Notices
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  

Fuel gauge problems

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 18, 2007 | 03:46 PM
  #1  
F0rdF0rever's Avatar
F0rdF0rever
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 0
Fuel gauge problems

Hey guys. Im a little a lost with this gauge issue ive had awhile now. Heres the low down. The gauge will read maxed out, at about 3o'clock until the tank is nearly empty. At this time the gauge will read around the full mark. So I do get some movement out of it. Heres what I have done to try and fix it so far. Replaced the sender, gauge, and selector switch. Ive checked the grounds. Which make the gauge read empty when disconnected. Ive traced the sender wire as far I could, looks good. So heres my question. Can I run a wire from the sender right to the gauge to make sure there no problems with the wiring? What else should I check here, im lost.

Thanks alot.
 
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2007 | 03:49 PM
  #2  
Suber's Avatar
Suber
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque
I have your fix! Install a fuel tank/toolbox unit in the bed and you will never have to worry about running out of fuel! LOL.....j/k bro. It sounds like it may be in your cluster which if is the case, will not be an easy fix.
 
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 06:00 AM
  #3  
Cuda_jim's Avatar
Cuda_jim
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 1
From: MICHIGAN
You can check the sender(s): They register 145 ohms full and 22.5 ohms empty. To answer your question, Yes, you can run a wire from the sender straight to the gage.

Does the fuel gage work with either tank?
Have you checked the wiring at the selector valve located on the frame rail? The gage wiring runs though it too.
 
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 10:34 AM
  #4  
F0rdF0rever's Avatar
F0rdF0rever
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 0
Im only running one tank. Removed the rear years ago. I have checked the wiring visually at the valve. When I disconnect the connector the gauge will peg, if its not alreeady pegged. How can I bypass the valve to test it?
 
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 04:18 PM
  #5  
Cuda_jim's Avatar
Cuda_jim
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 1
From: MICHIGAN
Did the fuel gage work after you removed the rear tank?

You should be able to remove the plug on the selector valve and take a reading back to the sending unit in the tank. There is a connector by the power brake booster that contains all the wiring coming from the selector valve going to the dash (slector switch & gage).

There is a ground wire at the LH front of engine compartment, top of upper radiator support that needs to be checked too.

PM your email address, I will send you the wiring schematic and the pin-out for the connectors
 
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 05:33 PM
  #6  
F0rdF0rever's Avatar
F0rdF0rever
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 0
Jim, the gauge wasnt working before I took it out. So both tanks didnt read correctly. One can only assume thats not a sending unit issue. