Well after I took my cluster apart and painted it.. Everything went back together perfect had no problems but now the fuel gauge won't read anything as if it's not hooked up, I did pressure wash underneath my car, would that have been able to knock something off? Or did i mess something up when i took it apart? I'm just lost right now and I don't feel like not knowin when I'm about to run out of fuel. Hopefully someone has some knowledge about this, thanks
This may not be the most genious response but ...I had the same problem so I had someone sit in the driver seat and watch the gauge while I jiggled the wires to the fuel sending unit on the tank. That did the trick after moving it for a while. Maybe give that a shot and see what happens.
There is a wire that attaches to the sending unit on the tank. Make sure it is still connected. You can also ground this wire and the guage should read full.
I would check wire connection at sending unit pressue washing could have knocked it off or if wire was already corroded could have finished it off!
If you have a simple circuit tester (light bulb type probe) Ground it and test the wires at the plug where it hooks to the sending unit on the tank.(Do this test with the key on) If the light on your probe flashes when you probe the hot wire...Its a bad ground...fuel level sensor or guage. If it doesnt flash... The IPVR (instrument panel voltage regulator) is no longer functioning...Its the little metal box attached to the printed circuit board on the back of the instrument cluster. It possible you upset the connection when you had it apart.
make sure the connector on the tank isn't full of water and/or corroded. They can be cleaned up with a tiny wire brush (I think they were designed for trailer connectors)
never mind...found it. Has anyone found a sending unit for a fuel cell that is the correct ohms to be able to use the factory fuel gauge? Mine came with the GM style sending unit...I guess I could just get a different gauge...unless someone has a better idea.
I haven't found one for a fuel cell, VDO and Autometer both make gauges to work with the Ford 73-10ohm sender, or senders to work with the Ford gauge. The GM you have should be 10-90ohms, E-F, if it's the same as the ones I have looked at. The ones they offered were universal float type and not the long cylinder type that are in most fuel cells. If you don't have the foam inside, you could use a float type.
Ok, we're having this same problem. Tested by grounding single wire to ground and gauge went full. Brand new sending unit installed. Tested with circuit tester and get the flashing light, so we think the voltage regulator is working. We have 10 gallons in the 16 gallon tank, and it reads 1/4 full. If it is a bad ground, where might that ground be???? This is a 69.5 with the factory tank, etc..........
Sounds like the circuit is good, the problem may be the sending unit itself. Or the float arm may need to be bent to show proper level...OR...The guage is not working well anymore. Most likely its a bad/corroded connection. This will show the guage high resistance causing it to read low. Check all connections at the inst' cluster, and the float assembly. Be certain the connections are clean and tight. Good luck!!!
