Gas Gauge Stopped Working - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

SCOTI · 09-05-2005, 09:17 PM

Anyone had this dilemma?

My gas gauge has always read slightly off. When filled it would read 1/4 tank past the full mark & then once it hit the 1/2 tank mark it went to empty pretty quickly. No big deal.

About 3~4 weeks ago it started something new. Now, it will sit around the full mark & when you hit the ignition, it swings over to the 3 o'clock position & stays there (full or empty). It sucks having to put gas in every 3-days because you don't know how much is in it.

I looked @ the tan wire that runs to the solenoid (pwr to sending unit?) & it appears to be of sound quality & the ground looks good @ the frame (near the tank, inside the framerail).

What else could it be? I checked fuses & nothing apparent there.
Any suggestions?

chevykid77 · 09-06-2005, 12:25 AM

it could also be the connections on the back of the guage its self i have had that happen its not getting connection sometimes if you hit dash it will come back but more than likely you will have to remove cluster and clean connections on back of guage....

79BIG10 · 09-06-2005, 12:25 AM

That's a grounding problem. Check the ground to make sure the wire to the sending unit is okay along with the post it grounds to. Does it do it to both tanks or just one?

SCOTI · 09-06-2005, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79BIG10

That's a grounding problem. Check the ground to make sure the wire to the sending unit is okay along with the post it grounds to. Does it do it to both tanks or just one?

Single tank.
Ground felt fine @ the frame. You can't really get to it on top of the tank though w/o dropping it.

79BIG10 · 09-06-2005, 12:31 AM

Might also be the wire itself broken or a short in it. I don't think that it could be a ground at the gauge but never know.

SCOTI · 09-06-2005, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79BIG10

Might also be the wire itself broken or a short in it. I don't think that it could be a ground at the gauge but never know.

My next step is run a temp power wire w/some clips & see if it makes a difference.
Thanks for the suggestions.

SSC's76 · 09-06-2005, 06:44 PM

Ground issue, might be broken in the sender itself. My truck was doing this all summer then the day I was going to fix it it started working again. Gotta love when they fix themselfs.

See if you can drop the tank low enough to get the plug off then play with the ground on the sender and see what the guage does.

DrMaserati · 09-17-2005, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCOTI

My next step is run a temp power wire w/some clips & see if it makes a difference.
Thanks for the suggestions.

Don't waste your time running another power wire. As stated above, what you are describing is caused by poor/lack of ground. If you had no power to the sender it would not come off of empty. With power to the sender but a bad ground it will peg past full.

JP

SCOTI · 09-17-2005, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrMaserati

Don't waste your time running another power wire. As stated above, what you are describing is caused by poor/lack of ground. If you had no power to the sender it would not come off of empty. With power to the sender but a bad ground it will peg past full.

JP

I should have been more specific.

If I'm there to run one wire for testing, I'll do both. I'll run a hot lead & see if there's a difference & a new ground & see if there's a difference.

SWR · 09-19-2005, 09:51 AM

Were you able to figure out the cause of your gauge problem? Mine does the exact same thing. I just haven't had time to look into it yet.

Thanks.

09-05-2005, 09:17 PM	#1
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,071	Gas Gauge Stopped Working Anyone had this dilemma? My gas gauge has always read slightly off. When filled it would read 1/4 tank past the full mark & then once it hit the 1/2 tank mark it went to empty pretty quickly. No big deal. About 3~4 weeks ago it started something new. Now, it will sit around the full mark & when you hit the ignition, it swings over to the 3 o'clock position & stays there (full or empty). It sucks having to put gas in every 3-days because you don't know how much is in it. I looked @ the tan wire that runs to the solenoid (pwr to sending unit?) & it appears to be of sound quality & the ground looks good @ the frame (near the tank, inside the framerail). What else could it be? I checked fuses & nothing apparent there. Any suggestions? __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.*

09-06-2005, 12:25 AM	#3
79BIG10 I'm back with 2nd truck! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 3,774	That's a grounding problem. Check the ground to make sure the wire to the sending unit is okay along with the post it grounds to. Does it do it to both tanks or just one? __________________ 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson

09-06-2005, 12:31 AM	#5
79BIG10 I'm back with 2nd truck! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 3,774	Might also be the wire itself broken or a short in it. I don't think that it could be a ground at the gauge but never know. __________________ 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson

09-06-2005, 06:44 PM	#7
SSC's76 No No Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Pueblo Colorado Posts: 1,781	Ground issue, might be broken in the sender itself. My truck was doing this all summer then the day I was going to fix it it started working again. Gotta love when they fix themselfs. See if you can drop the tank low enough to get the plug off then play with the ground on the sender and see what the guage does. __________________ 1976 Custom Deluxe SWB Med FMB.3/4 Drop. Gen VI 454, Muncie HD 3 speed With Modified OE Hurst Shifter, 3.73 12 bolt, GMPP HO roller cam, Hooker headers, Performer intake with modified Q-jet, Accel distributor. Best 1/4 12.3 @108. Funnest run 19.84 @88 full 1/4 mile burn out. 1997 K1500 ext cab 5.7 stock except muffler

09-06-2005, 12:25 AM	#2
chevykid77 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Carpentersville illinois Posts: 34	it could also be the connections on the back of the guage its self i have had that happen its not getting connection sometimes if you hit dash it will come back but more than likely you will have to remove cluster and clean connections on back of guage....

09-19-2005, 09:51 AM	#10
SWR Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Vancouver Posts: 4	Were you able to figure out the cause of your gauge problem? Mine does the exact same thing. I just haven't had time to look into it yet. Thanks.



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