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

correct fuel sending unit ?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 8, 2014 | 07:25 PM
  #1  
roadrash63's Avatar
roadrash63
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 907
Likes: 6
From: nw pa.
correct fuel sending unit ?

ok I have a 1985 f250, 4x4, 300-6, t 18,SCLB.
I am about to finally put on the good bed !
the fuel gage was always below E.
I never drove it except from the field where I got it to the tow truck.
I thought the tank was empty.
I went to put five gallons in just so I could move it around, but could only put in two.it was full.
the PO had replaced the tank .
the rear wiring harness is off.







is this the correct sending unit ?
I jumped the gage connector, did not move.
and where can I get a replacement? if needed...


HELP !
 
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2014 | 10:45 PM
  #2  
Gary Lewis's Avatar
Gary Lewis
FTE Legend
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
There is no way to tell from the outside if that is the correct sending unit. There were many different ones but they all look the same from that view.

As for jumping the connector, assuming you went from yellow to black the gauges should fairly quickly go to full scale if it is working correctly. Do you have two tanks? If so, there is a switch to the right of the HVAC controls the determines which tank the gauge is showing.

And LMC, Jeff's Bronco Graveyard, NPD, and many others carry sending units. But if the gauge isn't working a new sending unit won't fix it.
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2014 | 05:22 AM
  #3  
roadrash63's Avatar
roadrash63
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 907
Likes: 6
From: nw pa.
Ty gary

The reason i ask as i have seen sending units for carbed trucks that have nut connection...no electric pump.
i dont have a/c.
yes i jumped between the blk/yellow.
i read somewhere that the sending unit grounds on the rear of the frame ?
If i pull the sending unit can i visually inspect it ?
And what am i looking for.
i need to get this resolved so i can get the bed on...
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2014 | 05:30 AM
  #4  
David7.3's Avatar
David7.3
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,206
Likes: 3
From: Oakhust NJ Jersey Shore
The ground for the tank is bolted to the frame with a 1/2 zip bolt right by the strap Black wire, they rust up and dont make a good ground. get a jumper lead to a known good ground and try to swing the gauge again. I got one from LMC they are not cheap and they dont have all of the models. So hopefully you find it, some times the float get saturated or the pivot loosens up you can make it alittle tighter by pushing the clip on a little further.
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2014 | 05:30 AM
  #5  
roadrash63's Avatar
roadrash63
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 907
Likes: 6
From: nw pa.
Single tank
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2014 | 06:09 AM
  #6  
roadrash63's Avatar
roadrash63
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 907
Likes: 6
From: nw pa.
Ty
david

Ill ck it out
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2014 | 07:05 AM
  #7  
Patrick Omally's Avatar
Patrick Omally
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
short the connector comming from the gauge for a few seconds the needle should move on the fuel indicator gauge

check the connector comming from the gauge it should every 1-2 seconds give a "pulse" voltage.

give us the ohms reading of the two pins on the tank..See if either of them is shorted to the tank metal surface. (Ohms of the following : pin to pin, pin 1 to tank, pin 2 to tank, tank to car ground)


Knowing that the gauge directly sends power to the tank, all of this should be safe, but i would do this with the truck outside, in the .1% chance something happens you wont lose the house also.







Fuel Tank Sending Unit Tech - FORDification.com

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="772" border="0"><tbody><tr><td background="../layout/blkbdr-772_mid.gif">
<center><table style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" border="0"><tbody><tr><td width="100%">
<table style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="2" width="98%" border="0"><tbody><tr><td>

<table style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="1"> <tbody><tr> <th bgcolor="#F7D09D"> Ohms/Resistance
(Empty/Full)
</th> <th bgcolor="#F7D09D">Popular Models</th> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">0-90 Ohms</td> <td>most GM cars, 1965-up</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">73-10 Ohms</td> <td>pre-1989 Fords & most Chryslers</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">240-33.5 Ohms</td> <td>Industry standard, works on many popular cars</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">0-30 Ohms</td> <td>most pre-1965 GM cars</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">16-158 Ohms</td> <td>most '89-up Fords</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </center>

</td></tr><tr><td height="11"> </td></tr></tbody></table>


ALSO LOOKING AT THE BUTCHERY OF THE FUEL SENDER OUTLET. (OEM never has that splice with the compression fittings) something must be wrong with the sender, because it is absolutely not stock. If you do remove the sender, be epic careful because you know, gasoline likes going boom!
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2014 | 07:26 AM
  #8  
roadrash63's Avatar
roadrash63
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 907
Likes: 6
From: nw pa.
Patrick
when you say short do you mean ground ?
I grounded the yellow wire to the frame no response.


