fuel gauge not working

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May 31, 2014 | 10:14 AM

imjwm

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From: Malta

fuel gauge not working

I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do. The gauge for my front tank does not work but I can get fuel out of it. The back tank is starting to leak. I don't have much money but am also thinking of putting in a sump and maybe a lift pump. Any one have some recommendations?

May 31, 2014 | 10:59 AM

farmert

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From: western SD

Need a little more info, does the gauge work when you switch to the rear tank? Does the front tank show full or empty? If the front tank show empty all the time, it may be just a bad float. If the truck won't switch between tanks, check the in cab fuses, #5 IIRR.

May 31, 2014 | 12:52 PM

imjwm

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From: Malta

The switch works fine and the gauge works when it is on the rear tank. But it shows empty when on the front tank.

May 31, 2014 | 01:31 PM

farmert

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From: western SD

Being the gauge works on the rear tank, I would check the float in the tank, and the wires going from the selector valve to the tank.

May 31, 2014 | 03:29 PM

madpogue

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From: Madison, WI

What's with the sump / lift pump idea? You can, for the time being, just "gauge" your fuel consumption on the odometer. The only catch is, to drop the front tank, you'd want it as close to empty as possible, which means you want to run it down and then switch to the rear tank and run on it while you're fixing the float in the front.

What might be a better strategy is to replace the rear tank first, so you always have one tank to run on. The Spectra F1G is on sale for $66 and change right now on Amazon, free shipping. That gives you the option of running the front tank dry to make it easier to remove.

As for the front, if it's just the float, you can find it separately and weld it onto the arm of the sender. If it's the whole sender, those are actually the most expensive part of the whole affair.

Just for grins, try this - disconnect the wire connector going to the front tank, where it joins the main harness on the frame. Then turn the key on and watch the gauge. If the gauge pegs past full, then the problem is indeed somewhere between that connection and the tank, probably a fuel-logged float as mentioned above.

Jun 3, 2014 | 02:12 PM

imjwm

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From: Malta

Thanks for your input. The thing with the sump and maybe a lift pump is that I was thinking of maybe doing some of those things while I'm messing with the fuel stuff. I guess my question is what do you have to before you need a lift pump?

Jun 3, 2014 | 02:22 PM

madpogue

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From: Madison, WI

Your question is still not clear. Is there something wrong with your existing fuel (lift) pump? If so, it has nothing to do with the gauge or floats. If the gauge is working on one tank, and the selector is switching tanks properly, then that leaves the float or sender itself for the non-working tank, or the wiring to it.