Superformance Fuel Gauge Issue

[wanab5150]

It's not uncommon for the Smith's gauges to fail, so I was not surprised that the fuel gauge started screwing up. After all, I have already changed out my Oil Temp and other Smith's gauges on other Superformance cars, and am aware of another local guy that says his fuel gauge stopped working a year ago.

The gauge would climb then fall then go half way then fall.....over and over. I looked at the schematic and it showed a brown wire going to ground and the other going to the switch....how hard can this be to fix?

I first tried to wiggle the wires on the back of the gauge to see if they were loose, but they were fine. I searched the wiring and fuse panel and found the only brown wire and it was bolted into the firewall alone on the left side of the steering column kinda high up.. The bolt was almost completely out and the wire was just hanging. This had to be the issue.............NOPE!

I pulled up the carpet in the trunk to check the wires on the sender. The brown wire was a plug that was just touching the post (sort of) and when I put it back on it would not hold. With a little crimping, it fit and the gas gauge came to life. This was a factory screw up especially for both grounds , front and rear to be loose. The car is only 3 years old.

Keep this in your brain for future reference.......

[garry viohl]

I had the ones go bad at the tank. The factory just bends the connectors to fit. I changed them to a "flag on a flagpole" 90 degree connectors.

[209]

Mine is starting to go wonky too. Guess I'll pull the carpet. Thanks for the tip. 209

[wanab5150]

Yes Garry....it looked like they just bent them to get them under the cover as opposed to using the correct 90 deg. connector.

My center carpet has velcro around it so it came up and went back down easy.