fuel sending unit Help!
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
fuel sending unit Help!
I have a 1983 F-100 short bed single cab 16 gallon tank. a few months back when it was colder my old sending unit was sticking so i decided to swap it out with a new sending unit. after i installed it and got everything back together. nothing was registering. when i fill the tank up it will show 1/2 - 3/4 of a tank never full. so i assumed that i got a bad sending unit. so i went ahead and went through the process again. this didn't solve the problem. the sending unit works outside the tank but when i put it in it a no go. i can see inside the tank that the float is floating. but still wont register. i have probably 1/2 tank of gas still in it. i have a good ground coming in and about 7 volts simultaneously coming in. i have no clue whats wrong with it any help would be great! thanks in advance!
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 38
From: EXTREME southwest CT
I have a 1983 F-100 short bed single cab 16 gallon tank. a few months back when it was colder my old sending unit was sticking so i decided to swap it out with a new sending unit. after i installed it and got everything back together. nothing was registering. when i fill the tank up it will show 1/2 - 3/4 of a tank never full. so i assumed that i got a bad sending unit. so i went ahead and went through the process again. this didn't solve the problem. the sending unit works outside the tank but when i put it in it a no go. i can see inside the tank that the float is floating. but still wont register. i have probably 1/2 tank of gas still in it. i have a good ground coming in and about 7 volts simultaneously coming in. i have no clue whats wrong with it any help would be great! thanks in advance!
I'm pretty sure these senders read from 10-72 ohms (full to empty)
Are the other gauges reading correctly?
Could it be the ICVR?
You say you read 7V, but evidence suggests it should be 5.5 or so.
Gary Lewis has a thread devoted to this.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Maybe it's the gauge and not the sender?
I'm pretty sure these senders read from 10-72 ohms (full to empty)
Are the other gauges reading correctly?
Could it be the ICVR?
You say you read 7V, but evidence suggests it should be 5.5 or so.
Gary Lewis has a thread devoted to this.
I'm pretty sure these senders read from 10-72 ohms (full to empty)
Are the other gauges reading correctly?
Could it be the ICVR?
You say you read 7V, but evidence suggests it should be 5.5 or so.
Gary Lewis has a thread devoted to this.
the only other gauge i use is the temperature sending unit. what stumps me is that it works fine when i pull it out of the tank and manually move the arm the gauge works fine.
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 38
From: EXTREME southwest CT
You wouldn't think that you would get TWO bad senders in a row, or that they would both fail in the matter of a few months...
FTG98, maybe you need to bend the arm so you can get full range of motion inside the tank?
Did you compare the new senders to your old one before installation?
FTG98, maybe you need to bend the arm so you can get full range of motion inside the tank?
Did you compare the new senders to your old one before installation?
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,876
Likes: 4,115
From: Angier, NC
Ok who did you get the senders thru?
It was pointed out to me (thanks Gary) that one of the well known suppliers only list 1 sender for both the 16 & 19 gal side tanks. I also want to say they list the same sender for the rear 19 gal tank.
So my thinking if all else checks out it is the wrong sender.
I am on my phone but want to say I got my 16 side & 19 rear senders thru A1 Auto parts on line. I will check when I get home tonight.
I should point out I have not tested the senders as I am still building the truck.
Dave
It was pointed out to me (thanks Gary) that one of the well known suppliers only list 1 sender for both the 16 & 19 gal side tanks. I also want to say they list the same sender for the rear 19 gal tank.
So my thinking if all else checks out it is the wrong sender.
I am on my phone but want to say I got my 16 side & 19 rear senders thru A1 Auto parts on line. I will check when I get home tonight.
I should point out I have not tested the senders as I am still building the truck.
Dave
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
I'm confused. You say "it will show 1/2 - 3/4 of a tank never full..... but still wont register." If it is showing anything it is registering.
Anyway, the fact that it works outside the tank says everything is good electrically. So, you have either the wrong sender or the float is maladjusted. You can adjust the arm to some extent by bending it, but if you have the wrong unit you may not be able to bend it enough to get it adjusted. And, they won't take it back bent up. So, I'd suggest verifying that you have the right one by looking it up here: Fuel Senders & Pumps - ???Gary's Garagemahal.
Anyway, the fact that it works outside the tank says everything is good electrically. So, you have either the wrong sender or the float is maladjusted. You can adjust the arm to some extent by bending it, but if you have the wrong unit you may not be able to bend it enough to get it adjusted. And, they won't take it back bent up. So, I'd suggest verifying that you have the right one by looking it up here: Fuel Senders & Pumps - ???Gary's Garagemahal.
Trending Topics
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,977
Likes: 2,733
From: Virginia
I'm confused. You say "it will show 1/2 - 3/4 of a tank never full..... but still wont register." If it is showing anything it is registering.
Anyway, the fact that it works outside the tank says everything is good electrically. So, you have either the wrong sender or the float is maladjusted. You can adjust the arm to some extent by bending it, but if you have the wrong unit you may not be able to bend it enough to get it adjusted. And, they won't take it back bent up. So, I'd suggest verifying that you have the right one by looking it up here: Fuel Senders & Pumps - ???Gary's Garagemahal.
Anyway, the fact that it works outside the tank says everything is good electrically. So, you have either the wrong sender or the float is maladjusted. You can adjust the arm to some extent by bending it, but if you have the wrong unit you may not be able to bend it enough to get it adjusted. And, they won't take it back bent up. So, I'd suggest verifying that you have the right one by looking it up here: Fuel Senders & Pumps - ???Gary's Garagemahal.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,876
Likes: 4,115
From: Angier, NC
Here is a link to the senders I was talking about
Search Results for fuel sending unit - 1A Auto
Only issue I had with 1, I replaced the 16 gal side & 19 gal rear senders on my 81 F100, cant remember what 1 but the pick up tube & filter sock was hitting the bottom of the tank and would not seat on the tank.
Dave ----
Search Results for fuel sending unit - 1A Auto
Only issue I had with 1, I replaced the 16 gal side & 19 gal rear senders on my 81 F100, cant remember what 1 but the pick up tube & filter sock was hitting the bottom of the tank and would not seat on the tank.
Dave ----
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Matthew Jaramillo
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Jul 7, 2019 11:49 PM
Odisvan
1968-Present E-Series Van/Cutaway/Chassis
3
Apr 5, 2016 09:25 AM
thegringo
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
17
Mar 22, 2014 10:49 PM
Rcodenewf
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Nov 4, 2009 01:28 PM