fule gauge not working

Discussion in 'General Chevy & GMC Pickups Talk' started by my56, Jun 4, 2002.

  1. my56

    my56 Guest

    My new Autometer fule gauge reads full when empty, half full when full, and empty when off. I replaced the sender with a 90ohm unit, checked the ground and hot wires,etc. Any one have any ideas before I go thru the hassel of returning it?
     
  2. DrMike

    DrMike Member

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    Had the same problem with my 58. First thing is to make sure the tank straps are secure. Second, run a jumper from the sending unit to the guageto make sure there is not a break or short in your line. When I did these things, mine started working fine. You might want to clean the contacts on the guage as well.

    Good Luck,
    Dr. Mike
     
  3. 57heaven

    57heaven Member

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    [updated:LAST EDITED ON Aug-19-02 AT 01:18 AM (CST)]:) Howziit my56! not familiar with that specific Autometer model, so i'm relying on basics.


    if your gauge is showing exactly opposite readings, maybe the polarity of the two wires are reversed.


    simply said... the wires are crossed over at the gauge. just reverse the wiring there; that should work.


    JMO,if the tank had poor grounding, you might have faulty readings...but not opposite readings. FULL might read HALF-FULL, HALF-FULL would read EMPTY.


    FULL might also read EMPTY, EMPTY would also read EMPTY...with poor ground.:D :D :D


    i'm not sure, but aren't you supposed to have 0-30 ohm sending unit resistance?


    Myron
     
  4. 57heaven

    57heaven Member

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    >:) Howziit my56! not familiar with that specific Autometer
    >model, so i'm relying on basics.


    last night, i installed my new gas tank sender; the one i replaced was fairly new, but had a resistance reading from 0 to infinity.(since i had nothing to lose, i removed the resistor unit cover to inspect it. a brass contact rides along a semi-circular resistor. in my case, the brass would rise off of the resistor in its upward arc, thereby giving an open reading,somewhere beyond"HALF-TANK".)


    BTW, the sender i replaced had 0-90 ohms stamped onto the resistor cover.


    my new sender has a reading of 0 ohms... to a spike of 50 ohms, then settles to about 40 ohms, at "FULL".


    now i have a correct fuel indication, even without the gas tank ground wire.


    that means the tank is grounded well already.(however, i will install a new ground wire, to be sure.)



    Myron
     
  5. 57heaven

    57heaven Member

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    :) Howziit again guy! i discovered some info about autometer fuel gauges, which may help you.


    autometer's sending unit has a resistance range of 240 ohms(empty) to 33 ohms(full).


    that's probably why you're seeing incorrect readings; you need their sending unit, to match their fuel gauge.


    good luck; i hope their sender fits into your tank. :D :D :D


    Myron
     

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