Fuel reading trouble...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: IRB FL
Fuel reading trouble...
Hi. I have about 4 ticks of fuel in my tank. I'm sitting at a stop light yesterday - the car had been running maybe 5 minutes - and I sit and watch my fuel gage increase, tick... by tick.... slowly, until I have a full tank of gas! My first thought is wow! free gas from the heavens! Then of course all I am thinking is what now... another $600 repair?
Basically it seems whatever is reading the fuel is just floatin around in the tank now or something. It goes up... then down. And somtimes seems to stay where it should but even that I am unsure of.
Anyone know what this problem is? If you know or have an idea can you tell me if this is an expensive repair? Basically anything under $300 keeps my sanity in check. And to top it off I am trying to sell this car right now!
88' auto, 122k miles
Thanks everyone.
Basically it seems whatever is reading the fuel is just floatin around in the tank now or something. It goes up... then down. And somtimes seems to stay where it should but even that I am unsure of.
Anyone know what this problem is? If you know or have an idea can you tell me if this is an expensive repair? Basically anything under $300 keeps my sanity in check. And to top it off I am trying to sell this car right now!
88' auto, 122k miles
Thanks everyone.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Re: Fuel reading trouble... (tikiltd)
Jumper the purple or pink wire (B cavity) at the fuel pump to ground (A cavity - Black). Gauge should read empty. If so, sender needs to be replaced. If not, wire is open between the sender and the dash or it's the cluster. Input to the cluster is at Pin C8.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Fuel reading trouble... (tikiltd)
I've not heard of this specific problem before but I've seen a "bad fuel pump" fixed by pulling the assembly and cleaing the three brass contacts under the mounting flange.
These contacts become oxidized over time, causing fuel delivery problems so I guess the corrosion might also interfere with level readings.
These contacts become oxidized over time, causing fuel delivery problems so I guess the corrosion might also interfere with level readings.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Re: Fuel reading trouble... (65Z01)
Yeah, I just did this repair on my '93. My car was running out of gas at 5 ticks and was erratic to say the least.
I ordered a used sending unit/pump assy from a wrecker on Ebay. Got the "new" item and the pump didn't work. They are sending another one at my request. I wanted the spare to have around just in case. I paid about $100. So, if you are selling your beast of burden, then this would be the cheaper option. I read someplace that the sending unit costs upwards of $300, but then I haven't called Superior yet for it.
Easy to replace. Doesn't take long at all.
I ordered a used sending unit/pump assy from a wrecker on Ebay. Got the "new" item and the pump didn't work. They are sending another one at my request. I wanted the spare to have around just in case. I paid about $100. So, if you are selling your beast of burden, then this would be the cheaper option. I read someplace that the sending unit costs upwards of $300, but then I haven't called Superior yet for it.
Easy to replace. Doesn't take long at all.
