Fuel Gauge

[TheeMc]

I'm sure this has been gone over before, but I am a newbie here and don't seem to find a post that addresses this particular problem.

My fuel gauge only registers 1/2 tank, I can fill it till I see gas in the filler tube, goes up to slightly over 1/2 tank. I recently had a new sending unit put in, same thing. To add to this my dash lights are intermittent, when they go off, I lose the gas gauge all together.

Does this sound like the voltage regulator (behind the dash cluster)?
I have the printed circuit board type, is there an easy way to test the gauge / sending unit?

Any help?
Thx!

[68F250]

If your temperature gauge is acting normal, then I doubt it's the instrument voltage regulator.

Guessing maybe you have some flaky connections where the harness plugs into the back of the cluster.

[TheeMc]

After reading another reply, I grounded the orange wire to the sending unit base and it did go to full, looks like I have either a lying mechanic, or 2 bad sending units, now, where to get a new sending unit.....

[68F250]

When you ground the orange wire, the gauge should go way past the full mark and peg out. If it's only going to the full mark, then there's still something wrong.

[TheeMc]

I apoligize, my fault, it did indeed peg the guage
M

[71 LONG BED]

to the site

I don't want to sound like I'm asking you to be a guinea pig, but can you let us know if a new sending unit works. Or I should say, another new sending unit. Maybe that would cure my "reading 3/4 when full" problem also. Thanks and good luck

[TheeMc]

I'll be happy to let y'all know, but it'll be a couple of weeks, headed out for a quick camping trip, will order sending unit when I get back....

[71 LONG BED]

Thanks for the resistor tip 68F250. I'm going to try it. I have a ton of resistors from when was into CB's. I just hope I can remember how to read the values. I'll be on the net I'm sure.

[71 LONG BED]

I think I found the answer to my gauge question here...

http://www.fordification.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9698

[68F250]

I'd love to have a '71 or '72 just for a day to troubleshoot and find out exactly what's going on.

[gonzalo medina]

If your ever in fresno, drop by and you could play with mine for as long as you want. Mine is a 72 and nothing will get that thing to work I would pay someone nearly anything to get it to work correctly. I'am going the after market route.

[TheeMc]

My new sending unit arrived today and is installed, working like a champ.
I checked several vendors they were running between 60-65 bucks, Blue Oval had theirs for $49.95, and it works like new!
Thanks for the help!
M