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Gas gauge problem #1622545 05/20/14 01:00 PM 05/20/14 01:00 PM
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 730 Nampa, ID MadMatt OP super stock
MadMatt OP super stock Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 730 Nampa, ID	My son recently bought a '69 Dart and we are having a problem with the gas gauge working intermittently. We checked the sending unit ground strap and power connection and cleaned all the contact areas, but the gauge still periodically quits working for anywhere from a minute to a few hours. Can't find any pattern to when it quits working. I'm pretty sure it is an electrical problem so I realize it could be anywhere in the circuit, but I was wondering if there were any common areas where problems occur that I should be checking. Some see the glass as half empty, some see the glass as half full. I just drink straight out of the bottle.

Re: Gas gauge problem [Re: MadMatt] #1622546 05/20/14 01:41 PM 05/20/14 01:41 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 9,838 Detroit, Michigan, USA! peelerboy master
peelerboy master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 9,838 Detroit, Michigan, USA!	The sending unit inside the tank might be on the fritz. Or it could even just be a shoddy connection on the one, main signal feed wire. But if you said you cleaned that, then it can only be the sending unit or the gauge itself. That is, assuming you cleaned the ground strap really well too.

Re: Gas gauge problem [Re: MadMatt] #1622547 05/20/14 02:08 PM 05/20/14 02:08 PM
Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,386 Philadelphia PA Pynzo Drugs are bad
Pynzo Drugs are bad Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,386 Philadelphia PA	Check the connector between the main and rear harness. Not sure where it is on your Dart but it's behind the drivers side kick panel on B bodys. The sender wire is Blue on B's and should be the same? For A's. With the connection seperated, test the ohms (73 empty 10 full)of the rear harness sender wire. Depending on how much gas is in the tank you should fall somewhere in this range. Check the volts on the main side. The meter should flicker continously between 0 and 5 volts. If all is well pull the guage cluster and clean all grounds.

Re: Gas gauge problem [Re: Pynzo] #1622548 05/20/14 02:49 PM 05/20/14 02:49 PM
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 730 Nampa, ID MadMatt OP super stock
MadMatt OP super stock Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 730 Nampa, ID	Quote: Check the connector between the main and rear harness. Not sure where it is on your Dart but it's behind the drivers side kick panel on B bodys. The sender wire is Blue on B's and should be the same? For A's. With the connection seperated, test the ohms (73 empty 10 full)of the rear harness sender wire. Depending on how much gas is in the tank you should fall somewhere in this range. Check the volts on the main side. The meter should flicker continously between 0 and 5 volts. If all is well pull the guage cluster and clean all grounds. Thanks, sounds like a plan! I'll give it a try. Some see the glass as half empty, some see the glass as half full. I just drink straight out of the bottle.

Re: Gas gauge problem [Re: MadMatt] #1622549 05/20/14 04:28 PM 05/20/14 04:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,445 So Cal Sinitro master
Sinitro master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,445 So Cal	Quote: My son recently bought a '69 Dart and we are having a problem with the gas gauge working intermittently. We checked the sending unit ground strap and power connection and cleaned all the contact areas, but the gauge still periodically quits working for anywhere from a minute to a few hours. Can't find any pattern to when it quits working. I'm pretty sure it is an electrical problem so I realize it could be anywhere in the circuit, but I was wondering if there were any common areas where problems occur that I should be checking. EZ to test... Just put a short jumper lead between sending unit & ground @ the tank. The fuel guage should read FULL, now drive around awhile if it stays @ FULL... Then everything forward is OK, likely problem is the sending unit either is intermittant and/or bad ground circuit. If the guage drop backs to EMPTY then the problem is up front and/or wire back to the sending unit. Just my $0.05...

