Gas gauge not working
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 280
Likes: 2
From: Alabama
More than likely it's either your sending unit, voltage regulator on the back of the instrument panel, fuel gauge, or and electrical fault (bad ground or something). You should probably do some troubleshooting or just take it to a shop...
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Grafton, Ohio
"More than likely......" I think you nailed everything it could be.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Grafton, Ohio
Well what was mentioned is everything it could be. You gotta start somewhere and narrow it down. Does it ever work? Does it read full or empty all of the time or somewhere else? Does it just sweep periodically back and forth? Do the other gauges work?
It's the biggest PITA but I'd start with checking the sender first since every time I have a fuel gauge problem that is where I end up eventually after trying everything else.
It's the biggest PITA but I'd start with checking the sender first since every time I have a fuel gauge problem that is where I end up eventually after trying everything else.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Grafton, Ohio
I'm new to these trucks so someone else may know better but my vote is for the sender or sender wiring/ground.
Trending Topics
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Shelburne Ontario
this also just happened to me last night. As the story goes: I've had my truck 2-3 days on the road now, last night with 3/8's of a tank I went to the gas station and threw in $40. It read 7/8's about. On my short commute back home it dropped and sat right at E. now this morning it doesn't even move up to E.....wha happened? Trouble is I'm still getting used to the gas mileage and judging it, needles to say I'm a lil nervous now. How does one go about fixing the possible solution mentioned earlier?
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,698
Likes: 7
From: Taxachusetts
To check the fuel gauge - ground out the (orange wire?) connection from the gauge - if it reads "full," the gauge is functioning properly.
This link explains it better than I can.
Fuel Tank Sending Unit Tech - FORDification.com
This link explains it better than I can.
Fuel Tank Sending Unit Tech - FORDification.com
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 188
Likes: 1
From: Charleston, SC
Dirtgood- check the connection in dash and make sure its tight. My connections were loose and the needle would sit at E. Pulled the panel and the nut on back of gauge was loose. Tightened it up and it jumped up to full
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Shelburne Ontario
Sweet, sounds like a good lead ya filthy beast lol.
Sc79 it could very well be the dash. I had it semi apart the other day replacing bulbs. I couldn't get that main electrical connection to the back of the cluster loose so I gave up trying until I was sure about how to go about it. I may have loosened something in the process. The fuel gauge did work after putting it back together though....for a day or two. The bottom right gauge (believe engine temp) hasn't worked at all in the two or so weeks I've owned it, maybe I can kill two birds with one rip apart/put together (best case scenario). I'll try that tonight and let yas know how it works out.
Sc79 it could very well be the dash. I had it semi apart the other day replacing bulbs. I couldn't get that main electrical connection to the back of the cluster loose so I gave up trying until I was sure about how to go about it. I may have loosened something in the process. The fuel gauge did work after putting it back together though....for a day or two. The bottom right gauge (believe engine temp) hasn't worked at all in the two or so weeks I've owned it, maybe I can kill two birds with one rip apart/put together (best case scenario). I'll try that tonight and let yas know how it works out.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,553
Likes: 10
Agree on all the diagnostics. if all the other gauges work, the dash voltage regulator is probably OK. On mine (78 F250) the gauge wire can be disconnected just in front of the firewall for diagnostic test. My gauge didn't work and the sender was OK. I didn't really want to pull the cluster and send it out for repair (and wait) so an Autometer fuel gauge from Summit mounted to the left of the steering column fixed it.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 222
Likes: 1
From: western ks
I find that about 2 out of 3 times its the float getting old and taking on fuel and sinking. I buy new ones 5 at a time from bronco graveyard for about 8 bucks each. Thats about the only place I've found new ones for sale