Fuel Gauge Problem? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Gillnetter · 10-26-2006, 12:01 AM

Tank is full but gauge reads empty.Previous owner installed a new tank.When I disconnect the brown wire out of the fuse block the gauge jumps up past the full mark.Any suggestions?

bouncytruck · 10-26-2006, 12:29 AM

Sounds like you might need a new sending unit. I found this "fuel system cleaner" at the auto parts store that claims it will clean the sending unit and remove the tarnish. You might give some of this stuff a chance before dropping the tank.

Gillnetter · 10-26-2006, 12:41 AM

Thanks for the advice. Just got the truck a few weeks ago a few kinks to work out.Here is a picture I took a couple a days ago.

krue · 10-26-2006, 03:25 AM

Looks like it's in good shape.

bouncytruck · 10-26-2006, 10:59 AM

Wow, it looks good. Did you get it up in BC? It looks like it has very little rust, especially for up here in the great wet north.

Gillnetter · 10-26-2006, 12:37 PM

I found it on craigslist in washington.A few rust issues but over all in pretty good shape.

jhow66 · 10-26-2006, 04:03 PM

Sounds like your tan wire from fuse panel to tank is grounded. The gauge is working right because when you disconnect it ,it should go to full or beyond. Leave it disconnected at panel and use a jumber wire from fuse panel and touch other end to ground. Needle should move toward empty. If it does check the tan wire to tank.

Gillnetter · 10-26-2006, 05:24 PM

I grounded the fuse panel ,gauge went to empty. Tan wire to tank looks fine. Tank is the black poly type. Might be my sending unit. What do you think?

RANDY COX · 10-26-2006, 05:47 PM

Check your ground wire from tank that's bolted to frame might not be grounded enough,had this problem with my burb.Hope this helps,Randy

69TowRig · 10-26-2006, 06:49 PM

The float on mine had pin-hole leak and it sunk to the bottom of the tank. Pull the tank and sweep the sender to check it versus the gauge. Most times if you have the patience the sender can be refurbished in an hour or so. I actually repaired mine, it had a broken wire and bad connections all over it. Save your $$$.

jhow66 · 10-26-2006, 10:12 PM

If tank is "poly" that means the tank is not grounded. Take a wire and attach it to the metal of the sending unit and then ground the other end to the frame.

2wdBlazer · 10-26-2006, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RANDY COX

Check your ground wire from tank that's bolted to frame might not be grounded enough,had this problem with my burb.Hope this helps,Randy

That was my problem too.

Gillnetter · 10-26-2006, 10:59 PM

My ground wire is attached to the frame. It looks like it is going to the sending unit, it is hard to tell without dropping the tank.It's a tough call i might have to drop the tank if I can't figure this out.

ecameron87 · 10-27-2006, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RANDY COX

Check your ground wire from tank that's bolted to frame might not be grounded enough,had this problem with my burb.Hope this helps,Randy

This was also the problem with mine.

**Yukon Jack** · 10-27-2006, 05:29 PM

Great looking K5 - welcome to the board. Hope you get the issue resolved easily.

Gillnetter · 11-14-2006, 01:29 AM

Dropped the tank today and took the sending unit out. Sending unit had come apart ,I put it back together and it works fine.A cheap fix lucky for me!

69TowRig · 11-15-2006, 12:14 AM

SWEET! Always pays to investigate before buying new parts.

10-26-2006, 12:01 AM	#1
Gillnetter Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vancouver B.C. Posts: 286	Fuel Gauge Problem? Tank is full but gauge reads empty.Previous owner installed a new tank.When I disconnect the brown wire out of the fuse block the gauge jumps up past the full mark.Any suggestions? __________________ 1972 Blazer CST Dark Olive, am/fm, tilt, tow hooks, tach dash 1972 SWB C-10 Highlander Blue/White 1972 Canadian 2wd Jimmy light olive 1970 SWB 4x4 4 speed 307

10-26-2006, 12:29 AM	#2
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,049	Re: Fuel Gauge Problem? Sounds like you might need a new sending unit. I found this "fuel system cleaner" at the auto parts store that claims it will clean the sending unit and remove the tarnish. You might give some of this stuff a chance before dropping the tank. __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

10-26-2006, 12:41 AM	#3
Gillnetter Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vancouver B.C. Posts: 286	Re: Fuel Gauge Problem? Thanks for the advice. Just got the truck a few weeks ago a few kinks to work out.Here is a picture I took a couple a days ago. Attached Images __________________ 1972 Blazer CST Dark Olive, am/fm, tilt, tow hooks, tach dash 1972 SWB C-10 Highlander Blue/White 1972 Canadian 2wd Jimmy light olive 1970 SWB 4x4 4 speed 307

10-26-2006, 03:25 AM	#4
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	Re: Fuel Gauge Problem? Looks like it's in good shape. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

10-26-2006, 10:59 AM	#5
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,049	Re: Fuel Gauge Problem? Wow, it looks good. Did you get it up in BC? It looks like it has very little rust, especially for up here in the great wet north. __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

