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Replaced my gas tank, and now my gas gauge is doing the funky. FIXED!!!

Started by 1969chargerrtse, June 04, 2009, 06:48:50 PM

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1969chargerrtse

June 04, 2009, 06:48:50 PM
I put in a new gas tank as my original one sprung a leak after I tightened down on the clamps a little.  Being there was no pad between the tank and trunk floor, this didn't help.  Point being, my sending unit worked just fine.  It read full when the tank was full and empty when it was empty.  I simply took it from the original tank and put it in the new tank.  Now it never reads above 3/8 a tank even though I just dumped 15 gallons in it. :shruggy:  I grounded the tank sending unit wire and it pegged the gauge as it should.  I grounded the sending unit and filled the tank, and I get 3/8?  It worked fine before?  I pulled it out again this evening and can't find anything wrong.  When I pull it again I'll move the lever up and down and see what it reads.  It looks like a newer type as it has a plastic float.  Wa happin? :eek2:
This car was sold many years ago to somebody in Wisconsin. I now am retired and living in Florida.

Back N Black

#1
June 05, 2009, 01:05:54 PM
Sorry, don't have answer but man you are having bad luck with that car.I feel for ya.

1969chargerrtse

#2
June 05, 2009, 02:01:58 PM
Quote from: Back N Black on June 05, 2009, 01:05:54 PM
Sorry, don't have answer but man you are having bad luck with that car.I feel for ya.
I'm actually getting use to it, though it has been running problem free for awhile.  I'll post when I fiqure it out. Not a biggie. I can only think it's in the sending unit?  Why, you got me because it worked fine before?
This car was sold many years ago to somebody in Wisconsin. I now am retired and living in Florida.

FLG

#3
June 05, 2009, 05:43:50 PM
Might be the wire  :shruggy:

jaak

#4
June 06, 2009, 02:26:08 PM
Do you think the float arm could have possibly got bent while removing/replacing or while it was out of the car?

Jason

Charger-Bodie

#5
June 06, 2009, 05:45:19 PM
Quote from: jaak on June 06, 2009, 02:26:08 PM
Do you think the float arm could have possibly got bent while removing/replacing or while it was out of the car?

Jason


Or bent and catching on the tube?
68 Charger R/t white with black v/t and red tailstripe. 440 4 speed ,black interior
68 383 auto with a/c and power windows. Now 440 4 speed jj1 gold black interior .
My Charger is a hybrid car, it burns gas and rubber............

1969chargerrtse

#6
June 06, 2009, 05:58:31 PM
I took it out the other day to see if maybe I put it back in on an angle?  Nope, it locks in one correct position only. Anyway it was in perfect condition and the float moved freely. I'll pull it again and move the lever up and down and see what readings I get.  Tomorrow I plan on installing the Hemi mufflers, pulling the sending unit again and adjusting the rear brakes. Be back soon with answers I hope. 
This car was sold many years ago to somebody in Wisconsin. I now am retired and living in Florida.

oldcarnut

#7
June 06, 2009, 11:26:14 PM
I connected all my hoses and wire today on my new tank and sending unit on this thread http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,57376.0.html
I also installed an extra ground wire.  Put in 5 gallons of gas and no movement either.  Took a long rod and manually moved the float up while in the tank and got about 3/8 on the gauge.  Connected the send wire to ground and it goes to full so I know the gauge is ok.  Please post what you find out and maybe I have the same issue only my unit is a new one but it did seem to ohm out ok. 

1969chargerrtse

#8
June 07, 2009, 01:59:37 PM
Quote from: oldcarnut on June 06, 2009, 11:26:14 PM
I connected all my hoses and wire today on my new tank and sending unit on this thread http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,57376.0.html
I also installed an extra ground wire.  Put in 5 gallons of gas and no movement either.  Took a long rod and manually moved the float up while in the tank and got about 3/8 on the gauge.  Connected the send wire to ground and it goes to full so I know the gauge is ok.  Please post what you find out and maybe I have the same issue only my unit is a new one but it did seem to ohm out ok. 
I got bad news for us. I have no idea????????????

