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Post Info TOPIC: Fuel gauge quit :(


Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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Fuel gauge quit :(


Hey guys,

 

My fuel gauge quit yesterday after filling up. The gauge rose to full, and at the next start up after shutdown I noticed it at empty. 

The tank and sender were both new 4 years ago. No problem until now.

One thing I did notice while filling, was I thought I heard a few strange clicking sounds coming from what seemed to be inside the tank.

 

What is the best way to troubleshoot the issue? How would you go about it?

 

Cheers and thanks, Mark



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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT. 
 


Poncho Master!

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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.

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'68 Parisienne 2+2 Convertible Matador Red (Resale Red but not for sale).



Guru

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......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.

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Poncho Master!

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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.

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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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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.



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70 2+2 convertible
70 2+2 hardtop
70 Parisienne hardtop
72 GMC Sierra

 

 



Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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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!



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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT. 
 


A Poncho Legend!

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

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Canadian Poncho Superstar!

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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.



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70 2+2 convertible
70 2+2 hardtop
70 Parisienne hardtop
72 GMC Sierra

 

 



Poncho Master!

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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

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'68 Parisienne 2+2 Convertible Matador Red (Resale Red but not for sale).

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