1990 Honda Civic gas guage read more fuel than what I have

1990HATCHDSH

MEMBER
1990 HONDA CIVIC
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
74,000 MILES

Need help how to fix gas gauge it reads more gas than what the car actually has. Can wait to read your answers.

Thanks.

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 AT 8:44 PM

3 Replies

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi 1990hatchdsh,

The gauge is not 100 % accurate as to the amount of fuel in the tank except when it is full. Other than that it can give a slightly different reading. Anything above 1/2 tank would be ok, but once below, it is not going to be that accurate.

If you believe that it is not accurate, you would have to test the sending unit resistance when it is at certain level. Did you check if the fuel tank is dented?

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Wednesday, April 7th, 2021 AT 1:30 PM

1990HATCHDSH

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Hello KHLow2008,

Thanks for the info. The gauge works well but when it reads a quarter tank left I am actually completely empty. I know this because my car died a couple of times before getting to the gas station. Now about this sending unit can I replace it? Where can I find it? Should I replace the fuel pump? And yes the fuel tank is a little dented but not anything crazy.

Thanks for the help.

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Wednesday, April 7th, 2021 AT 1:30 PM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

That should be the problem. The dent is preventing the sending unit float from going donw and this would cause inaccurate reading.

Your problem should not be the sending unit, located in fuel tank, but rather the dent in the tank. The dent is causing the float to be stuck at 1/4 tank when the tank is empty.

You would need to remove the fuel tank to see if it can be repaired.

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Wednesday, April 7th, 2021 AT 1:30 PM