I pulled the unit out and attached the gauge wire and then a ground wire to the unit.  It worked 100% perfect. :shruggy:  It was full at full :shruggy:, and 1/2 a tank at mid point, and empty at full closed??????????

I have no idea?  I put it back in my tank that is half full and it reads EMPTY!  WTF?  I'll ask the Mopar pros at my cruise night tonight and post again.

Thank God it's not just me.

I hope it's not the tank?  I wish I could see in there but I can't with it mounted.
This car was sold many years ago to somebody in Wisconsin. I now am retired and living in Florida.

FLG

#9
June 07, 2009, 02:04:27 PM
Is the float cracked and filling with gas??

Brock Samson

#10
June 07, 2009, 02:21:15 PM
these things are ALLWAYS trouble,.. I've gone thru my R/Ts three times and it never has worked properly,.. one in a blue moon it will register and none too accurate at that,.. I'm gonna say 5% of the time and I don't trust it then...
I'd like to hear the experts advise and experiance in getting the blasted guage to work properly...

1969chargerrtse

#11
June 07, 2009, 02:41:44 PM
Quote from: FLG on June 07, 2009, 02:04:27 PM
Is the float cracked and filling with gas??
I was wondering that as there is a tiny amount of gas in it, very small amount.  but when I pull it out,  as seen in the picture there was nothing in it except that tiny amount.  It also worked fine in the old tank.  I did try to find a leak or crack and didn't see any.
This car was sold many years ago to somebody in Wisconsin. I now am retired and living in Florida.

oldcarnut

#12
June 07, 2009, 04:37:00 PM
QuoteI got bad news for us. I have no idea????????????
I hope it's not the tank?  I wish I could see in there but I can't with it mounted.
I was able to take a small bright flashlight and take a look inside mine as I moved the float up with the rod but I didn't see anything obvious.  I put exactly 5 gallons in it. I don't have any more time today but later this week I'll pull it out and move the float lever out of the tank like you did and see if the results are the same as yours.  Then I'll put it in a containor of gas and see if that makes any difference. Hopefully the pros have an answer. 

1969chargerrtse

#14
June 07, 2009, 06:37:02 PM
Quote from: y3chargerrt on June 07, 2009, 05:58:10 PM
Rob if your gauge works fine when you have your sending unit out and moving it by hand then your float has to be the problem.It must has gas in it keeping it from raising.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MOPAR-Sending-Unit-Fuel-Tank-Brass-Float-Dodge-Plymouth_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ65Q3a1Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp4506Q2ec0Q2em245QQhashZitem35a1947678QQitemZ230344128120QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQQsalenotsupported
Thing is it worked before?  Thanks for the great link.  Being it did have some fuel in it I'll buy the brass one you listed.  I'm thinking something to do with the ground?  I'm going to try grounding the fuel line elbow that comes out of the unit.
This car was sold many years ago to somebody in Wisconsin. I now am retired and living in Florida.

1969chargerrtse

#15
June 07, 2009, 07:31:11 PM
Well, I just crawled under the car and put a jumper from the tank to the gauge wire.  My son sitting in the car said the gauge pegged full.
I then put the wire on the sending unit stud and and grounded the unit and he said the gauge dropped to empty,
I guess it's the float? Because I know the unit works correct as I checked it outside the car today.  I guess the small amount of fuel I saw in it is making it sink.
Why it worked perfect until I moved it to the new tank is beyond me.
We shall see.  Thanks for the link y3chargerrt :2thumbs:
This car was sold many years ago to somebody in Wisconsin. I now am retired and living in Florida.

