address! (Sorry I blew up!) ;>) Nice having you stop by and a Merry Christmas to you!
Tell me this fuel gauge experts.......I have a 1987 chevy van I pulled the tbi computer out, all gauges working except fuel!! So know all of this knowledge of grounding the the fucking gauge wire and it going from full to empty, I've done this on my 68 chevelle actually this wire will read 8 volts, this through me off when I was in my van trying to find the sending wire to the fuel gauge without pulling the gauge cluster apart and tracking the wire. When I tested my chevelle and had the sending from the fuel gauge read 8 volts and I knew there was a wire in the van that read the same volts, I felt confident that if I hooked that wire to ground the gauge would go to empty....and sure enough it did! But now the gauge won't go back to full when it's not grounded........so my question is this did I just have fluke and the gauge just blew itself?
Hi Manolo. In regards to your questions. When one keeps clicking the pump after it clicks off, overfilling can cause raw fuel to enter the carbon canister and evap system especially if it would be driven a few blocks and shut off in the hot sun. Not good for that, no harm to the pump tho. If the fuel pump ever quits working sometimes hitting the bottom of the fuel tank can make it work again for a bit. Back in 2007 GM was going thru bad times and some components were of poor quality. There have been updates from the original versions if you purchase a new Delfi fuel pump module. The ethanol also has been causing issues (changed the material they are made from) and the updates also fix the erratic gas gauge issue too with a 4 finger contactor in the sending unit part of the module. Don't want to tell you to replace it that's not a lot of miles on your vehicle, most people wait until they fail to replace them, but on another note like I bet your thinking not a good feeling from the unknown and maybe just replace it in advance. Then you can have your preferred mechanic do the work instead of being on the highway some where. I would strongly recommend the Delfi v/s any other brands myself. Never had one come back yet = happy customers! I best get back to work here, good luck, Jeff.
2005 Silverado. Vent control dial/knob has fan speed setting 1-5. When turning on 5 (max), the blower dies. What gives? Is there a resistor in there somewhere? I'd think that full speed pulls out all resistors. Gimmie some love on troubleshooting! ;)
Sounds like an instrument cluster ground issue to me. If you can access the rear of it wiggle the harness around to it when lights on. If you have a temp gauge and that works fine you might have to remove and inspect from there. (check for a break in the circuit board.) Too busy here today, hope this helps you out John, Jeff.
Was curious what you were working on. Yes, I believe that should have one. The gauges are held in the cluster with small nuts that must contact to the cb. Be careful they are fragile. Pay attention to the nuts for the f gauge and also where the main connector plugs into the cluster. At times things can look good and are not. I just had a similar issue with the D buggy. (Chev dash) Perhaps start with checking with an ohm meter from the gauge studs to the main connector. A few ideas to get you started. Good luck.
Hello Fernando. Never seen or worked on that part of a fuel readout/system. There would have to be a computer in/for the cluster readout for that. Sorry, Jeff.
my mechanic replaced the fuel pump and then the gas gauge didnt work and i ran out of gas had to get towed and replaced the fuel pump under warranty was his recomendation when we all know know they screwed up the sender its self. cost me labor twice 180.00 . he wouldnt admit to it they screwed up. i dont use them any more.
hi mate ford transit 2.5 fuel gage notworking..i open tank 5 times there 2 wire for fuel pump anotor 2 for guge i test groun it ok nother wire shurt can u help me its sgnail or come from fuse box ? its 2.5 2014 thnx
Hello auto uk. One should be able to command the gauge to full and empty at the tank wires. If not the problem is something more toward the front. I never have seen a fuse blow for the fuel gauge. If the rest of the instruments are working it might be the gauge. Years prior Ford was using what was called an anti slosh module which was inside the dash cluster. Not sure if they still use them but those were prone to failure. Haven't worked on that particular vehicle before. Hope this helps. Wiring issues can be challenging to chase without actually being there.
my fuel gauge is always reading too high but after I drive around for a little while it gets back into normal anybody have any ideas why it's doing this
So the reason Ford does it backwards to increase the life of the fuel gauge, most people drive around on less than a full tank so with Fords setup you are sending less power to the gauge when you have less fuel.
Interesting thought. Thanks. But if you have less current at one end, you have more resistance at the other. Wouldn’t you have more problems with more resistance? But maybe the senders fail mechanically long before that point. Got me thinking though, electricity, resistance, heat, fuel tank…. Wonder how dangerous all that is.
The current is so small its almost non existence, The way a fuel gauge works is by a bi-metal strip that is "heated" (pass current throw it and it heats up), with two different metals being used each one expands at different rates and thous binds. With ford the less fuel you have the less heating of the bi-metal strip and since most people drive around on part tank fulls of gas its less work for the gauge. As for the sending unit failing from heat or use it will always fail from the sweeping motion of the unit. Most interment reading problems can be traced back to a break in the printed coil on the sending unit. This is caused by wear from the sweep arm.
Seems more like a lecture about the sending unit and not the gauge itself. How about a fuel gauge right out of the box and not installed to anything, is it good or is it not going to move after you've gone through the hassle of hooking it up? So much for the easy kiss-my-ass method. The title here says fuel guage not sender.
