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Topic: Fuel gauge just quit working

in Forum: C3 Electrical

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Fuel gauge just quit working (1/8)
1/26/15 1:19pm

F4Gary

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Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.

Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1409

Worked on my way over to a lunch, got back in the car to come home and it just stays at empty. Confused

Thought I was just low on fuel as I was on an 1/8th of a tank on the way over, so I filled the tank up and it never moved off empty. All the other gauges work so it shouldn't be a fuse.

So how do I test the gauge? Pull one of the wires off the sender on the bottom of the tank and ground it? Should go to full then right?

I really don't want to take the panel apart... Unhappy

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Re: Fuel gauge just quit working (2/8)
1/26/15 1:51pm

manchestershark

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Equinunk, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.

Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2388

Maybe a ground. I have a 72' also, my sender is accessed from the top of the tank.

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Re: Fuel gauge just quit working (3/8)
1/26/15 2:14pm

Adams' Apple

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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas

Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20129

Unplugging the center wire(usually tan or pinkish) on the sender should cause it to go to FULL. Grounding it should cause it to go to Empty. You should be able to look down in the tank and see if the float fell off, or broke, leaving the float arm hanging down. If the float is still on the arm, and it near the top of the tank(depending on how much fuel you put in), then I'd venture to say the sender has gone kaput, or has lost it's ground. Try running a separate ground to the ground terminal on the sender, and see if that makes any difference.

manchestershark said:

Maybe a ground. I have a 72' also, my sender is accessed from the top of the tank.

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Re: Fuel gauge just quit working (4/8)
1/26/15 2:15pm

rraider1
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Woodland, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1977 T-Top,350,Auto Black Ruby Pearl,Steeroids R&P conversion

Joined: 10/14/2003
Posts: 1165

Key on :

With the tan wire removed from sender gauge goes full ( I think it pegs )

with the wire grounded it will read empty.

If you have a digital multimeter you can read the sender:

0 ohms empty 90 ohms full 45 should be half tank

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Re: Fuel gauge just quit working (5/8)
1/26/15 2:45pm

F4Gary

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Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.

Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1409

Here is what I tried and failed at yesterday. On the bottom of my tank, are 2 wires. One is a flat blade type connector,
and the other is a rubber covered 90 degree connector. Without removing the spare tire carrier assembly (the top cover)
I couldn't remove either connector. The 90 degree one was just too hard to get at, but I couldn't even get the dang flat connector off. Angry

I tried looking in the tank but it is chocked full right now, and I tried hooking the float arm with a coat hanger to no avail.
Today I will drop the spare tire crap and then I should get good access to the connectors.

I hate C3 Corvette engineers... Evil Smile

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys.

|UPDATED|1/26/2015 11:45:39 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

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Re: Fuel gauge just quit working (6/8)
1/26/15 5:24pm

F4Gary

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Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.

Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1409

Solved...NO FLOAT! Got a better flashlight and looked in the tank and I can see the rod with no float on it.
Looks like another 65 bucks in the money cannon. Censored

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Re: Fuel gauge just quit working (7/8)
1/26/15 6:29pm

Vman73
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Gig Harbor, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1973 L82 4 Speed Coupe - Very original, well documented driver/survivor. 2016 Bend Regional NCRS Top Flight.

Joined: 10/2/2014
Posts: 405

Damn, dunking another $65.00 into a 72 LT1 convert w/air, I think you should sell me that money pit. $10k and I'll even take care of that troublesome gas guage ?? LOL !! Good luck with the fix and remember my offer is always open !!

|UPDATED|1/26/2015 3:29:41 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

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Re: Fuel gauge just quit working (8/8)
1/26/15 9:03pm

F4Gary

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Grapevine, TX - USA

Vette(s):
1972 LT-1 convertible with factory air.

Joined: 8/26/2006
Posts: 1409

Vman73 said: Damn, dunking another $65.00 into a 72 LT1 convert w/air, I think you should sell me that money pit. $10k and I'll even take care of that troublesome gas guage ?? LOL !! Good luck with the fix and remember my offer is always open !!

x 4.8 and you got a deal! Beer

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