1969chargerrtse

#16
June 11, 2009, 05:22:47 PM
THIS IS UNREAL.  I replaced the float, nope that ain't it.   I went and filled the tank full and look at the reading.  I grounded the sending unit to the ground to the trunk lamp and to the frame, nope that ain't it.    I grounded the sending unit wire and the gauge went to full so that system works.  I grounded the sending unit out of the car and moved the lever and it worked 100% perfect?   This really really boggles me. :scratchchin:  I do this type of trouble shooting for a living and I can't figure it out.  I'm sure the tank is an empty shell, what would be stopping the lever from rising?  It worked before in the old tank? I don't get it?    I will figure this out, but I don't get it?  :shruggy:

I thought " maybe "  the small amount of fuel in the plastic float might be the issue.  Nope.

Now I have to wait until I burn out the full tank of fuel so I can pull the sending unit again.

You would think this car is driving me nuts and making me old.  The opposite, this car is a loving and fun challenge and brought me back to life.  :laugh: ( Yes I'm serious ).
This car was sold many years ago to somebody in Wisconsin. I now am retired and living in Florida.

1969chargerrtse

#17
June 11, 2009, 05:42:18 PM
I have an idea?  What if the hole for the sending unit is angled incorrect?  Meaning the gauge unit and pick up is really lets say 4 or 6 inches above the bottom of the tank?  Therefore not only reading wrong but the float is topped out to the top of the tank?  I don't remember it looking that way each time I installed the unit but  :shruggy:  when I clamp it down maybe it angles upward?  I think I have something here. 

Probably not it, but if it was I could just bend the tube and pickup downward.
This car was sold many years ago to somebody in Wisconsin. I now am retired and living in Florida.

1969chargerrtse

#18
June 12, 2009, 09:03:33 AM
I just talked to somone today that said they do bike tanks and that Is a common problem when changing tanks. They do bend and reset the old sending unit to the correct position in the new tank. Of course it's been raining here in Ct for days and will be for several more days so I'll have to wait before I can drive the gas level down. Be back soon.
This car was sold many years ago to somebody in Wisconsin. I now am retired and living in Florida.

oldcarnut

#19
June 12, 2009, 10:59:15 AM
I hope that works for ya. I could only get mine to read a little over 3/4 tank connected outside the car.  This weekend I'll swap it around with my R/T unit and see if it is any difference.

roger01

#20
June 12, 2009, 02:58:59 PM
yes you do have to bend the tube for it to read properly .it took me three tries and finally got it right .
mine was reading 1/4 tank when full when i first put it in ....now reads 7/8 full when full , good enough for me ..

1969chargerrtse

#21
June 12, 2009, 03:43:11 PM
Finally fixed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   The trick was not bending the tube, but bending the float arm so it doesn't have to travel as high.  :boogie: :boogie: :boogie:

I did bend the tube, but I had to bend it back as it wouldn't mount up correct, so I did a little float rod bend and wammo!!!!!!!

All gauges are working fine.   :notworthy:
This car was sold many years ago to somebody in Wisconsin. I now am retired and living in Florida.

1969chargerrtse

#22
June 12, 2009, 09:52:42 PM
What I did was use a garden hose and drain the full tank into a bunch of gas cans so I could pull the sending unit again.
This car was sold many years ago to somebody in Wisconsin. I now am retired and living in Florida.

Brightyellow69rtse

#23
June 12, 2009, 11:22:51 PM
ive had my car 9 years and ive never had  a working gas guage lol. i think its time i just order a new sending unit :D

1969chargerrtse

#24
June 13, 2009, 03:57:53 AM
Quote from: Brightyellow69rtse on June 12, 2009, 11:22:51 PM
ive had my car 9 years and ive never had  a working gas guage lol. i think its time i just order a new sending unit :D
If you ground your gauge wire that snaps on the sending unit to ground and the gas gauge pegs full then yes it would be the sending unit that is bad or not adjusted correct.
My issue was the gauge worked before I changed the tank, why not now?  The thing was driving me nuts.  Could you tell?  ::)
This car was sold many years ago to somebody in Wisconsin. I now am retired and living in Florida.
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