ban me and Being Cold

[VeeTwin60]

Okay, I am going to try to kill 2 questions with one thread:

1986 Chevy C-10 350/350 - Holley 650cfm w/man choke

1. It has been colder than the proverbial well-digger's butt here in the south the last couple of days.  Since the low temps have moved in, my truck will not idle correctly - even after being completely warmed up.  It drives just fine... just idle.  I've heard Holley's are temperamental when it comes to ambient temp.  Do I need to make some adjustment while the cold is set in?

2. Here comes the ban me part.  My fuel gauge needle is floppy.  When the tank is full, it is fine.  But when it drops to about 3/4 to 5/8 of a tank, the needle does the hokey-pokey - sometimes even dropping down to "E" and then going back and forth - depending on whether I'm accelerating, stopping, turning, etc.  Is there a fix for this?

Thank you guys.  I look forward to getting to know all of my fellow Chevy truck owners.

[VileZambonie]

Sounds like you have a bad sending unit in the tank.

What do you mean it won't idle correctly? too high too low?

[monte85]

my gas guage does the same thing and i have a new sending unit. i think it all has to do with the way the tanks are mounted and the length of the tank. the fuel has so much room to move around when the level gets off full, the sending unit and the guage can't keep up with the changing levels.

[Redneckchevy]

My Gage dont do that...If there is a 1/4 it stays...If its full it stays at full..and i have a heavy foot..But hey my truck was built in Canada..And we all no There is nothing better then being built in Canada lol

[JJSZABO]

But hey my truck was built in Canada..And we all no There is nothing better then being built in Canada lol

Alright, you started it.....

Canada is the only county with hockey players on the money - what's up with that?

[VeeTwin60]

What do you mean it won't idle correctly? too high too low?

It idles rough.  For instance, sitting at a light, it shakes the truck sometimes as it idles roughly.

[VileZambonie]

check your float setting

[jonkmbll89]

I changed out my sinding unit out twice in my Blazer and the gage still jumps. I think it is the fuel gage itself.

[okuma]

it i sthe fuel gage! replaced it an problem solved.

[VileZambonie]

If it's a faulty gauge or printed circuit it will typically swing towards Full or over full... To go towards E resistance needs to drop which is typically a shorted winding in the sender or the wire going to the gauge grounding on the frame. Check it before you start changing parts.

[okuma]

well ville you might be right but.... my swinging gage "E-F and F-E" was replaced and this was the solution for mine.

[chevy754x4]

My '75 with the small fuel gauge does the same "hokey pokey" thing on both tanks and I'm pretty sure it's the gauge also unless both sending units went goofy at the same time

[Fordeatinz71]

well, then every GM fuel gauge i've ever seen is bad.  i've never seen a GM truck fuel gauge from '99-down that DIDN'T swing around.  i mean, they don't go all the way from full to empty (if that's what you are talking about i insert foot now...) but they DO float around.  the ONLY time mine doesn't float around is if it's CRAMMED full or DEAD empty.  actually, that's like my low fuel "light" when it's on E and it's still floating a little, i know i have some time left...if it's not floating, i'm about to be dead in the water 

[werewolfx13]

I use the floating needle the same way with mine..I haven't been able to afford to put more than half a tank in it at a time for over a month, so the only time its ever dead still, I better be within 1/4 mile of a gas station..

[Fordeatinz71]

heck yea, the gas prices are eating me alive.  well, along with my truck's various issues...like no OD or lockup TC...and my "auto-locking" hubs that won't unlock, so my front driveline is perma-engaged...

can't wait until tax time when i get the 350 installed, along with a new 700R4 and manual locking hubs...along with a few other goodies...