"check the connector coming from the gauge it should every 1-2 seconds give a "pulse" voltage. "
I am thinking your talking about the connector to the sending unit ?
so I can put a test light on it and it should light ?


I don't know what an ohm is...


ty for your help !
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Fords to Drive Before You Die

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / Worst Features Of The 2025+ Ford Expedition

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

 Brett Foote
story-4

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-7

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-9

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
Old Sep 9, 2014 | 07:33 AM
  #9  
Rogue_Wulff's Avatar
Rogue_Wulff
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
Likes: 16
From: Lost
A couple quick checks to see if the sender is suspect or not. Check for power at the connector (will pulse on/off after a few seconds) as well as ground. If those are both present, the sender is likely bad. If one or both are not present, you will need to track the wires to their source.

As stated, someone has modified the outlet on the sender by adding a compression union, dunno if this was done to repair a leak, or to convert to the EFI style "quick connect" fuel hose. I didn't think this style fuel line was used on carbed models, but I could be mistaken.
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2014 | 07:52 AM
  #10  
roadrash63's Avatar
roadrash63
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 907
Likes: 6
From: nw pa.
Ok
put the test light on sending unit connector nothing...
grounded connector nothing...
the po put this new tank on.
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2014 | 07:57 AM
  #11  
Patrick Omally's Avatar
Patrick Omally
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
a voltage tester is needed for the wire running from the gauge. a test light probably won't turn on because the gauge never sends that much power in the first place


ohms are a measure of electrical resistance, measure with any multimeter. show us a picture of your multimeter i am sure it is on there.

also yes, the "quick" connect is standard on these ford OEM/Aftermarket fuel sending units, my 1986 carbed f-150 had the exact same
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2014 | 07:57 AM
  #12  
Rogue_Wulff's Avatar
Rogue_Wulff
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
Likes: 16
From: Lost
No power getting to the connector, means you need to start tracing the wire back to it's source. Somewhere along the way, there's got to be something cut/broken that's stopping the flow of electricity.
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2014 | 08:02 AM
  #13  
roadrash63's Avatar
roadrash63
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 907
Likes: 6
From: nw pa.
Ok ty guys
looks like i need a meter
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2014 | 08:13 AM
  #14  
Rogue_Wulff's Avatar
Rogue_Wulff
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,521
Likes: 16
From: Lost
Originally Posted by Patrick Omally
a voltage tester is needed for the wire running from the gauge. a test light probably won't turn on because the gauge never sends that much power in the first place


ohms are a measure of electrical resistance, measure with any multimeter. show us a picture of your multimeter i am sure it is on there.

also yes, the "quick" connect is standard on these ford OEM/Aftermarket fuel sending units, my 1986 carbed f-150 had the exact same
A standard test light will light up and blink. I've done this many times before.
Heck, even a 1.5V AAA battery has enough power to light up a 12V test light, though it won't be very bright.......
I knew the quick connections were used on EFI trucks, but wasn't sure about the carbed versions. Been too many years since I messed with a 85/86 carbed truck.....
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2014 | 09:56 AM
  #15  
NumberDummy's Avatar
NumberDummy
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 790
From: Simi Valley, CA
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by Gary Lewis
There is no way to tell from the outside if that is the correct sending unit. There were many different ones but they all look the same from that view.
9275 Fuel tank sending units for these trucks are a real b!tch to look up, due to the many different variations.

Some have an ID number stamped on their face, which can be cross referenced to the actual part number...as long as you have a Master Cross Reference Catalog.

Besides myself, who on FTE has one a these catalogs?

Application pics: Happy hunting!
 
Attached Images    
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:41 AM.

story-0
10 Fords to Drive Before You Die

Slideshow: 10 Fords to drive before you die.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-22 14:29:44


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / Worst Features Of The 2025+ Ford Expedition

The latest Expedition is quite popular, but it certainly isn't perfect.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-22 14:23:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

Slideshow: 10 ways Ford is losing to the competition

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 09:52:01


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

Some great targets in today's expensive world.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-15 09:35:19


VIEW MORE
story-4
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:01:55


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-6
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE