Fuel Tank Sending Unit

[Cutty1987]

My fuel gauge was working so so, but I ended up changing the fuel tank sending unit o-ring gasket because I kept smelling gas... after I changed it and put the sending unit back on as soon as I plug everything up, turned the key to ON, It now marks past the F.. anyone know what it could be?

gauge always went up and down, especially when i put gas in it.. full would show full then randomly go down, then go up, then down.. sending unit took a dump?

 

[Built6spdMCSS]

Bad connection on the sending unit or you broke the small sweep wiring on it

 

[Cutty1987]

Bad connection on the sending unit or you broke the small sweep wiring on it

Small sweep wiring? I checked everything on top of the unit even inside, everything looks fine..

 

[Built6spdMCSS]

That lever the float is on, inside that metal part it basically has a really small wire in layers that has a contact point. It works off of resistance, that's how the needle moves on the gauge. If that small wire is broken, or no contact, it'll show full.

Or the float is stuck when you put it in.

 

[69hurstolds]

You have an open somewhere. Either a bad ground or loose connection or broken wire. Somewhere...

 

[69hurstolds]

One other thing as it appears you're re-using the old sending unit, is that the grounding strap underneath the cover plate connection could be loose. Not saying it is, but sometimes that push nut on the grounding strap from the float to the cover comes loose when piddling around with the unit.

Does the gage fluctuate now? Or only from before? If it fluctuates, it sounds like a bad ground or loose wire. The unit COULD be fubar, but without further troubleshooting, who knows?

 

[Cutty1987]

One other thing as it appears you're re-using the old sending unit, is that the grounding strap underneath the cover plate connection could be loose. Not saying it is, but sometimes that push nut on the grounding strap from the float to the cover comes loose when piddling around with the unit.

Does the gage fluctuate now? Or only from before? If it fluctuates, it sounds like a bad ground or loose wire. The unit COULD be fubar, but without further troubleshooting, who knows?

Nothing is loose.. i inspected it thoroughly and everything looks fine.. didnt touch none it.. before i dropped the tank whether 1/2 or even on Full, it would go up and down.. sometime driving, or sometimes when i would turn the key.. i think im better off just buying a new one.. im wondering if i might have jerked it a bit taking it out? And caused it to do that? Also, does the lock ring go on a specific way? Or ok to put on as it fits to lock in?

 

[Built6spdMCSS]

Dancing needle is a sign something had a bad connection and now it may finally be done. Lock Ring just goes on and rotates until it catches the detents.

 

[Cutty1987]

It was my sending unit.. replaced it and we are good now!

 

[69hurstolds]

May have just been dirty on the inside. Did you pop the cover off the rheostat and see? Sometimes they can be brought back to life with a good cleaning in there. Glad it worked out.

Sometimes a good cleaning can get them working again. Especially for some of those wagons that new senders are virtually unobtanium. In case anyone wants to attempt to fix theirs...