Fuel Gage Problem

[82Canada]

Hi:

My 1982 still shows a half tank of gas even when I am almost out. When I fill up, the needle is well past full. Its almost like it were not centred. Any ideas on how to fix this?

The Shop Manual tells me to check the fuel gage sender wire at the tank (with a j-24538-a tester), but I am not quite sure what the sender wire looks like or where to buy the tester.

Any help is greatly appreciated

 

[69MyWay]

It is one of three things.

Bad gauge
Bad sending unit
Bad connection/ground

You have a wire going to the gas tank right where the fuel line goes in. I am not sure on an 81 since I have not messed with one of those tanks, but I do believe you can drop the spare tire, and upper spare tire lid and you will see the bottom of the tank and you will see where the fuel line goes in. You will see the connector for the sending unit. Remove and clean and reconnect.

If it is no there, then you will gain access by removing the fuel lid, and rubber insert at the upper neck of the tank. At least, this is how a C4 is.

If it is in the bottom, then you will need to run the tank down empty, remove the sending unit, and you can test it out of the car by moving it up and down and watching the gauge. You can also test it with a ohm meter at that point, and or at the connection.

My guess is bad sending unit.

 

[82Canada]

Thanks for your response. This helps a great deal. I was looking at it last evening: Looks like the sender is connected on top, which also jives with the Shop Manual, and it also appears to have an external electrical connection that runs to the gage cluster. I will remove it and give it a test.

By the way: Do oyu have any idea what this j-24538-a tester might be? Is it just a resister of some sort?

Thanks

 

[Guy]

I have the same problem with my black 82 and since sending units for 82's cost $250-350 just for the unit, I just reset the trip-meter with every fill up .


Guy

 

[82Canada]

Yeah, I am doing that now too. I have been actively investigating though: So far the sender seems to show 0 ohms on a full tank of gas when I test any of the leads (the brown and the orange) to ground.

Interestingly, I also looked at the fuel gage when the sender connector was disconnected and the fuel gage was way way past full - I mean it was horizontal pointing to the right. Also, when I tried grounding any of the leads that connect to the gauge, there was no change - it was always well past full.

Next I am going to p ull the sender out of the tank and see what gives there.

Thanks:bang