gas gage problem

[Bronx68]

I have a 1993 Sunbird 170. The gas gage reads empty even with a full take of gas. How can I test the sender? How do I remove it? Do I need to try and find the original or are these universal?

 

[steve31]

Re: gas gage problem

To remove your sender, you should have an access hole in the floor just above where the sender goes into the tank. Clean off any trash around the sender and remove the screws holding it to the tank. Pull it out of the tank being careful not to bend the float lever. You can test it with an ohm meter. Hook one lead to the terminal going to the gauge and your other lead to the ground terminal. Read the resistance while moving the float up and down slowly. The resistance should change without any open spots. I don't know what the readings should be, but you are looking for a smooth change in readings. If your sender is ok, you can do a quick check on the gauge by grounding the sender wire with the gauge on- the gauge should change it's reading from one extreme to the other. Hope this helps.

 

[tnduc]

Re: gas gage problem

Bad gas gauges must be common- mine quit working. Thanks for the tip, I'll check it soon.

 

[Big Keepers]

Re: gas gage problem

If I remember correctly the sender should read about 200 ohms when the float is in the full tank position. Sometimes the senders will stick and not move when they get old. If forget how many ohms it sends when empty, some low number. Then also check the fuel gauge at the dashboard. Most likely the sender is bad or the ground is bad.

If you decide to replace the sender, beware of the instructions on how to cut and install the new one. Make sure you remember, memorize, take pictures, whatever you need to do, how the old one comes out. The new one needs to go back in that very same way. Also when you take the final measurement of the float height, use a piece of wood or a table, rest the float of the sender in the down position (empty) so it barely touches the table and measure up to the bottom of the plate that sits on the tank. That is the proper measurement of the final height. When we learned in my tech class how to install a fuel sender, the instructions read like a Greek script from 300 B.C. There were all sorts of math equations and other types of blabber on how to measure and cut etc. Bottom line the teacher held the sender over a table like I described and measured the length and we all did it wrong. Easy fix though since the sender gets screwed into a metal type of bracket that hangs it into the tank. You'll see what I mean when/if you replace the old one.