I have a 1985 camaro berlinetta, LG4, digital dash... all that... and my fuel level is stuck on way past full (as far to the top and the gauge can read)... is the gauge broken? whats the easiest way to check if the fuel level sending thingy is working without dropping the tank?

 

I think your floater might be stuck. Only way I know to fix it is to drop the tank. Good luck.

 

i was thinkin about that also... but i think if it were stuck up like that... being i rarely fill up the car, when i hit some of these bad roads around here it should bounce around enough to unstick... if there a way to get to the top of the tank from inside the car? like how some cars you can remove the back seat...

 

I don't know the answer to your problem, but I've heard of this happening before. Happened once to my car, but the gauge returned to normal on next startup.

Try a search, see what comes up.

 

No, you can't access the tank from inside the car. Some people cut holes in the top of the tank, through the interior. This is usually to access a burned pump. This is a little dangerous, and hard to fix, as you usually cut through the fuel lines, and have to patch the hole extremely well to prevent leaks into the cabin. Dropping the tank is a pain, but cutting a hole is not a lot easier.

 

ok thanks for the help guys! but befor i go dropping the tank, can't i check if the floater is working by using a volt meter to the wire that hooks up to the gauge? or the wire somewhere between the pump and the gauge?

 

The wire for the sending unit probably came unhooked, or broke. Check the wire for resistance between the gauge and the sending unit. If it has none, then it's broken or unhooked.

 

If it is constantly indicating FULL, the wire to the sending unit is possibly grounded somewhere along the body or at the tank. It's also possible that the float is stuck at the high position, but usually driving over even average bumps will dislodge it. You could try tapping the bottom of the tank with your fist.

 

grounded.... never thought of that... can anyone tell me the color of the wire for this? i have a book on 82-92 camaro's... but it doesn't show the sending unit or the wire...

 

The wire for the sending unit is pink I think. My gage does that from time to time. I know my problem is in the gage because if I smack my dash next to the fuel level gage it "fixes it". BTW I doubt you have the same problem since yours is digital.

 

the wire is pink. if you pull off that kick panel on the driver side wall below the dash, it will reveal a black "hose with about 5 wires in it. the pink goes to the sending unit. when you hook up a new gauge to power only it reads as high as possible. im betting my last 5 bucks that this is your problem. if you open the compartment in the rear of your vehicle, driver side, remove the cardboard that makes up the compartment, you will see those wires. it then goes into a loom that drops out of your car (2 wires, one power, one sending unit) they go to the sending unit from the driver side, obviously. you will see the loom run along the front of the tank. behind the compartment in the rear, the wire sort of changes to a different shade of pink, but its the only pink wire. before it changes, its a bright pink and after it changes its a dull pink.

 

great info here