73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Topic started by: Elpresidente on January 29, 2013, 12:11:19 pm
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The gas gauge needle in my truck tends to be pretty sensitive, it bounces around alot with every little bump I hit on the road. Also I find when I switch tanks, the needle will shoot over to full pretty quick, and i've heard that its supposed to slowly move over to read the level of the other tank.
Is there a way to smooth out the needle reading, or are all the old chevy's like this?
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Sounds fairly normal - it's caused by sender arm/float geometry and orientation within the tank. Needle response typically is 1 - 2 seconds.
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But is there some way to re-calibrate the gauge, or use a circuit of some kind to average out the voltage so the needle play becomes smoother?
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Here's an interesting thread from another site about the same discussion, except it's on a camaro. The bounce is a common occurence with trucks AND cars.. check out the description of the little ceramic box in the Caddy Seville- :D
Just what you need!
http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13916
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Perfect. I knew there was something I could put in there to smooth things out
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iīm not too much into electronics... but i was reading the thread posted by DnStClr and there was something that stated that if you install a capacitor it will fix the problem... in theory i dont think it makes sense.. a capacitor is used to store energy so it can be release at a later moment... the thing about the fuel gauge is that it measures resistance with ground... current is always the same at the fuel gauge the ground is the changing factor and i think a capacitor canīt store ground... someone correct me if im wrong...
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A capacitor isn't going to fix it. Is it jumping around quickly or changing level fluidly while driving? If it is the former, you have a bad ground. If it is the later it is a direct result of the design of the float on an angle.. It will always measure level so if you are parked down hill it will be fuller, up hill lower, same goes for accell and decel...