Troubleshooting gas gauge problem

ole_Bill

ole_Bill

Member
The fuel level gauge on my '46 Super Deluxe is not working. How do I go about troubleshooting and finding the problem? I don't want to "guess" that it is the float. The gauge has not worked since I acquired the car this summer. Other gauges work OK.
 
You can start with shorting out the gauge only for a moment to see if it moves. Start at the gauge by shorting between the terminal that goes to the sender and a good ground with the ignition switched on. The gauge should move quickly to full. If it does you know the gauge is good. If not, the gauge is bad and needs replaced. If the gauge is good then you check the wiring to the sender by having someone watch the gauge while you ground the wire that attaches to the sender. That should, again, send the gauge quickly to full. If it does, the wiring is good and something is wrong with the sender and it probably needs replaced. Be sure the sender is well grounded. A ground wire directly from the sender to a good ground is best rather than relying on the sender grounding though its attachment to the gas tank.
 
Thanks - got all the info I need from this answer and a search of other posts. This seems to be a common problem.
 
With your model earth one side of the gauge and the needle should go from full back to MT ,Run a wire around the out side gauge to sender .Earth/ground the sender ,
 
Thanks for the tip. I understand what you are saying but never heard of the term MT before. Must be a kiwi thing. Again, thanks.
 
It should read a little below empty(or MT) with the ignition switch off. If it reads full all the time, powered or not, the gauge unit is dead or live all the time and shorted on the signal side. Disconnect both terminals at the gauge to see if it goes to to empty. If it does you need to find a wiring problem.
 
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