Fuel gage fluctuating ???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 442
Likes: 3
From: Kingsport TN
Fuel gage fluctuating ???
Any ideas on what causes a fuel gage to fluctuate regardless of the level in the tank? It seems like it is nervous.
Also does anyone know how much fuel the 82 cell holds?
Also does anyone know how much fuel the 82 cell holds?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,660
Likes: 3
From: South Central Louisiana
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Fuel gage fluctuating ??? (jwatty)
I think fluctuating is normally caused by a loose connection between the feul gauge and the sending unit on the tank. (normally the sending unit) I would guess an 82 holds about 15 gal, owners manual should say....
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 442
Likes: 3
From: Kingsport TN
Re: Fuel gage fluctuating ??? (71,454,4spd)
Owners manual says 23.7 gallons, but when I filled it up the first time it only took about 12 gallons and it showed between 1/4 and empty (I think)....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
From: South San Francisco CA
Re: Fuel gage fluctuating ??? (jwatty)
You probably need a new sending unit for the gas tank. My thirty year old just had it's sending unit replaced. The symptoms were exactly the same as yours and once the new unit was installed....everything is back to normal. Mine actually went above the F by 1/4" when filled up then worked pretty well until around a half tank. Then...it bounced around all over the place and I really didn't know how much fuel I had. A mechanic can test the sending unit without removing it, so you should be able to make the decision easily.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: Valdosta Georgia
Re: Fuel gage fluctuating ??? (jwatty)
jwatty, inside the tank there is a flat metal strip that goes from the sending unit up to the insulated contact that goes through the tank access panel and the wire to the guage attaches to this pin. That flat strip has a plastic cover and that cover cracks or seperates from the metal strip and allows it to touch the tank grounding the sending unit. also that pin through the access panel can sometimes lose it's insulation and ground the unit. I've tried to fix mine twice , but it only works right for a little while. I guess I'm going to replace my unit. Hershey :chevy
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
From: South San Francisco CA
Re: Fuel gage fluctuating ??? (jwatty)
The sending unit is in the gas tank and the gas tank has to be removed to get to it. At least that's the way my '69 is......
The good news is ...the sending unit for a '69 costs way less than some of the newer models.
The good news is ...the sending unit for a '69 costs way less than some of the newer models.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski