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

Dual tank issues

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 11, 2017 | 10:02 AM
  #1  
MFplowboy's Avatar
MFplowboy
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Dual tank issues

1984 f250 4x4 auto was 351w, 460 swap about 20 years ago. Dual metal tanks. Front tank currently not in truck.
Replaced selector valve on frame rail and new sending unit in new rear tank. Old valve and sending unit still work but rusted pretty bad.
My fuel gauge will not work unless I ground the sending unit. I have old sending unit,(tested fine on ohm meter) just plugged into either two prong tank plug. Thought maybe my new rear sending unit was bad. But gauge readings seem very accurate on front or rear with old float sending unit plugged in and grounded.
If not sending unit not grounded gauge reads empty. Checked all grounds that I know of,taillight,under dash pad.
Even reinstalled the old selector valve to eliminate something in new one. I need help. Wiring diagram may help also.
Thank you,Craig
 
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2017 | 01:05 PM
  #2  
ArdWrknTrk's Avatar
ArdWrknTrk
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 40
From: EXTREME southwest CT
Club FTE Silver Member

Gary Lewis has the 1981 & 1986 EVTM's on his GarysGaragemahal website.

I'm not sure how (or if) your '84 fuel sender wiring would differ from either of these years, but Ford was pretty good about keeping the wire colors consistent.
 
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2017 | 01:30 PM
  #3  
vjsimone's Avatar
vjsimone
Cargo Master
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,182
Likes: 15
From: Somewhere n North America
Electric or Mechanical Fuel Pump?

Built in Tachometer?
 
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2017 | 03:29 PM
  #4  
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
The only difference is that in '86 Ford did away with the hash and dot marks, going with stripes. So an '84 using the 1986 EVTM would have the same colors just stripes instead of hash or dots.
 
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2017 | 04:07 PM
  #5  
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Moderator
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,005
Likes: 2,750
From: Virginia
Club FTE Gold Member
The sending unit is supposed to be grounded, that is how it works. It should have a screw with a ring connector connected to a ground wire in the harness.

The sending unit's resistor varies the ground to the gauge, the guage is fed power all the time from the cluster.

If you can't resolve the ground in the harness, just run a new ground wire over to a good place on the frame, or run it up front to somewhere under the hood out of the weather.
 
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2017 | 10:13 PM
  #6  
MFplowboy's Avatar
MFplowboy
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Thank you all for the advice ,I figured out yesterday it was a ground issue. Turns out I had a bad section of wire about mid frame although the wire looked perfectly fine. I also found an intermittent break coming from rear sending unit wire about a foot into main harness. Btw my 84 still has some wires with hash marks,but also striped wires too. Only took me about 5 hours over three days to figure it all out. Electrical is not my strong point ,lol
 
Reply
Old Feb 13, 2017 | 04:09 AM
  #7  
FuzzFace2's Avatar
FuzzFace2
FTE Legend
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Liked
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,955
Likes: 4,126
From: Angier, NC
Club FTE Gold Member
Thanks for the update as it may help others.

It always takes time when chasing an issue like this to find why, you did good.
Dave - - - -
 
Reply
Old Feb 13, 2017 | 06:35 AM
  #8  
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
Glad you found it. Congrats!

And, the hash and dots continued through '85, but changed to stripes in '86.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-3

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mrxf350
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
2
Apr 24, 2017 12:55 PM
Odisvan
1968-Present E-Series Van/Cutaway/Chassis
3
Apr 5, 2016 09:25 AM
otisdriftwood
Electrical Systems/Wiring
3
Sep 14, 2010 01:36 PM
cowboyty
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Aug 9, 2006 12:20 PM
Todd Dietz
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
7
Jan 29, 2006 08:30 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:19 PM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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
story-6
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-7
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE