I'm in need of some help to diagnose my fuel gauge. I've read some other threads but haven't found any that have my symptoms. My gauge is stuck at 1/4 tank and doesn't seem to be getting any power to the gauge. The dash lights on my other gauges are working fine, but are not working on the fuel gauge. None of my tell tale lights are coming on either. I pulled the bulbs and they're ok. I'm suspecting the resistor on the back of the gauge may have gone bad? Any ideas?

 

The resistor has nothing to do with the telltale lights. If a bunch of dash electrical items in the same general area are not working, the number one cause is a bad ground. Verify that the ground strap from that pod to the metal cowl is in place, or run one if in doubt.

 

Thanks for the tip, I'll see if I can trace the ground from the harness.

 

Keep in mind that the ground path might be a sheet metal strap, not a wire.

 

The gauge has 12v connected to it at all times. The sender side, is a variable resistor connected to ground.


Have you done anything to the wiring? If you disconnect the wire from the gauge to the sender with the key on, the gauge should go past F. Grounding it, the gauge go to E. If neither happens then move to the gauge and repeat the test.


Fyi, I believe your sender is 0-30 ohms.

 

Will do. I didn't see a strap on it when I was under there. Would it make sense to run a ground wire from one of the mounting tabs/bolts on the back to a ground?

 

Thanks for the help fellas. It did turn out to be a ground that was not hooked up under the steering column. Funny enough I actually have about a 1/4 tank of gas in there. Lights on the gauge are working too.

 

Would a bad or missing ground also be the likely cause of the speedo and clock not functioning? I have a 1967 Olds 98 LS and for some reason the day i bought the car all the gauges stopped working (yet the lights still come on with the headlights).

Thanks in advance

 

Speedo - no its a cable driven gauge. Clock - possibly and it can also be dirty.