Notices
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Gauge problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 31, 2012 | 01:17 PM
  #1  
Chris Henley's Avatar
Chris Henley
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Tracy, CA
Gauge problem

i read basically the entire icvr thread and im still confused lol. My fuel gauge has never read right, but luckily hasn't left me stranded once it gets to 1/4 tank or a bit more itll drop, i was wondering how do i fix that? Also the temperature gauge just goes up and it has worked before, long story but not really just dont want to share it lol, any ways that gauge isnt reading correctly now either and im not sure if the battery gauge works correctly either, and the oil gauge reads high also. in other words all the gauges read high or to the needles go to the right except for the battery gauge any help to fix that?
 
Reply
Old Dec 31, 2012 | 05:48 PM
  #2  
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Moderator
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,950
Likes: 2,718
From: Virginia
Club FTE Gold Member
Don't waste one minute on any of the gauges except the fuel gauge. If you care about your truck, put a set of aftermarket gauges under the dash.

None of the fuel gauges in these trucks will be consistent throughout the scale. Part of it is the design of the tank, and part of it is the resistance unit in the tank. Every truck I have driven, the fuel gauge has it's own "personality". On my 89, the rear tank will read full, and it's pretty even all the way down the scale. The front one when it's full, will stay pegged for miles and miles. When I have somewhere between 5 and 10 gallons left, the gauge will start dropping. It will fall pretty rapidly, but is still useful to tell me when it's going to be empty.

You can change out the sending unit, but it's a roll of the dice. It will change how the gauge reads, but will it be for better or worse, you never know. Just so it tells you when you are close to empty is all you can hope for.
 
Reply
Old Dec 31, 2012 | 06:01 PM
  #3  
Chris Henley's Avatar
Chris Henley
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Tracy, CA
The fuel gauge dropped today after i posted this perfect timing. lol once it dropped i put in about 6 gallons and now it reads about 3/4 tank and what typically happens now is that it reads correct til i fill it up again. so what would you recommend, would you still recommend the aftermarket gauges? could there be some way to put in a different gauge where the stock one would be?
 
Reply
Old Dec 31, 2012 | 10:41 PM
  #4  
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Moderator
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,950
Likes: 2,718
From: Virginia
Club FTE Gold Member
If you want to try getting it to work better, run the tank out of fuel as much as you dare, and then pull it down and replace the sending unit in the tank. The are famous for going out in these trucks, maybe yours is getting ready to go.

You misunderstood my post. You have to keep the factory fuel gauge and deal it with. You do not have to deal with the oil pressure, temperature, and charge gauges. You can buy aftermarket for these only, and they will have real numbers on them, and actually tell you whats going on.

So replace the sending unit in the tank for the fuel gauge, and install a 3 unit aftermarket gauges for the other ones and mount it under the dash.
 
Reply
Old Dec 31, 2012 | 11:05 PM
  #5  
Chris Henley's Avatar
Chris Henley
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Tracy, CA
Alright sounds good ill eventually get to it
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
japrine
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
10
Dec 20, 2014 11:09 AM
1958daisywheels
1957 - 1960 F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
1
May 12, 2014 06:40 PM
geoffunkel
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
5
Aug 25, 2012 08:13 PM
oldblu65
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
16
Aug 11, 2009 05:52 PM
eriksf250
1978 - 1996 Big Bronco
8
Nov 25, 2006 12:27 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:41 AM.

story-0
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-2
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-6
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!

Slideshow: Ranking the 5 things owners love about their Super Duty and 5 things they don't

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:36:49


VIEW MORE
story-8
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!

Slideshow: Ranking all 12 Ford truck engines available in 2026.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 13:32:20


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)

Slideshow: The best Ford F-150 deal for every trim level (XL through Raptor)

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-21 15:59:01


VIEW MORE