Fuel Gauge
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Joined: Dec 1999
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Fuel Gauge
My 1982 F-100 has a fuel indicating problem. When I fill the tank, the gauge indicates as such, however, between 50 and 60 miles of driving on a full tank, the gauge drifts to E with fluctuations. I suspect the variable resistor in (on) the fuel sending unit has developed a dead spot, and have gotten a new one from Ford--Yes, it was rather expensive. I've read through the midship tank removal procedures in my Haynes manual and done some looking under the truck. The sending unit is mounted on the right side of the tank and it appears the tank need only be lowered or tilted to the right to accomplish the replacement rather than completely removing it. The only obstacle I foresee is working around the driveshaft. The tank has about 2 gallons of fuel in it now (if my mileage calculations are correct) so I'm planning on doing it tomorrow. Any experience in this arena would be greatly appreciated.
Henry
Henry
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Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Banning CA
Fuel Gauge
I have changed these and just like you stated, without removing but just lowering the tank, but we did remove the drive shaft as it is easy to remove, but if you have a one piece drive shaft, install a drain pan under the back of the trans to catch the oil.
Dave
<a href="http://members.aol.com/deleontow/auto/index.htm">http://members.aol.com/deleontow/auto/index.htm</a>
Dave
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Joined: Dec 1999
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Fuel Gauge
I got this done this morning, and I decided not to cut any corners. Took me about two hours. I used a side lift and a tranny jack and removed the tank. Glad I did too as the sending unit retaining ring was a major b---h to remove. I used a brass drift and a hammer to get it off. I had to fiddle with the old unit to get it out of the tank whereas the new one slid right in. The job was easy since the tank had a little less than two gallons of fuel in it. If your fuel gauge is INOP and you have an extra $186.00 laying around (VBG), this is a very easy task to accomplish. It feels pretty good to have my fuel gauge back and know that I no longer have to keep my eye on the odometer. Now, if I can figure out how to get these pinion bearings replaced, I'll have my truck where I want it.
Henry
Henry
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Fuel Gauge
I had the very same problem, on my '82 stepside F100. The problem with my truck, was that it would read empty after about 50 mi., then all of the sudden it would render a 1/4 of a tank accurately. The problem was in the fuel sending unit. When you pulled out your sending unit, you probably saw a small, half, to quarter, circle part, that the float rod goes into. Within that little magical container, holds about 50 horizontal wires. When the rod rises, or goes down with the gas level, a small metal part makes contact with two or three of those wires, hence your fuel level read out. The problem occurs, when any of the wires break. Mine broke in the middle, which is why it read a 1/2 tank accurately, and a full tank accurately, up to fifty mi. My diagnoses is to just go to a junk yard and yank one out of another tank.
Sorry about being so long winded, but I am very bored!
Sorry about being so long winded, but I am very bored!
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 2,297
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From: Indiana
Fuel Gauge
Man this must have been a thing for 82's. I had the exact same thing in my 82. The wires were broke on the resistor also. It sounds like I was lucky I bought my sending unit from Ford for just a little over $100.00. It was my rear tank sending unit that bad.
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Joined: Jan 2000
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Fuel Gauge
82's aint the only ones, my 85 ford was doin the same thing on both my tanks! can u say $?? then 3 days later my compressor then my evaporater on my a/c went out, this was a month after i bought the truck, oh well, i love it, shes my baby
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,100
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From: Durham
Fuel Gauge
My auxilary tank reads empty all the time. Should I just assume it is the sending unit in the tank? or is there any other areas that would cause the tank to read empty. I've been running the aux tank dry, then swapping tanks, but it sometimes runs out of gas in awkward situations.
'82 F150 w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Steve
'82 F150 w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Steve
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 335
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From: Hutto 20 mi. above Austin USA
Fuel Gauge
Man! I guess I was lucky! I got one from a wrecked '79 ford, which was wrecked in 1980, the wires inside the resistor were like brand new, no corrosion what so ever. I got mine for only $2.00, and it's working better than new!
