guys my gas guage isn't working - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

whitesswj · 03-19-2004, 01:29 AM

last week my fuel guage quit working on me. First i thought it was a fuse, there isn't one. then i thought it was my hot wire out of the box to the guage and i put it on another terminal and it made a small spark, no big deal, and it hasn't worked since. you guys tell me.
When the key is off the guage goes extremely slowly up from E to like 1/16th of a tank and as soon as you turn on the key it pulls back down to E.

doughby82 · 03-19-2004, 03:17 AM

cant help ya on this one,but the 72 i just sold when ya turn the lights on the gas gauge would drop past empty,and on my 68 it drop way below empty when its cold outside(under 30)but as soon as the cab warms up it moves to where it supposed to be.i think someone had a good post on the gas gauge before ill see if i can find it

Bill72BB · 03-19-2004, 03:39 AM

Check the brown wire from the tank sending unit which runs under the door sill on the driver side to see if it's grounded.

724x4a/cchevy · 03-19-2004, 11:29 AM

check the connection on the gas sender. Sometimes it works its way loose.

Putter · 03-19-2004, 11:38 AM

This most likely will not help in any way, but have you ever see the movie "SLINGBLADE"? Maybe you oughta' check and see if she ain't got no gas in it. Just my $.02

whitesswj · 03-19-2004, 12:00 PM

I filled up on the day it quit. and you and i both know that once on E you better start lookin for a fillin station.

Putter · 03-19-2004, 12:31 PM

My gauge was acting up a few weeks back, but when my sending unit is not connected, my gauge goes up waaayyyy past full. Then if I re-connect it, it goes back to normal. Mine was just loosing connection.

fast14 · 03-19-2004, 12:45 PM

While we're on this subject, how do you know if the gauge is getting power?? Mine doesn't move at all even if i remove the wire from the sending unit.

orangeuavol · 03-19-2004, 01:36 PM

ask jhow66

jhow66 · 03-19-2004, 06:02 PM

Go to search and type in "jhow66"--read the thread on Brodykelly--this should help.

cdowns · 03-19-2004, 07:06 PM

if you've got 12volts to the sender and you have a GOOD ground from the sender to the body i'd think you have a bad guage

jmanz69 · 03-19-2004, 08:08 PM

That wire going to the sending unit isn't a 12 Volt wire. It's a sensing wire. If you put 12 Volts on it, you probably blew your sending unit. The 12 volts goes to the gauge, then out at a lower voltage to the sending unit. The gauge reacts to how much of a voltage drop is on that wire thru the sending unit. Sounds like you fried it man. I would look for another sending unit. You can take yours out and measure with a meter from the terminal for the wire to the outside of the sending unit (ground) and see if there is 0-110 ohms when you move the float up and down. If there is, then you blew your gauge. Good luck.

Here is a pic of the wire diagram how it works.

jmanz69 · 03-19-2004, 08:12 PM

here it is.

03-19-2004, 01:29 AM	#1
whitesswj Embrace the Redneck Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cabot, AR Posts: 1,334	guys my gas guage isn't working last week my fuel guage quit working on me. First i thought it was a fuse, there isn't one. then i thought it was my hot wire out of the box to the guage and i put it on another terminal and it made a small spark, no big deal, and it hasn't worked since. you guys tell me. When the key is off the guage goes extremely slowly up from E to like 1/16th of a tank and as soon as you turn on the key it pulls back down to E. __________________ '01 Camaro *Son, you just can't get there from here...*

03-19-2004, 03:17 AM	#2
doughby82 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: springfield ill Posts: 836	cant help ya on this one,but the 72 i just sold when ya turn the lights on the gas gauge would drop past empty,and on my 68 it drop way below empty when its cold outside(under 30)but as soon as the cab warms up it moves to where it supposed to be.i think someone had a good post on the gas gauge before ill see if i can find it __________________ springfield illinois 2003 custom (harley)built from scratch 68 swb

