Fuel gauge stopped working - test ?

Post by **Sveedy** » 03 Jun 2022, 14:06

Today at one point, I noticed that my fuel gauge was sitting at empty, even though I knew there was gas in the tank. I shut the car off, and turned it back on and the gauge worked. Till I shut off the car. Turned it back on, and no gauge. Turned it off and back on, gauge worked. For a few minutes. then dead again. Now no amount of off / on cycles will bring it back.

So is there a test I can do for the sending unit ? I found one for the S70 which I'm figuring is the same ?
Just want to verify before I go shorting wires...

I just went and checked it again after letting it sit for a little bit, and gauge is working again.

Post by **abscate** » 04 Jun 2022, 02:54

just went and checked it again after letting it sit for a little bit, and gauge is working again.

! problem fixed!

Post by **Sveedy** » 04 Jun 2022, 07:15

Unfortunately I don't think so. I'm guessing that the sending unit is on its way out, and is just acting intermittently till total failure.

454cid · Post by **454cid** » 04 Jun 2022, 10:07

Normally fuel gauges work on resistance. The top of the pump is accessible from the trunk correct? I'd put a meter on the wires and measure. You might be able to move the arm by rocking the car and then see if the value changes. If it's some value between the high and low you're probably good there. If you get nothing at all, then you've found the issue.

Edit: Just looked on Rockauto, (for my 96) and I don't even see the fuel level sender. I had assumed it was on the pump housing assembly. I don't even see it listed by itself.

Post by **Sveedy** » 04 Jun 2022, 14:40

Well when I was at the junkyard today, I pulled ( mostly ) the sending unit out of the car I was picking. It's a 2" x 12" (apx) cylinder with no noticeable float etc. Just two wires going into the top, which are part of the unit, so no connectors to put a test probe on. I couldn't get the plug end of the wire to pass by the other crap on top of the tank, so I left it for now.

So the gauge still shows empty after shutting off the engine. Sometimes. I noticed that when I turn the key, and as the gauge starts to come up ( when it's working ), that if I start the car, the gauge will stop at that point, regardless of the amount of fuel in the tank.
All very weird.