Fuel Gauge

bobinyelm · #1 (**permalink**) 08-12-2010, 07:28 AM

I am slowly working myself through a few post-assembly issues, and am now at the fuel gauge, which doesn't work.

Reg said some fuel gauge connectors were simply not connected near the tank, or that the ground wires were missing. I got under and found my in-line connectors were indeed connected, and with approximately 10 gallons in the tank (+/- 2gal) the resistance between the two spades in the connectors is about 50 ohms. This tells me the sending unit is probably working (though I don't have an "Ohms vs. Tank-Reading Chart" to check the accuracy).

Anything other than checking to see that the wires are actually connected to the gauge? Reg said that's the #2 reason for my gauge showing dead empty (and not moving when the ignition is turned on).

Since there are TWO wires going to the tank, and there is resistance between the two, I assume that the black wire in the tank electrical connector is ground, and unlike the BDR wiring diagram, the fuel gauge gets its ground through THAT wire, rather than a common ground wire?

I understand the VDO gauges are VERY reliable, so that should probably be the LAST thing I suspect?

Thanks,
Bob

vipertocobra · #2 (**permalink**) 08-12-2010, 09:45 AM

My fuel gauge has been irratic as well... Mine bounces all around. I looked for a loose ground, but nothing.

xena2006 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-13-2010, 11:22 AM

The guage on my BDR reads 1/2 full but takes almost 10 gallons to fill tank. I thought a full tank was 13 gallons?? Anyone else having this problem?

Cashburn · #4 (**permalink**) 09-13-2010, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xena2006

The guage on my BDR reads 1/2 full but takes almost 10 gallons to fill tank. I thought a full tank was 13 gallons?? Anyone else having this problem?

Tanks is approx. 18 gallons. Should solve that one.

BDR879 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-14-2010, 06:49 PM

Jay,

Are you referring to the latest poly tank capacity, previous alum tanks, or both?

Cashburn · #6 (**permalink**) 09-14-2010, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDR879

Jay,

Are you referring to the latest poly tank capacity, previous alum tanks, or both?

All of 'em +/- of course.

Barnsnake · #7 (**permalink**) 09-14-2010, 10:02 PM

The gauge needs a ground and the sender needs a ground.

Verify that the "ground" wire wire on the sender is really grounded.
Verify that the gauge is grounded and has power when the key is on.
If yes, momentarily ground the sender connector on the gauge. That should "peg" the gauge at full. If it doesn't, the gauge is bad.
If the gauge checks out, it's either the sender or the wiring to the sender.

Trueoo7 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-15-2010, 07:13 PM

Also check the tightness of the lever arm that sits inside the tank. I found on mine it was tightened to tight therefore it was always on full (did not allow the arm to drop down) Yours may be the opposite. Hardest part about dropping the tank is siphoning all the gas out first, after that its fairly easy to drop.