gas gauge not working

[blue87lx]

i got a problem with my gas gauge. i was out messin around in the car downshifted and floored it. after that i noticed my gas gauge was way past full and now it doesnt read how much gas i got. when i first turn the key on it will drop a little bit then go back up. any ideas where to start?

 

[Foxfan88]

subscribing... mine is on the fritz also. it work for a week when i bought the car and it just stopped on day lol

 

[The Shape]

Mine has been like that for five years. The two most likely culprits are the sending unit in the tank or the slosh module on the back of the cluster. I just reset my trip odometer every time I fill up an live with it.

 

[PEIslander88]

Mine has done the same since I bought it too. I've tried everything except the sending unit in the tank, if yours is like mine it will probably drop to empty when it has about 5 litres of gas left in it. Sorry, not sure how many gallons that is!!

 

[GreatWhite]

replace the sending unit and see if it fixes it.

 

[wgpaintballer]

+1 for sending unit.. im looking into the same thing and my mechanic said that was usually the problem he gave me this entire speach about ford not doing something rite.. or whatever while im daydreaming rembering hes driving a spivic

 

[89stangGT]

hey guys,

Sorry to bring this thread up from the dead, but i am having the same issue as blue87lx

i got a problem with my gas gauge. i was out messin around in the car downshifted and floored it. after that i noticed my gas gauge was way past full and now it doesnt read how much gas i got. when i first turn the key on it will drop a little bit then go back up. any ideas where to start?

I have already changed the float in the gas tank with no results. I am planning on changing the gas gauge this weekend but i am not really interested in doing all that work if it is not going to fix the problem.

Anybody have a different idea or solution to the problem?

Thanks for the help

 

[jammer84_03]

i had the same issue a while back...so here what i did. i took an old sending unit out of my other 4 banger and popped it in ( the guage would stay full til there was about 20 miles of fuel left). the main culpret is with the sodder connectors that wear over time from the sweeping finger attaced to the float. if you drop your tank and pull the sender you will notice alot of the sodder point are proably missing or extremely worn. then is def time to get a new sending unit. either a new one from 50resto or junkyard it for cheap from another fox either 5.0 or 4cyl are the exact same. or like mensioned previously the sloch module or possibly the guage itself. also wireing might have broken down and finally rubbed loose or is grounding out

 

[AnthonyR23]

read somewhere that the float sometimes gets a hole in it and fills up... so doesn't work correctly.. but still works a bit... definitely a sending unit or float problem... I wouldn't necessarily replace the gauge unless you want a new one anyways... but that probably won't fix the problem.

 

[89stangGT]

I think i am bad at describing what i changed. I pulled the tank and changed what i though was the sending unit, it had the arm on it that went up and down. That was down about two years ago. Is the sending unit and the float two different things?

 

[bobbyd]

subscribing i have this same problem and will have to get a new sending unit

 

[Boss 351]

I heard (not sure if this is true) that if the fuel gauge is stuck on full, then it's a ground or (in the tank problem)... and if it's stuck at empty, it's the guage itself??

My mustang has had a full tank ever since I bought it.

 

[Ike83]

Mine has been like that for five years. The two most likely culprits are the sending unit in the tank or the slosh module on the back of the cluster. I just reset my trip odometer every time I fill up an live with it.

I can't STAND resetting my trip odometer everytime. I'd much rather go with the Autometer fuel level gauge. Problem is.....I have no idea the ohm range for the gauge i want to order.

I own a 1987 GT, so am I looking for the ohm range between 158-16? Do you know off hand? I think that's right.

 

[jmd2914]

i have the same problem sticks on full until it i have about a 1/4 tank left then reads where it should be

 

[89stangGT]

i have the same problem sticks on full until it i have about a 1/4 tank left then reads where it should be

Exactly.

 

[89stangGT]

Oops double post

 

[86bluecobra]

i have the same problem sticks on full until it i have about a 1/4 tank left then reads where it should be

same issue I have with mine. I'm having trouble finding the sending unit though.

 

[JustA5.0]

same issue I have with mine. I'm having trouble finding the sending unit though.

@ 50Resto You should replace the lock ring at the same time as well, probably rusted to sh**.

 

[jammer84_03]

like i said before...check the actual sending unit. the sodders are usually missing causing the guage to stay where it is at til it gets another reading...thus the stuck fuel guage and the drop that take a mile or two to come completely down ( due to the slosh module)

 

[86bluecobra]

@ 50Resto You should replace the lock ring at the same time as well, probably rusted to sh**.

thx very much sir.