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Fuel gauge saga

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Old Mar 15, 2018 | 06:57 PM
  #1  
twentyyearwait's Avatar
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Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 24
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Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Fuel gauge saga

Having problems with my fuel gauge in my 84 Z28. Finally got around to dropping the tank and testing the sending unit which tested as good. The gauge in the instrument cluster still reads way past full. Is there a way to go around the wiring? I tried running a separate black wire from the pug at the tank with no luck. Or do I need to start tracing the harness and checking for breaks?
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 01:52 AM
  #2  
alicat's Avatar
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From: tasmania australia
Car: 1985 z28 camaro
Engine: 305 lg4,edelbrock,3"air cleaner.k&n
Transmission: turbo 700r4 w/b&m megashifter
Axle/Gears: Stock.
Re: Fuel gauge saga

Not sure if this is your problem, but it's worth a look if your sending unit tests ok. When I had the original gauge cluster in my 85Z, the fuel gauge one day would not come off full, after I filled the tank. Turned out that the needle had somehow jumped over the stop, and was stuck there. A hard tap on the plastic panel fixed it. Have a look at that. You may need a magnifying glass, to see if it is stuck.

Alicat.
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Old Mar 18, 2018 | 08:29 AM
  #3  
twentyyearwait's Avatar
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Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Fuel gauge saga

As of yesterday the gauge is working! Posting here in case someone has a similar problem. One of the contacts where the wiring harness plugs into the instrument cluster had gotten pushed back somehow and wasn't making contact.
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Old Apr 27, 2018 | 06:23 AM
  #4  
Cujo5o's Avatar
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From: Philadelphia
Car: Trans Am 88
Re: Fuel gauge saga

Hello all! My gas gauge is sitting on empty on my 88 TA and the tank is full. The only time the needle moves is when I unplug the sending unit from under the car then it moves to past full. I have checked out all the wiring and found nothing wrong. Any help on what it can be? Thanks.
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Old Apr 27, 2018 | 12:51 PM
  #5  
twentyyearwait's Avatar
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Posts: 24
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Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Fuel gauge saga

I would check the sending unit, see what the ohms are. Here is a link with a general how to: https://itstillruns.com/check-fuel-s...t-5050371.html

My Camaro was a 0-90 ohm sender, not sure if a TA is the same.
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Old Apr 30, 2018 | 06:32 AM
  #6  
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From: Philadelphia
Car: Trans Am 88
Re: Fuel gauge saga

That means I have to drop the tank again...uuugggg!
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Old May 1, 2018 | 08:26 PM
  #7  
twentyyearwait's Avatar
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Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Fuel gauge saga

It might be possible to check the ohm readings with if you can get to the wires. There should be a certain reading when full, verse half full or empty.
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Old May 2, 2018 | 05:48 AM
  #8  
Cujo5o's Avatar
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From: Philadelphia
Car: Trans Am 88
Re: Fuel gauge saga

Don't I have to pull the sending unit out of the tank in order to test it?
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Old May 2, 2018 | 08:47 AM
  #9  
twentyyearwait's Avatar
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Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Fuel gauge saga

I'm not sure it would work, just an idea but there should be a certain ohm reading when the tank is full vs empty. At full it should read 90 ohms if I remember correctly. Then at or near empty the reading should be getting closer to 0 ohms. It might be something to try before dropping the tank. There might be some more info on this in one of the forums.
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