03-19-2004, 03:39 AM	#3
Bill72BB Thats the Hillbilly way Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Torrance,Ca Posts: 5,980	Check the brown wire from the tank sending unit which runs under the door sill on the driver side to see if it's grounded. __________________ BILL Torrance Calif 90504 Member DUF Club Member Old Farts Club 72 3/4ton Custom Camper BB402/400 trans Dynomax Cerama-coat headers , Hei distributor ,Edelbrock 1411 air,ps,pb,leafsprings ,98 chevy 60/40 seat,S10 shoulder belts tilt,3.54 Dana 60 rear. 16" Eagle wheels with LT265/75 16 tires,Gaylord Lid,H4 headlights with 100W relay conversion. " If I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself " Marriage changes passion...suddenly you're in bed with a relative. A GUY'S PRAYER.... Lord, I pray for a nympho with huge boobs who owns a liquor store and likes to fish and hunt and has a Harley .Amen ,

03-19-2004, 11:29 AM	#4
724x4a/cchevy Self-proclaimed LED man Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrisburg, Missouri Posts: 1,021	check the connection on the gas sender. Sometimes it works its way loose. __________________ My LED Website My Photobucket Album of LED's Ask me about hand-made custom L.E.D brake and reverse lights. <- LINK I also do LED: -Third Brake/Cargo -Brake (truck and burb) -Reverse (truck and burb) -67-68 Front Turn Signals -69-70 Front Turn Signals -71-72 Front Turn Signals -GMC Front Turn Signals I can also do custom lights for other vehicles....i did a set for a AMC Gremlin once Norwood Survivor

03-19-2004, 11:38 AM	#5
Putter More Cowbell.... Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, MS Posts: 3,569	This most likely will not help in any way, but have you ever see the movie "SLINGBLADE"? Maybe you oughta' check and see if she ain't got no gas in it. Just my $.02 __________________ *There once was a member from Puckett.....Who ( fill in the blank blank blank* ) bucket**

03-19-2004, 12:00 PM	#6
whitesswj Embrace the Redneck Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cabot, AR Posts: 1,334	I filled up on the day it quit. and you and i both know that once on E you better start lookin for a fillin station. __________________ '01 Camaro *Son, you just can't get there from here...*

03-19-2004, 12:31 PM	#7
Putter More Cowbell.... Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, MS Posts: 3,569	My gauge was acting up a few weeks back, but when my sending unit is not connected, my gauge goes up waaayyyy past full. Then if I re-connect it, it goes back to normal. Mine was just loosing connection. __________________ *There once was a member from Puckett.....Who ( fill in the blank blank blank* ) bucket**

03-19-2004, 12:45 PM	#8
fast14 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 117	While we're on this subject, how do you know if the gauge is getting power?? Mine doesn't move at all even if i remove the wire from the sending unit. __________________ Just a little crazy 1970 chevy full size half ton, soon to be one ton running gear, 350 turbo, 205 case, 355c.i.

03-19-2004, 01:36 PM	#9
orangeuavol GO VOLS! Join Date: May 2001 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 725	ask jhow66 __________________ http://1972blazer.shutterfly.com/<= blazer build pics It's called golf because all the other four letter words were taken. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

03-19-2004, 06:02 PM	#10
jhow66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Knoxville Tenn. Posts: 3,058	Go to search and type in "jhow66"--read the thread on Brodykelly--this should help. __________________ 56 Chevy Bel-Air 2dr. HT (purchased new) 71 Chevy Cheyenne SWB PU (502HO) 65 GMC short bed step--work in progress and my gofer

03-19-2004, 07:06 PM	#11
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	if you've got 12volts to the sender and you have a GOOD ground from the sender to the body i'd think you have a bad guage __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

03-19-2004, 08:08 PM	#12
jmanz69 Careful, they attack... Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Waterford, MI, USA Posts: 1,107	That wire going to the sending unit isn't a 12 Volt wire. It's a sensing wire. If you put 12 Volts on it, you probably blew your sending unit. The 12 volts goes to the gauge, then out at a lower voltage to the sending unit. The gauge reacts to how much of a voltage drop is on that wire thru the sending unit. Sounds like you fried it man. I would look for another sending unit. You can take yours out and measure with a meter from the terminal for the wire to the outside of the sending unit (ground) and see if there is 0-110 ohms when you move the float up and down. If there is, then you blew your gauge. Good luck. Here is a pic of the wire diagram how it works.

03-19-2004, 08:12 PM	#13
jmanz69 Careful, they attack... Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Waterford, MI, USA Posts: 1,107	here it is. Attached Images

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