Advice on a non functioning gas gauge...
September 21st, 2023, 11:19 AM
#1
Donovan
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Join Date: Sep 2023
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Posts: 27
Advice on a non functioning gas gauge...
1972 Cutlass Supreme gas gauge suddenly not working. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thx!!
Last edited by dondon3210; September 21st, 2023 at 11:22 AM. Reason: Spelling
September 21st, 2023, 11:35 AM
#2
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Join Date: Jun 2023
Location: Texas
Posts: 95
Fuel sending unit is stuck or shorted out, or the wiring to it is shorted out. Sometimes the ground wire on the outside of the sending unit comes loose, especially on new chinesium varieties.
September 21st, 2023, 04:13 PM
#6
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Location: West Hartford, CT
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September 21st, 2023, 04:37 PM
#7
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 13,782
One easy test is unplug the sending unit wire where it passes through the grommet in the trunk (left of the latch) and ground the end that goes towards the front of the car.
If the needle goes to E, it means the gauge and wiring from that connector forward is intact and working properly, and there is an open somewhere from the connector towards the tank sending unit and its ground connection.
On my two cars, it was the ground connection to the sending unit (push on bullet connector).
If the needle goes to E, it means the gauge and wiring from that connector forward is intact and working properly, and there is an open somewhere from the connector towards the tank sending unit and its ground connection.
On my two cars, it was the ground connection to the sending unit (push on bullet connector).
September 23rd, 2023, 11:12 AM
#10
Donovan
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Join Date: Sep 2023
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Posts: 27
Was on the way to purchase an extension for my rachet so I could drop the tank and miraculously my gage started working again. Dropped a can of seafoam in yesterday, not sure if that helped, but after filling up I noticed it's about 1/8th +1/2 off from showing full. Def fuel sending unit at this point you think?
Last edited by dondon3210; September 23rd, 2023 at 11:15 AM.
September 23rd, 2023, 04:23 PM
#12
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 13,782
No I don’t think it’s the sending unit.
When mine points at the HOT light I reach behind the license plate and wiggle the sending unit wire, then the gauge works until I hit a bump. It’s a loose connection at the sending unit and I am too lazy to drop the tank to tighten it.
When mine points at the HOT light I reach behind the license plate and wiggle the sending unit wire, then the gauge works until I hit a bump. It’s a loose connection at the sending unit and I am too lazy to drop the tank to tighten it.
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