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Thu Apr 18, 2019 12:51 pm

I’m trying to get the fuel gauge working and I’ve searched this forum for suggestions. I connected a test light between the wire to the sender and ground and I’m not getting any power from gauge to the sender. The tank is full and the gauge is “bouncing” around the empty mark so originally I thought it was a bad sender. I also tried grounding the gauge to sender wire to see if the gauge would climb and nothing happened. It seems like either the gauge itself is bad or its not getting power. I did look at the wiring diagram and could not see any source of power other the the metal cluster. All the other indicators work perfectly. Any suggestions short of pulling the gauge out?

Thu Apr 18, 2019 1:33 pm

The gauge gets it's power off the fuse box a black wire the year depends on which fuse it gets it's power from. if the turn signal indicators work then you have power to the cluster yet the gauge itself gets it's power from the large black plug that fits to the back so you need to pull the fuse box down and pull the housing out to access it. Once you have it out you can pull the large black round connector off you will see 3 brass pins on the back of the gauge housing they are marked they fit in 3 female brass clips in the black plug. Once you have it out it will be clear. Sometimes they get loose or corroded or it might be the gauge . There is no way to avoid pulling it out to know for sure. If you grounded the sender wire to a good ground brown wire and had the key on and the gauge did nothing then before you fault the gauge you will need to check as I described. Does sound like a gauge issue yet who knows.

Thu Apr 18, 2019 1:46 pm

Thanks, yeah that’s what I was regretting - pulling that gauge out. I did drop the fuse panel to see if I could get my hand up the to squeeze the tangs on the gauge, and it looks like a pain to get in there, but I guess that’s what has to happen. Thanks for the response.

Thu Apr 18, 2019 3:10 pm

m3456y wrote: Thanks, yeah that’s what I was regretting - pulling that gauge out. I did drop the fuse panel to see if I could get my hand up the to squeeze the tangs on the gauge, and it looks like a pain to get in there, but I guess that’s what has to happen. Thanks for the response.

Yes it's a pain to get in there , I usually try to push the housing in a bit to relieve some to the pressure off the holding tabs then try to get at the one closest to the speedo which is the more difficult one then while pushing on the outside with my right hand on the chrome ring only to relieve pressure with my left try to push as close to the arms end as possible then once it's free try to do the same on the left side. It's sort of a trial and error deal , it will come out. For me it's close to impossible to squeeze both at the same time.

Thu Apr 18, 2019 4:13 pm

I think the last time I had to do with I just popped the front half of the gauge off and left the back behind. Just a thought.

Fri Apr 19, 2019 5:44 am

blues90 wrote: m3456y wrote: Thanks, yeah that’s what I was regretting - pulling that gauge out. I did drop the fuse panel to see if I could get my hand up the to squeeze the tangs on the gauge, and it looks like a pain to get in there, but I guess that’s what has to happen. Thanks for the response.

Yes it's a pain to get in there , I usually try to push the housing in a bit to relieve some to the pressure off the holding tabs then try to get at the one closest to the speedo which is the more difficult one then while pushing on the outside with my right hand on the chrome ring only to relieve pressure with my left try to push as close to the arms end as possible then once it's free try to do the same on the left side. It's sort of a trial and error deal , it will come out. For me it's close to impossible to squeeze both at the same time.

Once I removed the vent hose, I was able to squeeze my hand up and get both tabs. Not too bad after all. I tested the gauge with a 9V battery and it was fine, so sprayed contact cleaner on connectors, added a little dielectric magic grease and now when I ground the gauge wire at the sender - gauge goes to full. Bottom line - the sender is bad. Thanks for the help!

Fri Apr 19, 2019 9:23 am

I pop out the clock first, then the speedometer & last the gas gauge cluster. My wife with smaller hands has had to help get the speedometer out for me a couple times!