88 E-350 Van Cutaway Fuel level sensor
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Northern Indiana
88 E-350 Van Cutaway Fuel level sensor
I've got a Jayco RV built on an E-350 Van Cutaway chassis with a 460. This RV sat outside for 5 years or more without use. I've had it for 2 years now and since I've had it, the Fuel Gauge always shows empty. I did the easy things and since I had 2 other Ford vans I changed the gauge which of course wasn't bad. I checked the resistance and it was around 70 ohms I believe which corresponded to an empty tank.
The gauge just comes up slightly when powered. Last year I was able to drop the back of the tank down enough that I was able to stick my hand in and pull the float up and down to make sure it wasn't stuck. I figured the sender must be bad but one thing happened that makes me wonder. As I was driving it once, the gauge popped up to 3/4. I took a look at my mileage and that seemed to be accurate. When it got to 1/4 I stopped to get gas. I shut off the engine and filled up. Once again the gauge did not work and hasn't worked ever again. In 2 years it only worked that one time.
Any clues?
The gauge just comes up slightly when powered. Last year I was able to drop the back of the tank down enough that I was able to stick my hand in and pull the float up and down to make sure it wasn't stuck. I figured the sender must be bad but one thing happened that makes me wonder. As I was driving it once, the gauge popped up to 3/4. I took a look at my mileage and that seemed to be accurate. When it got to 1/4 I stopped to get gas. I shut off the engine and filled up. Once again the gauge did not work and hasn't worked ever again. In 2 years it only worked that one time.
Any clues?
Last edited by goofy173; Sep 6, 2003 at 07:50 AM.
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From: Keweenaw Bay, MI
88 E-350 Van Cutaway Fuel level sensor
Your sender is worn out. There is a wirewound resistor in the sender with a wiper that trails on it back and fourth as your gas level changes, it eventually looses contact with the resistor wire or the resistor wire gets worn and broken and the result is your gage quits.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 265
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From: Northern Indiana
88 E-350 Van Cutaway Fuel level sensor
That's what I thought too except for that one time it started working. I feel it must have something to do with sitting so long as my 2 ford vans have had their tanks filled and emptied many, many more times than the RV and they work fine. I'd just swap it out but those senders are too damn expensive.
