Fuel Gauge Failure
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Seattle
Fuel Gauge Failure
While on a road trip this Memorial Day weekend my front fuel gauge failed. When I switch to the rear tank it works fine but front tank always shows empty (was pretty scary 
when I discovered that!).
Anyway, what kind of a job is it to replace the sender? Do I have to remove the tank? Is there anything special to look out for when doing this?
when I discovered that!).Anyway, what kind of a job is it to replace the sender? Do I have to remove the tank? Is there anything special to look out for when doing this?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,298
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From: Damon (South East Texas)
Have you checked the wiring? Also, it could be a bad float. The brass ones were bad about cracking and sinking to the bottom. If it has a brass float, you a can get it from Ford by itself and save some bucks. Changing the sender or float is not too hard. Just remove most of the fuel before trying to drop the tank. It is hard to control the tank when the fuel is sloshing around.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Seattle
mueckster;
I am going to be doing the troubleshooting this weekend, but my luck will not allow a simple fix like wiring so that is why I wanted to know what procedure to follow to drop the fuel tank. It would seem like if the float was holed that it would sink gradually, not just pop up empty. But it must be a pretty simple straight forward procedure to remove the tank what with all the input I got from the guys.
Oh, BTW, its pretty well empty right now - I drove it 250 miles on that tank before switching to the rear.
I am going to be doing the troubleshooting this weekend, but my luck will not allow a simple fix like wiring so that is why I wanted to know what procedure to follow to drop the fuel tank. It would seem like if the float was holed that it would sink gradually, not just pop up empty. But it must be a pretty simple straight forward procedure to remove the tank what with all the input I got from the guys.
Oh, BTW, its pretty well empty right now - I drove it 250 miles on that tank before switching to the rear.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 374
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From: Ridgecrest, CA
Dropping the tank can be difficult if the hoses are hard to get to. I'd have some blocks ready to rest the tank on after it came down 6", if you can't get everything disconnected before hand. As far as the sending unit goes, their usually held in with a washer shaped plate that you unscrew. When loosening the sending unit off, be careful with the o-ring. Using an ohm-meter or multimeter, you can check out the unit.
