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Old Nov 13, 2011 | 12:10 PM
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gas gauge problem

I posted this in the Dentsides forum, but thought some electricl guru over here might have some advice.

I installed a 38-gal fuel tank and all went fine with install except I still have no reading on my gas gauge. The gauge worked when the sending unit was in the old tank and also worked after my buddy soldered on the extended pickup. To make sure it was getting power, I put a test light into the connector where the sending unit pigtail connects to and my test light was blinking. Not a full constant light. I then disconnected the big wiring clip under the hood and sure enough, when I tested two of the pins, they were blinking as well. The attached photos show where I am getting the blinking test light readings.

Is this normal? If yes, then I have to guess the problem is with my sending unit, but if it is not normal and I should have a constant 12V going back to the fuel tank, and it is blinking where it comes out of the dash harness, and suggestions on my next step?

Thanks
Frank
 
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Old Nov 13, 2011 | 04:27 PM
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Blinking is normal, that's the gauge regulator mounted on the instrument cluster circuit board. That's how it works, so that's good.

If you want to run another test, take this wire at the tank, and with the key on ground it to a good ground, and then unground it. Each time you do this, the fuel gauge should swing back and forth full scale. This will also test your ground if you use the sending unit housing as a ground. If the sending unit is not properly grounded, it won't work either.
 
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