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sc222
User
Jun 8, 2012, 2:36 PM
Post #1 of 19
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Ford Gas Gauge problem
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New here. Hope I provide enough info.
1990 Georgie Boy motorhome on a Econoline chassis. 460 CID, 40K miles.
Gas gauge failed suddenly. Removed connector at tank to ground it out and determine source but when I removed the electrical connector and turned the key on the gauge went to over full before I had grounded any of the wires. I reconnected the connector at the tank and the gauge went back to empty. The connector at the tank has 3 wires. I measured 8 volts in one of them? The other two had no voltage of course. Grounding them out did NOT make gauge read full again. I could not see any breaks in the wires/insulation but it was easy to have missed something.
Thank you for any help you can provide.
sc222
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 8, 2012, 2:57 PM
Post #2 of 19
(2582 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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So far this suggests dash gauge is good. HOPE OTHERS JUMP IN HERE for this! Watch out grounding stuff like that even as old as 1990 it could cause problems you don't want. Another thing that would help is do you know if this is an original gas tank by Ford or custom somehow for more fuel or something and if they do that to make some motorhomes and who knows as there are plenty of alterations possible,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 8, 2012, 3:03 PM
Post #3 of 19
(2574 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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It went to full when you unplugged it. Did it go to empty when you grounded it?
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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sc222
User
Jun 8, 2012, 3:10 PM
Post #4 of 19
(2570 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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Thanks for the interest.
No, it did not go to empty when I grounded it.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 8, 2012, 3:16 PM
Post #5 of 19
(2565 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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You would need to jump the yellow with white wire to the black wire and it should go the opposite direction. The black wire should be a good ground.
You can also measure the resistance of the sender itself. It should read 70 ohms empty and 10 ohms full.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Jun 8, 2012, 3:17 PM)
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sc222
User
Jun 8, 2012, 3:19 PM
Post #6 of 19
(2559 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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I don't mean to be thick but I want to get this right.
Jump the yellow (hot) to the white and the black? Connect all three together and the gauge should go from full to empty?
If this occurs as predicted does it pretty much nail down my sender unit as the culprit?
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sc222
User
Jun 8, 2012, 3:34 PM
Post #8 of 19
(2545 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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Okay, I jumped the Yellow/White to the Black wire. Gauge remained above full. No fluctuation.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 8, 2012, 3:56 PM
Post #9 of 19
(2529 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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You really should test this with resisters to get an accurate test but is sounds like either the dash gauge is bad or there is a short in the wiring somewhere. High resistance or open circuit should send it to empty but you need to test it with the proper amount of resistance.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 8, 2012, 4:24 PM
Post #10 of 19
(2521 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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Just curious, but does this have dual tanks?
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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sc222
User
Jun 9, 2012, 10:01 AM
Post #11 of 19
(2481 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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No, single tank. I have removed the instrument cluster and plan to learn how to test it or have someone do it. It is only a 10 minute job.
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sc222
User
Jun 10, 2012, 10:37 AM
Post #12 of 19
(2452 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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Off to buy a resistor as Hammer Time suggested. See if this sounds correct. I will buy a resistor somewhere in the middle of the 70 ohm and 10 ohm range HT provided. Will put resistor in place of sending unit at the connector that connects to the tank. One end of resistor to gnd the other to yellow/white. If gauge reads consistent with the resistor then my sender is bad. If not, the wiring or gauge is bad.
Next I will test the gauge by connecting resistor to grnd and to yellow/White wire where it comes out of the cluster. If gauge works then wiring is bad. If gauge fails then gauge is bad.
This is a stretch for me. Is my logic sound? I keep reading about a voltage regulator. I believe this is connected to the back of the cluster directly behind the fuel gauge?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 10, 2012, 10:44 AM
Post #13 of 19
(2448 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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No, you should be buying 2 resisters, one of both of those values so it can be tested for both full and empty.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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sc222
User
Jun 10, 2012, 11:12 AM
Post #14 of 19
(2443 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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As I said, this is a stretch but want to learn. Do I get 1/2 watt resistor? 1/4 watt or does it matter. At RS now and kid knows less than me.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 10, 2012, 11:15 AM
Post #15 of 19
(2437 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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Where are you getting this stuff? Resisters aren't measured in watts.
You need a 70 ohm and a 10 ohm resister.
One should read full when inserted and one should read empty when inserted.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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sc222
User
Jun 10, 2012, 11:30 AM
Post #16 of 19
(2432 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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I realize they aren't measure in watts. However they sell 10 ohm resistors that are 1 watt, 1/2 watt and 1/4 watt. I am getting this from the selection drawers at RS. Happy to send pic of resistor rates for different watts if you want. Check here links deleted..... not allowed
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Jun 10, 2012, 11:35 AM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 10, 2012, 11:37 AM
Post #17 of 19
(2426 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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Thery are probably rating how much current they can carry. That's not real important for this test.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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sc222
User
Jun 10, 2012, 11:48 AM
Post #18 of 19
(2422 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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Thanks. However since the units are watts it would be referring to power not current because current is measured in amps. "where do you get this stuff?" 
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 10, 2012, 12:02 PM
Post #19 of 19
(2415 views)
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Re: Ford Gas Gauge problem
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OK, we're done here.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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