Fuel gauge issues
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Fuel gauge issues
I have a 70 f250, and my fuel gauge seems to be sticking. When I turn the truck on, the gauge moves to a position, but it doesn't seems to ever change. When I filled up last, it moved up to 3/4 a tank, and that seemed right. But after a few trips around, it didn't move at all from that position, when it should have gone down at least 3/16 of a tank. When the problem started, I had over filled my tank, and its been out of wack since. I kind of think maybe the float is stuck, but if it is, I don't know how to fix it. I need help.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Welcome to FTE
The float attaches to the end of fuel sending units arm, that resembles a "shepherds crook." So it can't get stuck, but the arm might, though I've never seen or heard of that occurring.
The float (available by itself or with the sender) is made from two pieces of copper soldered together. Solder breaks down, gas seeps in, float settles towards the bottom of the tank.
COAZ-9202-B .. Fuel Sending Unit Float-ALL 1957/79 FoMoCo vehicles / Available from Ford
Carpenter sells a one piece brass float for around 5 bucks that'll never allow gas to seep in.
The in-cab fuel tank sending unit is the same: 1961/77 F100/750 and has been reproduced.
The float attaches to the end of fuel sending units arm, that resembles a "shepherds crook." So it can't get stuck, but the arm might, though I've never seen or heard of that occurring.
The float (available by itself or with the sender) is made from two pieces of copper soldered together. Solder breaks down, gas seeps in, float settles towards the bottom of the tank.
COAZ-9202-B .. Fuel Sending Unit Float-ALL 1957/79 FoMoCo vehicles / Available from Ford
Carpenter sells a one piece brass float for around 5 bucks that'll never allow gas to seep in.
The in-cab fuel tank sending unit is the same: 1961/77 F100/750 and has been reproduced.
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Well I checked and the arm was ok, wasn't sticking at all, and the float wasn't filling with gas. Im not sure what to do now, should I just get a new sending unit completely, or does it sound like the wiring is not working properly. When I turn the truck on, the gauge moves to normally half way. But when I put more gas into the tank, it adds the gas on the gauge, but it never goes down again after driving it around. Even if I turn the truck off then on again, it goes to where it was when I got done filling it. I might just get a new unit. Not sure what to do it that does not work. What do you think?
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Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Ozark Mo
well from my understanding of the simplicity of these sending units the wiring or guage would be my last suspect.
i have had the same problem on a 67 fairlane once. the tank is in the rear and after filling her to the brim (guage, wiring and sender worked fine till) i hit a big bump and suddenly my guage showed a quarter less gas. i didnt notice this till i got home. i was afraid i cracked the tank. after realizing everything was ok i just lived with it. but i got ahold of a new sending unit yrs later for cheap so i went ahead and installed it. fixed the problem.
i couldnt explain what happen or why but my only explination in my situation is when full the bump either bent the arm some how (doutfull) or the jar of the bump messed up the 'calibration' on the sending unit (even more doutfull). then years later it happen to my 64 f100 lol no bumps just went retarted on me
but for me its always 99% the sending unit.
if buying a new unit doesnt brake the bank, then do that. new sendig unit couldnt hurt.
i hope we are all right the problem. good luck
i have had the same problem on a 67 fairlane once. the tank is in the rear and after filling her to the brim (guage, wiring and sender worked fine till) i hit a big bump and suddenly my guage showed a quarter less gas. i didnt notice this till i got home. i was afraid i cracked the tank. after realizing everything was ok i just lived with it. but i got ahold of a new sending unit yrs later for cheap so i went ahead and installed it. fixed the problem.
i couldnt explain what happen or why but my only explination in my situation is when full the bump either bent the arm some how (doutfull) or the jar of the bump messed up the 'calibration' on the sending unit (even more doutfull). then years later it happen to my 64 f100 lol no bumps just went retarted on me
but for me its always 99% the sending unit.
if buying a new unit doesnt brake the bank, then do that. new sendig unit couldnt hurt.
i hope we are all right the problem. good luck
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Well, got a new sending unit for it. Out of the box it read the gauge backwards, empty on gauge meant full in tank. But then, when I looked, when the arm reached the midpoint of the tank, the gauge would just freeze up, until the arm was moved to full or empty again. So when I fill the truck up, it would go to the new position. But if I drove it, and burned up some of the gas, the tank would end up reading the same as when I filled it last, unless it where full or empty. But it did that with each sending unit. So im not sure how the actual gauge itself would be able to control that or if it could be fixed????????
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Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2013
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From: Phoenix, Az.
2X bmuhlbach a few posts above. See if the gauge has a smooth sweep. Where did you get the replacement sender? Got a bad one maybe? Note. There is a voltage regulator on the back of the instrument cluster that is in charge of keeping the gauges sweeping smooth rather than erratic.
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