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Fuel gauge not working

Tiny
ETERNALARIANNE
  • MEMBER
  • 1987 CHEVROLET CELEBRITY
  • 2.8L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,210 MILES
I was gifted the vehicle listed above. It had been sitting for 5 years and was last cranked 2 years ago. I do not know if the fuel gauge worked at all before it was parked, but when I got it the gauge read all the way to the right (past full). The battery was dead and when we put a new battery in it, the gauge now reads empty.

We replaced the sending unit and fuel pump (and cleaned out the tank) and the gauge still reads empty, no matter how much gas is in the tank. Is it possible the new sending unit is bad? Or maybe the gauge itself? Is there a way to test the gauge somehow?
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Saturday, July 11th, 2020 AT 6:49 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Hello again,

Go to the tank and disconnect the connector for the sender. The gauge should go full one way. Then ground the wire for the sender and the gauge should go full the opposite way.

If it does, the sender is bad. If it does not, then either the wiring or the gauge is bad.

It should be a purple wire in the connector. Do this test with the key on.

Roy
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Saturday, July 11th, 2020 AT 8:18 AM
Tiny
ETERNALARIANNE
  • MEMBER
  • 189 POSTS
Thanks again Roy. Testing concludes the sending unit is bad. What are the chances that both my brand new fuel pump and sending unit were bad? Could something have caused them both to fail?
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Saturday, July 11th, 2020 AT 9:29 AM
Tiny
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Did you use a new assembly or used assembly?

I have been stung with bad new parts many times.

Verify the connector is clean and tight.

Roy
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Saturday, July 11th, 2020 AT 9:30 AM
Tiny
ETERNALARIANNE
  • MEMBER
  • 189 POSTS
They were both brand new parts. The fuel pump was “generic” but the sending unit was Dorman brand.
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Saturday, July 11th, 2020 AT 9:32 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Okay, at least they are warranty items.

Replace them both.

Roy
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Saturday, July 11th, 2020 AT 9:35 AM
Tiny
ETERNALARIANNE
  • MEMBER
  • 189 POSTS
Thanks for all the help. Hopefully this will the last thing I need to get this car going.
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Saturday, July 11th, 2020 AT 9:51 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Saturday, July 11th, 2020 AT 10:01 AM
Tiny
ETERNALARIANNE
  • MEMBER
  • 189 POSTS
Sorry for the late response, replacing the sending unit did correct the fuel gauge issue. It looks like the one we originally installed was bent, causing the float to not move properly. The new one works flawlessly!
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 6:25 PM
Tiny
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Good, glad to hear it is fixed.

Roy
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Sunday, August 9th, 2020 AT 4:19 AM

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