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Fuel guage beyond full

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Old Apr 6, 2004 | 01:52 PM
  #1  
90ekm's Avatar
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From: Bayarea
Fuel guage beyond full

Anyone have any ideas on what to check for a fuel guage that is reading way past full.
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Old Apr 6, 2004 | 03:38 PM
  #2  
phess11's Avatar
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 966
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From: NE Ohio
Car: 83 Z28
Engine: 305 (LG4)
Transmission: THM700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, 3.23 non-LS
Mine has done that when it is full ever since it was new. about an 1/8 inch past "F".

phil
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Old Apr 6, 2004 | 04:16 PM
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goofnrox's Avatar
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If it reads that way all the time, the wire going to the gauge is broken, or the sender itself is bad.

If you can test the wire going to the gauge, its should read 90 ohms resistance to ground at full, and 0 at empty.

A broken wire/sender causes the resistance to be way more than 90, hence the gauge reads full all the time.

I could be the gauge itslef is bad, but I'd bet on the sender/wire is the problem.
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Old Apr 7, 2004 | 12:21 PM
  #4  
90ekm's Avatar
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From: Bayarea
Thanks, I will check out the wires.
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Old Apr 9, 2004 | 10:23 PM
  #5  
86whitetransam's Avatar
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Car: 1986 Trans Am
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700r4 auto
hey i had the same problem my guage would read like that sometimes like for a month on end. then i found the trick to mine fill the tank so full gas just comes out and drive the gas down it worked twice on mine then the guage works it must just get stuck at the top. hummmmmmm
worth a try i guess
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Old Oct 7, 2010 | 01:25 AM
  #6  
haroanarchist's Avatar
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From: Glendale AZ
Car: 87 formula
Engine: LG4
Re: Fuel guage beyond full

I was wondering if what you guys mean by the sender wire being bad do you mean like a short?
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Old Oct 7, 2010 | 03:18 AM
  #7  
Wiggles's Avatar
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From: Tucson
Car: 84 Firebird, 78 Trans Am
Engine: LG4 305 Qjet, Pontiac 400cid
Transmission: T5 Non WC, TH350
Axle/Gears: All stock
Re: Fuel guage beyond full

I experienced the same problem when I first began to work on the car, prior to purchasing it. Sitting in the same spot for over 2 years and not being driven (probably) caused the tank float/sending unit to become gummed up with old nasty varnished gasoline.

What actually fixed my particular issue was filling the tank full of 91 octane fuel, and an entire bottle of seafoam. Last week, I drove it around like a jerk in an empty church parking lot one night and after an hour, the needle began to go down. This last week and a half, the needle appears to be working as intended.

Hopefully you don't have to drop the tank to resolve your issue.
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Old Oct 7, 2010 | 10:55 AM
  #8  
haroanarchist's Avatar
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From: Glendale AZ
Car: 87 formula
Engine: LG4
Re: Fuel guage beyond full

Thankyou i will try somthin similar. Sww if i can reproduce the results.
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Old Oct 9, 2010 | 07:44 AM
  #9  
Necrocom4's Avatar
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From: Claverack, NY
Car: 88 camaro
Engine: 2.8
Re: Fuel guage beyond full

going through the same issue with mine right now. when i picked it up last week there was hardly any gas in the car. it wouldnt of been enough to get it home and the nearest station wasnt close enough so i brought an extra 5 gallons with me. i know the gauge works cuz it moved up alittle when i put that 5 gallons in. now its been stuck at above 'F' ever since i topped it off at the gas station that night and ive driven about 100 miles so far. im hoping the needle will drop quick when its almost empty. then ill just repeat till whatever is causing it to free up and work normal.
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Old Oct 13, 2010 | 10:42 AM
  #10  
whiteboy15's Avatar
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From: puyallup,washington
Car: 1991 camaro rs
Engine: 5.0L v8
Transmission: 700r4 trans
Re: Fuel guage beyond full

my gas gauge flucuates . it will be at a quarter tank and if i turn right it will go to empty and if i turn left it will go to half a tank
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Old Oct 13, 2010 | 10:44 AM
  #11  
whiteboy15's Avatar
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From: puyallup,washington
Car: 1991 camaro rs
Engine: 5.0L v8
Transmission: 700r4 trans
Re: Fuel guage beyond full

my gas gauge flucuates . it will be at a quarter tank and if i turn right it will go to empty and if i turn left it will go to half a tank do you happen to know what i can do to fix it
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Old Oct 13, 2010 | 07:45 PM
  #12  
UNCLE TOM's Avatar
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From: ms. gulf coast
Car: 91 R/S , 89 dodge p/u
Engine: L31 GM crate re-cammed , 318
Transmission: T-5 , 4 speed auto
Axle/Gears: 3.42 , ?
Re: Fuel guage beyond full

if the fuel pump has ever been changed it's possible the float arm got bent . how do i know ? because i did it . i had to change a fuel pump on an out of state vist . i was in a hurry to get back home . my tank reads 1/4 tank hi all the time thru all ranges . i need to remove and rebend arm . just my thoughts . good luck .
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