Greetings,

I went to start my 1970 Cutlass Convertible the other day and the fuel gauge pegged all the way to the right. I've filled the tank completely figuring that the gasoline would make the sending unit move if it had gotten stuck. I would like to know what I should check first before dropping the take and possibly replacing the sending unit.

Also, I have checked the gauge with other gauges that I had, that I know work, and on all three gauges, the needle pegged all the way to the right (3 o'clock position on a clock.)

Thank you for your assistance.

 

Either you have a bad connection from the fuel tank to the gauge or a bad fuel sending unit in the tank. Remove the wire from the tank and ground it with the key on, if it goes to empty its generally the sender.

 

Though it could also be that the sender ground has failed.

- Eric

 

Ok. So I connected a wire from the back of the gauge (with the wire harness attached to the gauge) to a spot on behind the bezzel that's grounded ... and low and behold the needle on the gauge went to "E." At this point I'm thinking it's the fuel sending unit that's failed. Any advice?

 

Before changing the sender, take the wire off at the tank and ground it. If your gauge goes to E, then it's generally the ground to the sender or the sender itself. If not you have an open wire (broken) from the sender to the gauge.