FUEL GAUGE QUESTION

[kfoz]

After cleaning up my gauge cluster(NOS lens, swapping fuel & speedo needles, etc,, my fuel gauge is erratic as heck.  Haven't looked into quite yet. . . .

Any input???

[1967KaiserM715]

There should be a resistor on the back of gauge, it should connect two of the prongs. That resister is supposed to limit rapid movement.

I forget if they stopped using it before or after the square body trucks


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[hatzie]

There should be a resistor on the back of gauge, it should connect two of the prongs. That resister is supposed to limit rapid movement.

I forget if they stopped using it before or after the square body trucks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's on all of the squares.

From orbit on my Android.

[Gagecampbell82]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know the specs of the resistor on the fuel gauge?  Mine acts crazy too, but also when I use my left blinker. So I think I have a whole different problem.

[kfoz]

Ok then,,,  with ALL that said,,,   is the resistor the issue AND will replacing it fix the issue.

It was just fine before I removed it for cleaning, etc.

Thanks all! 

[1967KaiserM715]

Not necessarily, a wire short or incomplete (loose) connection can also cause this behavior

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[bd]

First, check the electrical connections between the gauge pins, the spring clips and the PC board.  Also check the connections of the harness plug into the back of the cluster and PC board.  Loose connections, weak spring clip tension, dust contamination, and tarnish can raise annoying havoc with gauge stability.

[kfoz]

dang!  It was just fine before I pulled the dang thing.

Oh well.

[bd]

Disturbing electrical connections on an older vehicle can do that.  Don't bother replacing any parts until you burnish the PC board and gently retension the clips (gauge sockets), which are the interfaces between the gauge and the board.  You can use crocus cloth or a rubber eraser to polish the copper foil, but be very careful not to peel the foil loose from the plastic backing.  Smear a little antioxidant or dielectric grease on the connection points before reinstalling the gauge clips to help protect against future tarnish.  Curious - how did you ensure the gauge needles were correctly orientated when you reinstalled them?

[kfoz]

Well, as far as the speedo needle, I just screwed the replacement on & brought it to zero- works fine.

The FUEL gauge which has a press fit needle,,  I put back where the original was.

Thanks for the advice on burnishing, etc!