Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
2 guage clusters, Gas guage still dead #1424713
04/24/13 03:39 AM
04/24/13 03:39 AM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog Offline OP
Striving for excellence
Kern Dog  Offline OP
Striving for excellence

Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Hey guys...
My 75 W200 has a dead gas guage. I installed another guage cluster and the guage still won't move.
The truck has a cab mounted and frame mounted tank. I also can't get it to switch from the bed tank to the cab tank. It has a push/pull knob below the steering wheel on the lower dash frame. I used a test light and found that it gets power. The proper spades seem to light up as the switch is operated. The electric valve on the frame has power to it. Maybe it is siezed inside? I have little experience with the dual tanks and all the associated parts. I am curious if the dead guage problem is tied to the fuel valve?
Tomorrow I'll try swapping in a known good gauge cluster from a truck I recently parted out. If the gas guage still shows nothing, at least I can eliminate the cluster as a problem. The wiring looks good and pliable.

Re: 2 guage clusters, Gas guage still dead [Re: Kern Dog] #1424714
04/24/13 09:25 AM
04/24/13 09:25 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
S
scratchnfotraction Offline
I Live Here
scratchnfotraction  Offline
I Live Here
S

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 15,487
Florida
check and clean the ground straps on the pickup/sender

you can short the wire at sender to ground to see if the guage goes full tank.

I have often removed the sender and clean the rust off the swing arm and coil spring and get the to working again.

the pick up tube shound have a clip on ground strap grounding the pick up tube to frame if not add one. both tanks.

could be switch valve is stuck.

Re: 2 guage clusters, Gas guage still dead [Re: scratchnfotraction] #1424715
04/25/13 12:26 AM
04/25/13 12:26 AM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog Offline OP
Striving for excellence
Kern Dog  Offline OP
Striving for excellence

Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
I took Scratchys advice and tried grounding the sender wire. It did not make the guage move. As usual, I am not so swift with electrical stuff. I can replace parts, but the diagnosis is still my weakness.
I found a few more parts in the attic and shed. I found a guage that worked! The bed tank is full to the cap and the guage shows it. The cab tank was down to about 1/8 of a tank and when switched, it shows that as well. It still won't switch the valve to the cab tank. Rock Auto has an AC Delco tank valve that looks nothing like the one in the truck. Theirs is priced at $60 plus shipping. The prior owner did replace the valve at one time but couldn't recall where he got it. Knowing his frugal nature, I'm sure it was an economically priced unit. It has no name on it and looks like a generic part. I'll check the local wrecking yards to see what a stock one should look like. If it is cheap enough used I may get it.
Having a working gas guage and ONE tank isn't bad. Thats how every other vehicle I have is right now. Having the extra tank is a luxury. I can wait on buying a $60 tank valve now that the guage actually works.

Re: 2 guage clusters, Gas guage still dead [Re: Kern Dog] #1424716
04/25/13 12:30 AM
04/25/13 12:30 AM
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,570
Sunny South Florida
Golden-Arm Offline
I Live Here
Golden-Arm  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 10,570
Sunny South Florida
http://products.pollakaftermarket.com/it...en-valve/42-159 seen this? they have others as well. easily hooked up, once you decide what you need.


"When Tyranny Becomes Law, Rebellion Becomes Duty"

Re: 2 guage clusters, Gas guage still dead [Re: Golden-Arm] #1424717
04/25/13 09:22 PM
04/25/13 09:22 PM
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,087
Elk Grove, Calif.
B
bigblock340power Offline
master
bigblock340power  Offline
master
B

Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,087
Elk Grove, Calif.
Hi Craig. Is you valve like one of these? I have the shop manual for my truck that shows the switch wiring diagram. If yours has the push pull switch it should be the same. You say your getting power to the switch then something's wrong with the switch.


Re: 2 guage clusters, Gas guage still dead [Re: bigblock340power] #1424718
04/25/13 11:11 PM
04/25/13 11:11 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog Offline OP
Striving for excellence
Kern Dog  Offline OP
Striving for excellence

Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Mine looks like the bottom one.
I get power to that threaded stud but it doesn't make a noise. I tapped it with a Ford tool and it still did nothing.

Re: 2 guage clusters, Gas guage still dead [Re: Kern Dog] #1424719
04/25/13 11:39 PM
04/25/13 11:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,407
UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...
N
NITROUSN Offline
I Live Here
NITROUSN  Offline
I Live Here
N

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,407
UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...
The top one looks OEM the bottom one does not. I have an OEM valve that works if you need it. Make sure the valve is getting a good ground. They do not click very loud and you can bench test it on a battery to verify it switches.

Re: 2 guage clusters, Gas guage still dead [Re: NITROUSN] #1424720
04/25/13 11:49 PM
04/25/13 11:49 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog Offline OP
Striving for excellence
Kern Dog  Offline OP
Striving for excellence

Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Quote:

The top one looks OEM the bottom one does not. I have an OEM valve that works if you need it. Make sure the valve is getting a good ground. They do not click very loud and you can bench test it on a battery to verify it switches.




I may just take you up on the offer!

Re: 2 guage clusters, Gas guage still dead [Re: Kern Dog] #1424721
04/26/13 09:31 AM
04/26/13 09:31 AM
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,087
Elk Grove, Calif.
B
bigblock340power Offline
master
bigblock340power  Offline
master
B

Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,087
Elk Grove, Calif.
Here ya go Greg. I got mine here.
Remember, it's an easy test to see if they're working. Just ground the switch on your - battery post and use a hunk of wire to go to the + post and threaded part of the switch. You should hear an audible click when you touch the + post with the wire!
Oh, one other thing, OEM (used) is fine. But unless they're new in the box, I found out that after 30/40 years on a truck, the plastic starts to leak. That's why you see so many of them with epoxy all over them. I finally just went and got a new one at
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/search/Fuel+Tank+Selector+Valve+-+Universal/N2000/C0025.oap







Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1