Fuel Guage

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Feb 15, 2001 | 01:11 AM

hood

Thread Starter

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Joined: Sep 2000

Posts: 385

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From: Flat Rock, Michigan

Fuel Guage

1981 F-150 2WD STYLESIDE P/U
4.9L 1 BBL CARB
C6 AUTO
2.73:1 LIMITED SLIP REAR AXLE
STABILIZER BARS FRONT & REAR
6100 LB GVWR PACKAGE
ORIGINAL OWNER
190,000 PLUS MILES
100% STOCK & UNREBUILT

Feb 15, 2001 | 01:20 AM

hood

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2000

Posts: 385

Likes: 0

From: Flat Rock, Michigan

Fuel Guage

I guess it would have helped to post my question first before hitting the enter key. Well, here's my question:

Fuel guage reads full when i fill up. After driving about 40 miles the guage reads empty. I checked the wires going to the sending unit on the gas tank and they are on tight. Could there be something under the dashboard that may be malfunctioning? I have to keep track of my miles driven so i don't run out of gas.
It's a single gas tank.

1981 F-150 2WD STYLESIDE P/U
4.9L 1 BBL CARB
C6 AUTO
2.73:1 LIMITED SLIP REAR AXLE
STABILIZER BARS FRONT & REAR
6100 LB GVWR PACKAGE
ORIGINAL OWNER
192,600 PLUS MILES
100% STOCK & UNREBUILT
BUILT FORD TOUGH!!!

Feb 17, 2001 | 07:33 AM

warthog299

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Joined: Sep 2000

Posts: 73

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Fuel Guage

Hello. I have the same problem. My guage reads until I hit half a tank then goes to under empty. I have done this fix before. It is the sensor in the fuel tank. You will have to drop the fuel tank and take it out. Either buy a new one or fix the old one. To fix the old one, the sensor is like a wire wound resistor with a wiper type contact and after so many years thw wiper wears and dosent make contact with the wire wound resistor anymore, so all you have to do is bend the wiper so it makes contact and put the sensor back into the tank and your done. I did this on my toyota. Haveing no fuel guage drives you batty. I can never remember how much gas and when the last time I put gas in was. Im going to do mine today, I'll let you know how it goes. Greg.

1985 F-150, Black with black fiberglass cap. 300-6. Aluminum mag wheels, BF goodrich tires.

Feb 17, 2001 | 11:49 AM

warthog299

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Joined: Sep 2000

Posts: 73

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Fuel Guage

Hello. Bad news on my part. I pulled the tank out and the fuel sensor. The sensor is a little pc board with very thin metal traces on it. The wiper has worn all the way thru the traces and into the pc board. Will have to replace the sensor. Took out the tank for nothing. Will replace it next week. good luck with yours. Greg.

1985 F-150, Black with black fiberglass cap. 300 6. Aluminum mag wheels, BF goodrich tires.

Feb 21, 2001 | 02:01 AM

hood

Thread Starter

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2000

Posts: 385

Likes: 0

From: Flat Rock, Michigan

Fuel Guage

warthog299,
thanks for the info i will wait until the weather here in michigan warms up a tad. I will then drop the tank and pull the sending unit out and try bending it as you said...thanks again
for the tip!

1981 F-150 2WD STYLESIDE P/U
4.9L 1 BBL CARB
C6 AUTO
2.73:1 LIMITED SLIP REAR AXLE
STABILIZER BARS FRONT & REAR
6100 LB GVWR PACKAGE
ORIGINAL OWNER
193,000 PLUS MILES
100% STOCK & UNREBUILT
BUILT FORD TOUGH!!!

Feb 21, 2001 | 01:57 PM

kassonb

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Joined: Feb 2001

Posts: 70

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Fuel Guage

When you fix it - if you are able to - you can verify the resistance readings with an ohm meter at full empty and everywhere in between. They are available in any good manual or at your autoparts store.

Feb 21, 2001 | 05:56 PM

warthog299

Junior User

Joined: Sep 2000

Posts: 73

Likes: 0

Fuel Guage

Hello. In my 1985 the sensor is a small pc board with very thin traces, the wiper wore straight thru the traces and into the board, my advice is to just replace the sending unit. Im going to do mine in 2 weeks. Greg.

1985 F-150, Black with black fiberglass cap. 300 6. Aluminum mag wheels, BF goodrich tires.