10-26-2006, 12:37 PM	#6
Gillnetter Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vancouver B.C. Posts: 286	Re: Fuel Gauge Problem? I found it on craigslist in washington.A few rust issues but over all in pretty good shape. __________________ 1972 Blazer CST Dark Olive, am/fm, tilt, tow hooks, tach dash 1972 SWB C-10 Highlander Blue/White 1972 Canadian 2wd Jimmy light olive 1970 SWB 4x4 4 speed 307

10-26-2006, 04:03 PM	#7
jhow66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Knoxville Tenn. Posts: 3,058	Re: Fuel Gauge Problem? Sounds like your tan wire from fuse panel to tank is grounded. The gauge is working right because when you disconnect it ,it should go to full or beyond. Leave it disconnected at panel and use a jumber wire from fuse panel and touch other end to ground. Needle should move toward empty. If it does check the tan wire to tank. __________________ 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

10-26-2006, 05:24 PM	#8
Gillnetter Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vancouver B.C. Posts: 286	Re: Fuel Gauge Problem? I grounded the fuse panel ,gauge went to empty. Tan wire to tank looks fine. Tank is the black poly type. Might be my sending unit. What do you think? __________________ 1972 Blazer CST Dark Olive, am/fm, tilt, tow hooks, tach dash 1972 SWB C-10 Highlander Blue/White 1972 Canadian 2wd Jimmy light olive 1970 SWB 4x4 4 speed 307

10-26-2006, 05:47 PM	#9
RANDY COX Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: RADFORD, VA Posts: 2,651	Re: Fuel Gauge Problem? Check your ground wire from tank that's bolted to frame might not be grounded enough,had this problem with my burb.Hope this helps,Randy __________________ 1964 BBC 402 4x4

10-26-2006, 06:49 PM	#10
69TowRig Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 894	Re: Fuel Gauge Problem? The float on mine had pin-hole leak and it sunk to the bottom of the tank. Pull the tank and sweep the sender to check it versus the gauge. Most times if you have the patience the sender can be refurbished in an hour or so. I actually repaired mine, it had a broken wire and bad connections all over it. Save your $$$. __________________ -Chris Building a stripper, one part at a time: 1969 K5, 307, 3spd, 3 seats, hard top. Added Pwr Discs, Pwr Steering, Aux Battery, T-case Skid, Lighted Sidemarkers, HEI, Lock-Right Diff, ECE Class IV Hitch, 32" MT/Rs. Parts to Install: Hand Throttle, Console, Tow Hooks, Dual Horns, AM-FM, Dealer Swing-Away Tire Carrier, Gas Tank Skid. Also building a 1950 Willys CJ-3A and off-roading a 2001 Nissan Frontier on 1-Ton Portals...

10-26-2006, 10:12 PM	#11
jhow66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Knoxville Tenn. Posts: 3,058	Re: Fuel Gauge Problem? If tank is "poly" that means the tank is not grounded. Take a wire and attach it to the metal of the sending unit and then ground the other end to the frame. __________________ 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

10-26-2006, 10:59 PM	#13
Gillnetter Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vancouver B.C. Posts: 286	Re: Fuel Gauge Problem? My ground wire is attached to the frame. It looks like it is going to the sending unit, it is hard to tell without dropping the tank.It's a tough call i might have to drop the tank if I can't figure this out. __________________ 1972 Blazer CST Dark Olive, am/fm, tilt, tow hooks, tach dash 1972 SWB C-10 Highlander Blue/White 1972 Canadian 2wd Jimmy light olive 1970 SWB 4x4 4 speed 307

10-27-2006, 05:29 PM	#15
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,683	Re: Fuel Gauge Problem? Great looking K5 - welcome to the board. Hope you get the issue resolved easily. __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

11-14-2006, 01:29 AM	#16
Gillnetter Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vancouver B.C. Posts: 286	Re: Fuel Gauge Problem? Dropped the tank today and took the sending unit out. Sending unit had come apart ,I put it back together and it works fine.A cheap fix lucky for me! __________________ 1972 Blazer CST Dark Olive, am/fm, tilt, tow hooks, tach dash 1972 SWB C-10 Highlander Blue/White 1972 Canadian 2wd Jimmy light olive 1970 SWB 4x4 4 speed 307

11-15-2006, 12:14 AM	#17
69TowRig Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 894	Re: Fuel Gauge Problem? SWEET! Always pays to investigate before buying new parts. __________________ -Chris Building a stripper, one part at a time: 1969 K5, 307, 3spd, 3 seats, hard top. Added Pwr Discs, Pwr Steering, Aux Battery, T-case Skid, Lighted Sidemarkers, HEI, Lock-Right Diff, ECE Class IV Hitch, 32" MT/Rs. Parts to Install: Hand Throttle, Console, Tow Hooks, Dual Horns, AM-FM, Dealer Swing-Away Tire Carrier, Gas Tank Skid. Also building a 1950 Willys CJ-3A and off-roading a 2001 Nissan Frontier on 1-Ton Portals...



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