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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: chevybowtieguy on July 21, 2013, 01:04:51 pm

Title: auto meter fuel guage install....PLEASE HELP
Post by: chevybowtieguy on July 21, 2013, 01:04:51 pm
I was wondering if anyone out there has ever hooked up a auto meter fuel level guage in a 77 k10. When i bought the truck none of the guages in the dash worked. Instead of trouble shooting this problem I figured i would install all new auto meter guages. This project went smooth until i ran into the fuel guage. My rig has duel tanks. I would like the guage to read levels in both tanks. Where do i hook up the wire that goes to the sending unit  >:(. I have tried every thing and cant get it to read right. Any help would be awesome. Figured I would turn to the people who know the most. Thanks,   Owen
Title: Re: auto meter fuel guage install....PLEASE HELP
Post by: winky on July 21, 2013, 01:22:05 pm
I'm not positive on dual tanks  you'll probably need to look in the tech area at the diagrams. If a sending unit or switch is bad your gauge won't work. It'll be a head ache cause you don't know if its not hooked up right or if you have bad parts. I don't have good service or I would get you links but look in the tech articles I believe is what the section is called. It has a few things that tell you how to fix/check fuel gauges. I'd make sure everything functioned and tested out right before I tried hooking the new gauge to prevent future frustrations.
Title: Re: auto meter fuel guage install....PLEASE HELP
Post by: bd on July 21, 2013, 02:07:48 pm
Assuming you have a one-wire selector valve below the cab:

Tie the new fuel gauge to the same wire that connected to the original fuel gauge; the tan wire (Ckt 30) that runs through the firewall and along the right frame rail then back up into the cab along the left frame rail, and on to the selector switch in the dash.  Or, you can wire directly to the center cavity of the selector switch that is currently occupied by the 'tan' wire.  On the single-wire selector valve systems, the dash switch selects the sending unit. 

GM factory tank units are 0 - 90 Ohms, Empty-to-Full.  Depending on the series of Autometer gauge you are using, you may need to use Autometer senders in both tanks.

Reference page A-4 (page 16), AUXILIARY FUEL TANK diagram in the 1978 Wiring Manual (http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/techinfo/7387CKMans//Wiring/ST_352_78_1978_Chevrolet_Light_Truck_Wiring_CK_10_30_Only.pdf).
Title: Re: auto meter fuel guage install....PLEASE HELP
Post by: winky on July 21, 2013, 02:19:11 pm
I hope I'm as knowledgeable as you are one day BD
Title: Re: auto meter fuel guage install....PLEASE HELP
Post by: bd on July 21, 2013, 02:50:05 pm
LOL - Thanks, but why limit yourself?
Title: Re: auto meter fuel guage install....PLEASE HELP
Post by: winky on July 21, 2013, 03:15:54 pm
Haha no limits here. Just time constraints
Title: Re: auto meter fuel guage install....PLEASE HELP
Post by: Batman13 on July 21, 2013, 05:39:16 pm
A word of caution about the Auto Meter fuel gauges.......make sure your sending units are still operating at the proper ohm level(s).  If the ohms are off drastically, it will fry the gauge.  I run two RCI 20 gallon fuel cells with 0-90 ohm sending units.  One of the sending units was off, (or it was the wrong one) and it fried my gauge.  Good luck with your project! :)