73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks > Instrumentation
Gas Gauge issue
bd:
The fuel gauge wire connecting to the fuel tank sender is 18-gauge tan. If you're fortunate, that tan wire runs down the inside of the right (passenger side) frame rail to a single-wire harness plug located somewhere in the area between the front of the transmission and the transmission rear cross member. If you can find that plug, disconnect it and perform your tests there. The wire you're working with runs forward.
JohnnyPopper:
Most wiring under the carriage is covered with (fill in the blank).
Use brake cleaner to dissolve gunk to ID the color.
Then use the same to blow off the gunk and debris off the connector bd speaks of before disconnecting and testing.
Use the same to find a shiny metal surface to conduct your test, although you may have to burnish a location in addition to cleaning.
Curious to see how this turns out, I too have a bouncing needle on both tanks.
bd:
A little sidebar.... Fuel gauge needles bouncing in sync with bumps, turns, acceleration, and braking (in other words, fuel sloshing in the tank) are often a result of dry needle bearings. Fuel gauge needles are mechanically dampened from the factory using viscous fluorocarbon gel, or dampening fluid, that fills the narrow gaps between the needle axles and their support bushings. The dampening fluid gradually dissipates over many years leaving the needles instantly responsive to signal noise as the sender floats bounce around in the tanks. Various solutions are to install a new gauge, have the gauge professionally refurbished, or attempt to recharge the fluid yourself using a syringe and 30,000+ centistoke (cSt) silicone or fluorocarbon gel dampening fluid.
VileZambonie:
If getting under the truck is too difficult for you, pop the fuel gauge out and using your meter, measure the resistance at the gauge post. Then compare that to the reading at the cluster connector.
MY1978:
--- Quote from: bd on September 30, 2023, 08:46:48 PM ---The fuel gauge wire connecting to the fuel tank sender is 18-gauge tan. If you're fortunate, that tan wire runs down the inside of the right (passenger side) frame rail to a single-wire harness plug located somewhere in the area between the front of the transmission and the transmission rear cross member. If you can find that plug, disconnect it and perform your tests there. The wire you're working with runs forward.
--- End quote ---
Thanks, will try this today and report back.
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