fuel gauge problem

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jan 9, 2005 | 10:08 AM

phillips1118

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 5

Likes: 0

fuel gauge problem

I have an '81 300 l6 4x4, the gas gauge is off approx. 1/4 tank. Is this A sending unit problem and if so is it an easy fix?

Jan 9, 2005 | 02:54 PM

nickmobile67

Posting Guru

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 1,147

Likes: 1

From: East Coast

Is it high? Low? How do the oil and temp guages read? If they are off too it could be an instrument voltage regulator (IVR) problem. You can get new ones for about $12 or junkyard finds, they are easy to change.

Jan 9, 2005 | 07:59 PM

phillips1118

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 5

Likes: 0

When the gas hand gets down to about A 1/4 tank, I'm empty. The temp gauge does not work, but the oil pressure gauge seems to be alright. A mechanic told me that there is float on the sending unit that may need to be replaced. Maybe it's just A bad voltage regulator.

Jan 9, 2005 | 09:29 PM

nickmobile67

Posting Guru

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 1,147

Likes: 1

From: East Coast

Usually when the IVR is bad, all the gauges will read high, or low, or screwy at the same time. Mine I noticed the temp going up, but so was the gas and oil pressure, so I knew it wasn't the truck but the gauges. It would be easy enough to try a junkyard one and see if it changes though. It's just a little silver box on the back of the instrument cluster.

Your mechanic is probably right, if the sending unit in the tank is bad it won't work right either.

Jan 9, 2005 | 10:30 PM

f100beatertruck

Cargo Master

Joined: Apr 2003

Posts: 2,408

Likes: 5

From: Parkesburg PA

Probably the sending unit. Mine only reads the top half of the tank. So when it says E I've still got 1/2 a tank. Other gauges work fine.

BTW the temp gauge is probably just the sender. That's what it was on mine.

Jan 9, 2005 | 10:39 PM

F-150Guy

Senior User

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 176

Likes: 0

yea, i'd say the float arm on the sending unit is bent, or just messed up.

Jan 12, 2005 | 01:09 PM

myankow

Junior User

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 53

Likes: 0

From: FL

I have a similiar problem that I am trying to track down.My gas gauge only works on the top 1/2 of the gauge: Full is full and empty is 1/2 on the gauge. I am still looking for resistance values for the sending unit so that I can validate it is bad before I empty and drop the tank to fix it. Here is my thread:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...as+gauge+1998+

Also does any one know if the sending unit can be replaced while the tank is still mounted? 1998 Nav - can the sending unit be purchased separate from the pump in tank?

Trending Topics

My 1976 F-250

3.9k

263.4k
7.3 or/vs 6.7

17

440
Another Crank no start -- sorry

27

451
VIN Meaning

17

315
Header tube temp question.

15

198

Jan 14, 2005 | 09:46 AM

dagray3

Senior User

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 238

Likes: 0

From: Virginia

i have not yet seen a fuel gauge that works on an 80-86 f150. I have had four of these trucks (one with dual tanks) and never had the fuel gauge work properly. some read high, some read low, and some just work when they feel like it.

Also, I have heard that you have to get the sending unit and the pump together and it was like $150 or something. I haven't found an aftermarket fix for this yet. It seems like there should be something you could jsut drop in, but I haven't found it yet. I figured i would rather watch my odometer and my mileage than pay $300 to have a gauge work (I got the dual tanks now).

I suppose you could pick on eup at a junkyard, but I doubt that it would work any better.