fuel gauge

[Billabong02]

Lately i have noticed that when my car is on empty and i put a quarter of a tank in the gauge goes all the way to full and takes along time to go down where it should be. This makes me wonder if it is working right at all. Could this because of temperature or something? thanks

 

[jimbo74]

how much gas is it that you are putting in? iyou probably have a guage that is on its way out, or a float in the tank that is sticking and giving false readings.....

 

[MO_GUY]

im not having this exact problem but i guess you could say its similar, when im driving it usually shows a false reading, like say im driving it says i have just above 3/4 tank, then when i get in and start it back up its under 3/4, it doesnt always happen but it really bugs me

 

[Opera House]

You might have a cracked sender

The sender goes from 15 ohms empty to 170 ohms full. Basically, if you unplugged the electrical connector to the tank it would read full on the gauge. The sender is a ceramic plate with resistors and contacts bonded to it. If the plate cracks or the resistor opens up it could measure accurately on the low portion of the scale and go to high past the break and measure full. If you put the 1/4 tank in and measure the sensor on the Y/W and B/Y wires, it will measure way over 170 ohms indicating an open sender.