Fuel Gauge

Charging, starting, lighting, gauges, HVAC

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J_Boo
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Fuel Gauge

Post by J_Boo »

My fuel gauge isn't working, let's start off. The wires are connected to the back of it, I am getting power at the plug. And I know the sending unit works because I swapped it off my 68 onto my 67. The float is good, what could be going on?

Also there is a cut wire coming from my ignition, it's black and not hooked to anything, any idea what that is?
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basketcase0302
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Re: Fuel Gauge

Post by basketcase0302 »

I would first try taking the sending unit wire and grounding it to see if the gas gauge moves at all as a lot of times the ground can be the issue. Here's the fuel gauge troubleshooting tutorial with many more things to look for: :wink:
http://www.fordification.com/tech/fuel- ... -units.htm
Jeff
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=46251
SOLD-71 F-350 dually flatbed, 302 / .030 over V-8 with a "baby"C-6, B & M truckshifter, Dana70/4.11 ratio, intermittent wipers, tilt steering, full LED lighting on the flat bed, and no stereo yet (this way I can hear the rattles to diagnose)! SOLD!
Many Ford bumps / one 76' EB / and several dents through the years.
A lot of "oddball" Ford parts collected from working on them for 34 years now!
2008 Ford Escape 4 x 4
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J_Boo
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Re: Fuel Gauge

Post by J_Boo »

basketcase0302 wrote:I would first try taking the sending unit wire and grounding it to see if the gas gauge moves at all as a lot of times the ground can be the issue. Here's the fuel gauge troubleshooting tutorial with many more things to look for: :wink:
http://www.fordification.com/tech/fuel- ... -units.htm
i mean it is naturally grounded, I guess I can run a long wire and test it different places to see if I can get a good spot somewhere.
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Re: Fuel Gauge

Post by Kurt Combs »

Your gas gauge sending unit, doesn't send it receives. If you have a full tank of gas it completely grounds the circuit and the gauge shows full. So if you take the wire off the sending unit and ground it your gauge should show full. You can work your way back to the gauge panel grounding the wire as you go to make sure the circuit is complete. The only place I know of to intercept the wire (other than at the gas tank) is were it comes down the A pillar. You could also pull the panel out and trace the circuit to find the terminal that goes to the sending unit and ground it there. If it doesn't move and the other gauge terminal has 12 volts, you gauge is bad. If the other terminal does not have 12 volts you have a supply problem, start working your way towards the battery until you find current and there is your problem.
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Re: Fuel Gauge

Post by J_Boo »

Thanks!
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Re: Fuel Gauge

Post by J_Boo »

Tested the wire going to the gauge today it had power, there was another wire I assume a ground going to a little square voltage regulator or something. I removed the ground cleaned it put it back on now it actually reads. However I have about 4 gallons of gas and gauge barely reads, does that sound about right? I know when it was on my 68 it read 3/4 at full and e still had like quarter tank. Any ideas?
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Re: Fuel Gauge

Post by basketcase0302 »

J_Boo on Wed Sep 19, 2012 4:28 pm
Tested the wire going to the gauge today it had power, there was another wire I assume a ground going to a little square voltage regulator or something. I removed the ground cleaned it put it back on now it actually reads. However I have about 4 gallons of gas and gauge barely reads, does that sound about right? I know when it was on my 68 it read 3/4 at full and e still had like quarter tank. Any ideas?
It sounds like you've found the IPVR (instrument panel voltage regulator). If you actually read and use the above link I posted there are instructions for adjusting it which should help your gauge reading. I'd also pull the float out and check to make sure there's no hole in it. The ethanol fuel we get nowadays is starting to eat away at our brass pieces and parts. The corrosion I've personally seen from it on y truck looks similar to an acid type corrosion. Good news...a new float is only about $5.00 from NPD:
http://www.npdlink.com/
Jeff
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=46251
SOLD-71 F-350 dually flatbed, 302 / .030 over V-8 with a "baby"C-6, B & M truckshifter, Dana70/4.11 ratio, intermittent wipers, tilt steering, full LED lighting on the flat bed, and no stereo yet (this way I can hear the rattles to diagnose)! SOLD!
Many Ford bumps / one 76' EB / and several dents through the years.
A lot of "oddball" Ford parts collected from working on them for 34 years now!
2008 Ford Escape 4 x 4
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Re: Fuel Gauge

Post by J_Boo »

basketcase0302 wrote:
J_Boo on Wed Sep 19, 2012 4:28 pm
Tested the wire going to the gauge today it had power, there was another wire I assume a ground going to a little square voltage regulator or something. I removed the ground cleaned it put it back on now it actually reads. However I have about 4 gallons of gas and gauge barely reads, does that sound about right? I know when it was on my 68 it read 3/4 at full and e still had like quarter tank. Any ideas?
It sounds like you've found the IPVR (instrument panel voltage regulator). If you actually read and use the above link I posted there are instructions for adjusting it which should help your gauge reading. I'd also pull the float out and check to make sure there's no hole in it. The ethanol fuel we get nowadays is starting to eat away at our brass pieces and parts. The corrosion I've personally seen from it on y truck looks similar to an acid type corrosion. Good news...a new float is only about $5.00 from NPD:
http://www.npdlink.com/

Yep I did! I just assumed the sending unit was bad and switched it from my 68. Guess I was wrong. Or maybe both things were the problem.
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Re: Fuel Gauge

Post by J_Boo »

I'm looking at that page to see about adjusting, but I see nothing about it? Maybe I'm misreading it?
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Re: Fuel Gauge

Post by basketcase0302 »

J_Boo,
My bad! Ok somewhere here there is a thread where Craig, (Fordman) described how to do it. I know there's a tiny flat screw on the back of it-but I'm not sure which way to turn it or how much.
Maybe someone else can chime in here that's done it, (or that has bookmarked the thread describing how to do it). :pray:
Jeff
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=46251
SOLD-71 F-350 dually flatbed, 302 / .030 over V-8 with a "baby"C-6, B & M truckshifter, Dana70/4.11 ratio, intermittent wipers, tilt steering, full LED lighting on the flat bed, and no stereo yet (this way I can hear the rattles to diagnose)! SOLD!
Many Ford bumps / one 76' EB / and several dents through the years.
A lot of "oddball" Ford parts collected from working on them for 34 years now!
2008 Ford Escape 4 x 4
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J_Boo
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Re: Fuel Gauge

Post by J_Boo »

Oh okay! Maybe he will show up and post it, I was like hmm I see nothing! Haha
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Re: Fuel Gauge

Post by basketcase0302 »

J_Boo on Fri Sep 21, 2012 7:27 am
Oh okay! Maybe he will show up and post it, I was like hmm I see nothing! Haha
Doubtful that Craig will show up-his "priorities in life" changed awhile back so we don't see him too much anymore. :(
I found the thread by google search-not the search engine here. :hw:
Here's how to adjust the IPVR:
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =8&t=60401
Jeff
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=46251
SOLD-71 F-350 dually flatbed, 302 / .030 over V-8 with a "baby"C-6, B & M truckshifter, Dana70/4.11 ratio, intermittent wipers, tilt steering, full LED lighting on the flat bed, and no stereo yet (this way I can hear the rattles to diagnose)! SOLD!
Many Ford bumps / one 76' EB / and several dents through the years.
A lot of "oddball" Ford parts collected from working on them for 34 years now!
2008 Ford Escape 4 x 4
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Re: Fuel Gauge

Post by J_Boo »

Thank you
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