Fuel Level Sender
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 897
Likes: 12
From: Land of Whiskey Rebels, PA
Fuel Level Sender
First, THANKS goes to "Frizzlefrak" for his How-To on fuel pump removal and sender repair. Good job. 
OK. So, I did all that. The contact was black. The ohms were all over the place. Put it back in the car (yes, with a new gasket), turned on the car, gauge immediately shows 1/2 tank, then shoots up to FULL. I think the resistor/rheostat is bad.
So...
Is it sold as a replacement?
If not, does anyone have a good one from a bad assembly I can have?
Or, do I have to buy a whole new (expensive) fuel pump assembly?
I have new injectors and a new filter coming and I would like to do the whole job in one shot before the snow flies.
Mike
'90 'vert
OK. So, I did all that. The contact was black. The ohms were all over the place. Put it back in the car (yes, with a new gasket), turned on the car, gauge immediately shows 1/2 tank, then shoots up to FULL. I think the resistor/rheostat is bad.
So...
Is it sold as a replacement?
If not, does anyone have a good one from a bad assembly I can have?
Or, do I have to buy a whole new (expensive) fuel pump assembly?
I have new injectors and a new filter coming and I would like to do the whole job in one shot before the snow flies.
Mike
'90 'vert
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 8
From: Westerly RI
There have been problems with erratic fuel guages due to ethanol in the gas. Some have had successfully cured this with a fuel additive, either Chevron Techron Concentrate PLUS, or the GM juice, fuel system treatment, p/n 88861011.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
There is something that they don't tell you.
1. The rheostat is clipped together. The ground is precarious. You need to make the ground better on the sender.
I have done mine and a few friend's senders, and the problem is eliminated.
also use the Chevron techron in your gas to keep the wiper clean on your fuel sender every 6 months or so.
1. The rheostat is clipped together. The ground is precarious. You need to make the ground better on the sender.
I have done mine and a few friend's senders, and the problem is eliminated.
also use the Chevron techron in your gas to keep the wiper clean on your fuel sender every 6 months or so.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 897
Likes: 12
From: Land of Whiskey Rebels, PA
The sender's "winding (?)" was a mustard-yellow with a bare metal path, from the contact, I presume. Is that yellow a result of varnish from the gas? When I rubbed it with a Q-Tip, the end came out blackish-brown (dirt and varnish ?).
I don't know. I guess I'll just take it back out clean it better. Can I use throttle body cleaner or electrical contact cleaner on the winding?
Thanks for any help.
Mike
I don't know. I guess I'll just take it back out clean it better. Can I use throttle body cleaner or electrical contact cleaner on the winding?
Thanks for any help.
Mike
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 897
Likes: 12
From: Land of Whiskey Rebels, PA
Well, I took it back out, inspected it (ground measures good), cleaned it again, re-installed it. Same old thing---gauge reads FULL. I haven't had any luck getting just the rheostat for it, so I'm just going to bite the bullet and get a whole new setup with new pump (it's 21 yrs. old!).
Any suggestions? GM ($500+) or aftermarket ($300)? Catalog, internet, NAPA?
Any suggestions? GM ($500+) or aftermarket ($300)? Catalog, internet, NAPA?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 892
Likes: 1
From: New Smyrna Beach Florida
Well, I took it back out, inspected it (ground measures good), cleaned it again, re-installed it. Same old thing---gauge reads FULL. I haven't had any luck getting just the rheostat for it, so I'm just going to bite the bullet and get a whole new setup with new pump (it's 21 yrs. old!).
Any suggestions? GM ($500+) or aftermarket ($300)? Catalog, internet, NAPA?
Any suggestions? GM ($500+) or aftermarket ($300)? Catalog, internet, NAPA?
I went to C4 parts, started thread looking for one and got one, took it apart and just used piece with windings (tested to make sure it worked first) replaced and problem solved.
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