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Topic: Fuel Gauge Behavior

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HH56

Re: Fuel Gauge Behavior

#11

Forum Ambassador

Quote:

This is all speculation, not experience!

Good speculation though. Unlike the magnetic type gauges, on a thermal type gauge such as this one, there should be absolutely no electrical connection between the case and either terminal. If there is any resistance reading at all then the reason needs to be found and corrected.

Because of the symptom of the needle moving to maximum, I would concentrate on the terminal connected to the sender. If the short were on the BAT side terminal there would have been a direct short when the key was turned on and at the very least, plenty of smoke.

Posted on: Yesterday 10:02

Howard

53 Cavalier

Re: Fuel Gauge Behavior

#12

Home away from home

Quote:

Pgh Ultramatic wrote:
Quote:

53 Cavalier wrote:
I don't know this, and someone can confirm, but if you use an ohm meter and check from the terminals to the case of the gauge there shouldn't be any resistance, correct? If there is, then maybe time to take the gauge apart and find out what's going on inside.

Not really the correct way to phrase this. The idea is correct, but you meant to say that there should be no continuity between either terminal and the case while the wires are disconnected from both terminals. If you have the gauge installed and the sender wire is still connected then you will see some continuity.

If the gauge is reading maximum, then I would expect to see less than 10 ohms of resistance between one of the terminals and ground.

Oh yeah! I rewrote that line and messed it up. I'm going to edit it so it's correct.

Posted on: Yesterday 10:14

Joe

Re: Fuel Gauge Behavior

#13

Home away from home

Fellas, thank you. I pulled the cluster out and reattached the fuel gauge. This time, I broke out my multimeter and checked for continuity between the sender terminal and case. It rang, so I popped it off again. Looking at the little tangs on the cluster case that help center the cardboard and gauge (like the one circled), I noticed they seemed to sit high, and I heard a small scraping sound when I tried to shift the gauge back and forth. There is a slight adjustment left and right, so I slid it to the right a hair, and boom - no more continuity.

I think the little tang on the right side of the gauge (not the one pictured) was ever so slightly touching the back of the gauge case, causing the short. With any luck, we might be in business! Thank you again!

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