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Inaccurate Fuel Gauge ....

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George Zeck

George Zeck

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Hi All -

One last item (at least until it breaks). The fuel gauge is inaccurate. I've replace the gauge (used Smith's off of ebay), tank & sending unit.

From some searches on past posts -- I re-grounded the sending unit. It now shows full when it's basically empty. When I fill up - it shows "accurate" ont the first half of fuel (at least by my estimates) and bounces around on the 2nd half all over the place (full to empty).

I keep thinking of replacing the sending unit (it's only 4 years old) and was bought off of ebay (cheap) - any recommendations on a quality one? I really am opposed to using a stick like some others have (sorry to be a snob).

Tx-

George
 
It sounds like your sending unit that is causing problems since the gauge calibration is not likely to vary in different directions over the range. If I remember correctly, gauges worked on two different modes depending on the design. Some indicate full at higher voltage and others indicate full at lower voltage. If you order a new sending unit, make sure your sending unit and gauge are correct for one another.

Cheers,
Craig
 
George, as Craig said, the gauge systems with the voltage stabilizer are different from the earlier ones without it and you can't mix the components between the two. The sending units of the two systems work in the opposite direction.

Regularman (a.k.a. Kim) is probably the guy in the Spridget forum who works the most on gauge systems. You may want to send him a message and discuss with him what components you have and whether or not you have parts that can work together.
 
Right. It does sound like the sending unit for the reasons Craig stated. If you have a reasonably accurate ohmmeter, we can diagnose it pretty well. The worst part is you may have to pull the sender to test it.
 
You've got it the Gauge and Sending unit are not a matching pair. Just get a correct sending unit and you'll be fixed. I ran into that with Bugsy a while back as I was getting the gas gauge working. I order the wrong sender and got exactly the symptoms you described.

Can someone post the resistance specs for the various Gas Gauge / Sender Combos. It's available I just can't locate in my library of Spridget stuff.
 
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