'68 Charger fuel gauge accuracy.

[Pietu]

I have been wondering about the following thing:

In my '68 Charger the fuel gauge only goes up half way when the tank is filled to the brim. When the gauge shows dead empty, there is still 10 gallons left of the 19 gallon tank.

I know it's common for a car this age not to show a spot on reading but I have been wondering whether it is possible to somehow improve the reading so that it atleast shows full when it is full?

I'd appreciate any input on this.

- Pietu

[tan top]

is it the original sender unit ?  , or a aftermarket repop ??
is the sender grounded properly ?

just to rule the gauge out  pull the connection off the sender & ground it !  gauge should read full or past full

[Pietu]

is it the original sender unit ?  , or a aftermarket repop ??
is the sender grounded properly ?

just to rule the gauge out  pull the connection off the sender & ground it !  gauge should read full or past full

Thanks for your reply tan top!

I'll check the grounding and test the gauge tomorrow! I got to admit that I'm not sure if the sender is original. Does the outside base of the sender have a mopar stamp or is there another way to distinguish OEM from aftermarket?

- Pietu

[tan top]

 there is a part number & pentastar stamped on it  ,  & the plating on an original  is sort of galvernise  from memory ,
its easy to see a repop though

[Dans 68]

Here is a view of an original. http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,68992.msg774606.html#msg774606

Dan

[mysil bergsprekken]

This is exacly the same problem that I have got. I realds half full when full and reads empty a long time before it is really empty, maybe already when the tank is 3/4 full.
So what is the issue here, did you figure it out??

[dodgey68]

he my car does the exact same,,, any one had this issue and fixed it succesfuly

[Hemidog]

I fixed this when I bought my repro sender.
The solution is a tedious session with taking the sender out , bending the floater, installing, checking, and taking it out again...

Now my gauge reads correctly when empty, but goes way above full when the tank is full... but it's the best possible solution....

Here's one thread I found:
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,57267.0.html

[dodgey68]

ok im on it,, thank you hemidog
but i have been reading a bit on this site regarding this issue,what or were is the grounding strap? anyone got a pic of this

[Hemidog]

Here's a FSM pic :

[dodgey68]

thank you hemidog , ill make one of those after i fill the tank half way and do the bending of the floater, installing, checking, and taking it out again thing

[dodgey68]

well totally emptied the tank, even removed it cleaned and fitted tank back in,, added  half a tank of fuel back in, and adjusted the sender, i had to remove it 6 times to achieve this,,  but i finally got the gauge to read half,, was not fun and the smell of fuel,,,,

[Hemidog]

It's a pain, but the result is worth it 

[1969chargerrtse]

I did a whole thread on this, enjoy.



http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,57971.msg649262/topicseen.html#msg649262

[bill440rt]

I fixed this when I bought my repro sender.
The solution is a tedious session with taking the sender out , bending the floater, installing, checking, and taking it out again...

Now my gauge reads correctly when empty, but goes way above full when the tank is full... but it's the best possible solution....

Here's one thread I found:
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,57267.0.html

Did the same on mine. Put 5 gallons in, bent it until it read 1/4 tank. Put 5 more gallons in, & bent it until it read 1/2. I kept doing this until it read correctly. Probably had it in & out about 5-6 times. The needle will just be below the Full mark when there is a full tank now. A tedious, stinky job.

[bakerhillpins]

Did the same on mine. Put 5 gallons in, bent it until it read 1/4 tank. Put 5 more gallons in, & bent it until it read 1/2. I kept doing this until it read correctly. Probably had it in & out about 5-6 times. The needle will just be below the Full mark when there is a full tank now. A tedious, stinky job.

So does it still read correctly at 1/4 and 1/2 full even though you changed the bend to get it to indicate full to correctly?

[bill440rt]

Did the same on mine. Put 5 gallons in, bent it until it read 1/4 tank. Put 5 more gallons in, & bent it until it read 1/2. I kept doing this until it read correctly. Probably had it in & out about 5-6 times. The needle will just be below the Full mark when there is a full tank now. A tedious, stinky job.

So does it still read correctly at 1/4 and 1/2 full even though you changed the bend to get it to indicate full to correctly?

It's pretty accurate now. I refill it at about 1/4 tank, & it'll take approx 13-14 gallons or so which is fairly accurate given these cars have a 19 gallon tank. That's close enough for me.

[A383Wing]

mine in the Daytona has never read full when tank is filled all the way...but when it's close to "E", (which does not stand for "enough")......I need to start looking for gas station

Bryan

[1969chargerrtse]

I fixed this when I bought my repro sender.
The solution is a tedious session with taking the sender out , bending the floater, installing, checking, and taking it out again...

Now my gauge reads correctly when empty, but goes way above full when the tank is full... but it's the best possible solution....

Here's one thread I found:
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,57267.0.html

Did the same on mine. Put 5 gallons in, bent it until it read 1/4 tank. Put 5 more gallons in, & bent it until it read 1/2. I kept doing this until it read correctly. Probably had it in & out about 5-6 times. The needle will just be below the Full mark when there is a full tank now. A tedious, stinky job.

Mines the same way. Reads 7/8 to full depending on what angle car is. Good enough for me. Did it in one bend. It'll drop fast towards 1/2 tank then last longer as it gets to 1/4 tank. Been on Empty a few times and still made  it to gas station.