Topic: To Do's before 2011 Gathering
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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Amen to that!
Barry
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E-BULL
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[QUOTE=ebo]Today we hit the 50* mark wohoooo. So I need to start my "To- Do's" that the car needs before we take it on the longest road trip of it's life.
ebo[/QUOTE]
CCasey 2011-03-16 08:13:24
In no special order....
- Change all belts
- Change anti-freeze
- fix stuck tach
- fix fuel gauge
So I'm looking for starter points on the last two, I'm ok without a working tach but a correct fuel reading would feel much better on a long road trip
.
at one point my fuel gauge stopped working, I found the red wire comming off the battery to the connection block in the battery box broken. I repaired and the gauge started working again. It now stays at about the 3/4 mark and does not move. I'll start with checking the wire again but think it is something else. Sending unit in tank?, stuck float?, ideas......
Then the tach needle is at like 5500 and stays there.......ideas
None are show stoppers but the fuel thing would make moma feel much better........
eboIf it's the tach circuit board, I found this link helpful for a step by step instruction. (Instructions are for a '78.)
My fuel gage stuck at the "full" mark and it was the sending unit.
Good luck.
Chuck
Yep can't wait to spend time with such great buds!!
ebo
eboSo Joel what do you do if its the bladder? And does mean I'm not getting a full tank of fuel?
ebo
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[QUOTE=ebo]And does mean I'm not getting a full tank of fuel?[/QUOTE]
Easy enough to find out...just drive until ya run out!
Some folks have had luck using a stick(or other equally hi tech device) and pushing the bladder back away from the float/sending unit. The bladder just deforms over time, and the small amount of vacuum in the tank while driving can also suck it out of shape. Add in the quality of the fuels we're stuck with these days, it's not entirely out of the question for it to happen at any time. When the bladder deforms, it can stick the float, and the gauge may say full all the time, half tank for a long time then go to "EEEEE!!!" all of a sudden.
A deformed bladder can also keep you from getting a full tank of fuel, since the virtual tank is now smaller.
I think someone else mentioned grounding the wire to the sender unit, and seeing if the gauge responded, and that's a good way to tell if the problem is the gauge or not...With the wire unplugged, the gauge should go to FULL...with it grounded, it should show EMPTY.
friggin spelchek...
Adams' Apple 2011-03-16 10:11:01
Easy enough to find out...just drive until ya run out!
Some folks have had luck using a stick(or other equally hi tech device) and pushing the bladder back away from the float/sending unit. The bladder just deforms over time, and the small amount of vacuum in the tank while driving can also suck it out of shape. Add in the quality of the fuels we're stuck with these days, it's not entirely out of the question for it to happen at any time. When the bladder deforms, it can stick the float, and the gauge may say full all the time, half tank for a long time then go to "EEEEE!!!" all of a sudden.
A deformed bladder can also keep you from getting a full tank of fuel, since the virtual tank is now smaller.
I think someone else mentioned grounding the wire to the sender unit, and seeing if the gauge responded, and that's a good way to tell if the problem is the gauge or not...With the wire unplugged, the gauge should go to FULL...with it grounded, it should show EMPTY.
friggin spelchek...
Joel Adams
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Is the bladder rubber? so as to push with something soft like a lawn dart....
ebo
ebo
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Great Info about the Tach fix, Chuck !!
Dan
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Snowcrest White /
L48, 350 /
Comp Cam /
Edelbrock Heads /
Cyclone Intake /
Holley Carb /
Holley Fuel Pump /
Patriot Headers /
Dual Exhaust /
Magnaflow Mufflers /
1964 Coupe /
Riverside Red /
L76, 327, 365hp
[QUOTE=dskopp]Great Info about the Tach fix, Chuck !!
Dan
[/QUOTE]
Dan,
No problem. That's what I love about this forum. Whatever issue you have, you can be pretty sure someone else has some info about it.
Chuck
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Vette(s): 1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190 hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vettes Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!! Now own a 1998 C-5!
[QUOTE=ebo]Is the bladder rubber? so as to push with something soft like a lawn dart....
ebo[/QUOTE]
Ya, go ahead Ebo, use a lawn dart!!! Then run to the store and buy another tank!!!!
eboDan
(Now if this corvette guy doesn't know that I am pulling his leg .........)
(Now if this corvette guy doesn't know that I am pulling his leg .........)
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Duncanville, TX - USA
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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
Sure Albo...stick it with a lawn dart...you may need to use a match down on there to be able to see what yer doin, too...
The bladder is a rubber-like compound, so it is kinda flexible. You cannot get a new tank with the bladder...all new tanks come without it...and you get an extra gallon or two tank volume as a bonus.
If you have a bad bladder(in the fuel tank), you can also take the tank out, and remove the bladder, thereby solving that problem cheaper than buying another tank. the only issue with doing that is that the bladder is also the gasket/seal for the sending unit, so you have to cut the flange off of the bladder to re-use as the seal, but it's not a big deal.
You should be able to look down into the tank and see if the bladder is deformed enough to stick the float...but please use a good flashlight...not a match or a lighter.
(Just the fact that I felt the need to give that disclaimer scares me....)
The bladder is a rubber-like compound, so it is kinda flexible. You cannot get a new tank with the bladder...all new tanks come without it...and you get an extra gallon or two tank volume as a bonus.
If you have a bad bladder(in the fuel tank), you can also take the tank out, and remove the bladder, thereby solving that problem cheaper than buying another tank. the only issue with doing that is that the bladder is also the gasket/seal for the sending unit, so you have to cut the flange off of the bladder to re-use as the seal, but it's not a big deal.
You should be able to look down into the tank and see if the bladder is deformed enough to stick the float...but please use a good flashlight...not a match or a lighter.
(Just the fact that I felt the need to give that disclaimer scares me....
)
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
in Forum: C3 General Discussion
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