Re: Gas gauge problem [Re: Sinitro] #1622550 05/20/14 05:42 PM 05/20/14 05:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 15,438 Omaha Ne T TJP I Live Here
TJP I Live Here T Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 15,438 Omaha Ne	Quote: EZ to test... Just put a short jumper lead between sending unit & ground @ the tank. The fuel guage should read FULL, now drive around awhile if it stays @ FULL... Then everything forward is OK, likely problem is the sending unit either is intermittant and/or bad ground circuit. If the guage drop backs to EMPTY then the problem is up front and/or wire back to the sending unit. Just my $0.05... Running a zero resistance ground to the gauge for an extended period of time may damage the gauge www.tandmautomotive-omaha.com

Re: Gas gauge problem [Re: TJP] #1622551 05/20/14 06:58 PM 05/20/14 06:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,079 Niles , Ohio T therocks oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
therocks oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah. T Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,079 Niles , Ohio	It wont maybe damage it it will damage it.That test is just to check to see if the gauge moves.I run a wire from the semder right to the body.Ive seen too many of the straps lose their grip on the outlet.One piece of wire one small hose clamp and a screw.Then you know its grounded.My 57 would do the same thing.The wire fixed it.Rocky Chrysler Firepower

Re: Gas gauge problem [Re: therocks] #1622552 05/20/14 08:21 PM 05/20/14 08:21 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 4,798 Castlegar, BC, Canada That AMC Guy master
That AMC Guy master Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 4,798 Castlegar, BC, Canada	Does the Temp gauge crap out at the same time? If it does, then I would check the cluster voltage regulator. Bloody Mary, Full of Vodka, Blessed art thou among cocktails....

Re: Gas gauge problem [Re: Sinitro] #1622553 05/20/14 09:20 PM 05/20/14 09:20 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	Quote: EZ to test... Just put a short jumper lead between sending unit & ground @ the tank. The fuel guage should read FULL, now drive around awhile if it stays @ FULL... Then everything forward is OK, likely problem is the sending unit either is intermittant and/or bad ground circuit. If the guage drop backs to EMPTY then the problem is up front and/or wire back to the sending unit. Just my $0.05... The sender rheostat is dead shorted to ground when the tank is fairly full as the gas is above the sender windings which is why the gauge is pegged for awhile when you fill the tank & does not budge for awhile till the fuel level drops below the windings after so many miles then the gas gauge starts to move toward E as the float lowers and the windings are no longer submerged. live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: Gas gauge problem [Re: RapidRobert] #1622554 05/20/14 11:04 PM 05/20/14 11:04 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,079 Niles , Ohio T therocks oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
therocks oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah. T Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,079 Niles , Ohio	RR Ive tested them and none go to a 0 ohm reading which a neg to body is.Typically the float is maxed in its travel and thats why the tanks usually stay full for a while.But if you want to ground the sender wire and drive around Good Luck.Rocky Chrysler Firepower

Re: Gas gauge problem [Re: RapidRobert] #1622555 05/21/14 12:07 AM 05/21/14 12:07 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 15,438 Omaha Ne T TJP I Live Here
TJP I Live Here T Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 15,438 Omaha Ne	Quote: Quote: EZ to test... Just put a short jumper lead between sending unit & ground @ the tank. The fuel guage should read FULL, now drive around awhile if it stays @ FULL... Then everything forward is OK, likely problem is the sending unit either is intermittant and/or bad ground circuit. If the guage drop backs to EMPTY then the problem is up front and/or wire back to the sending unit. Just my $0.05... The sender rheostat is dead shorted to ground when the tank is fairly full as the gas is above the sender windings which is why the gauge is pegged for awhile when you fill the tank & does not budge for awhile till the fuel level drops below the windings after so many miles then the gas gauge starts to move toward E as the float lowers and the windings are no longer submerged. BS, not a dead short, think 10 ohms for a full or HIGH reading, a dead short for an extended period will over current the gauge and roast its windings or tweak the calibration. See the FSM for the correct readings

Re: Gas gauge problem [Re: TJP] #1622556 05/21/14 12:42 AM 05/21/14 12:42 AM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	Next time I fill up I'll ohm the threaded nipple & see if it's zero. yes ~10 ohms or so if the windings ain't submerged. I could be wrong on this and I will check live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: Gas gauge problem [Re: RapidRobert] #1622557 05/21/14 04:29 AM 05/21/14 04:29 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,445 So Cal Sinitro master
Sinitro master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,445 So Cal	Many have jumped in... Commenting about the overcurrent... The point of the temporary ground wire is just that temporary... So that entire electrical circuit to the gas guage can be isolated, to see if the problem is up front or in the back.. Check it out... And then remove the temporary ground wire, having it connected for an hour will not hurt or overcurrent any part of the system.. Just my $0.05...

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