My fuel gauge suddenly stopped functioning. I successfully installed a tach, I wouldn't think that has anything to do with it. I took the instr. cluster off to inspect it. I can find anything wrong, except that the needle doesn't move as freely as the other two needles. Does that mean the coil to the gauge is faulty? What's up?

Peace. J.Skid.
P.S. wrong forum, sorry!

[ August 14, 2001: Message edited by: johnny skidmark ]

 

When you were playing with the needle, was the car powered up, or was the gauge cluster in your hands? The fuel gauge is different than the others, it is harder to move than the temp gauge or speedo/tacho.

I had my fuel sender go by on my car at 5000 miles, and had it replaced underwarranty.

Here are the PIN outs on the back side of the gauge cluster so you can see if you are getting any voltage to the cluster itself.





Looks like IO1-1 (left connector as you look at the back of the gauges, right connector on the dash connector) #6 is the low fuel warning light and #13 is the Fuel gauge voltage signal. There should be no voltage on #6 if have more than 2 gallons of gas, but #13 should return some voltage.

If #13 returns no voltage, the gauge is good, but the Sender in the tank might be bad, or you might have cut/disconnected the wrong wire in your tach install.

You would have to remove the back seat to check the float level voltage to see if the float level has gone bad.

 

What's up, RAndom.
When I was inspecting the needle the car was turned off. The battery was connected. I went out today and and performed a fuel gauge operation check. The light on my tester went on when I connected it to the harness connector to the fuel sender. I'm thinking I may have to take the assembly out to check the float(fuel)level sensor. I did put gas in last night, and the needle moved just passed the "E" marker. So that can be related to the fuel level sensor. So, if that's the case, I'm going to take it to the dealership for further inspection. I didn't cut or disconnect any wires to install my tach,I only spliced into them. And I had my battery disconnected. Peace. J.Skid.

[ August 15, 2001: Message edited by: johnny skidmark ]

 

The low fuel light is a seperate sender than the fuel gauge sender float.

If the low fuel light was on, then you've got a wiring cross somewhere in there.

You should really measure the voltage coming out between the Fuel Level and ground. If you are getting decent voltage, than the sender/float is fine and your gauge went bad. If you are only getting 1 or 2 volts, then it might be the sender/float that is bad.

 

Sounds like you didn't put the needle back on in the same position you took it off. The needle is probably bottomed out right now (you said it didn't move freely), and as the full tank maxes out the gauge, you get a slight reading.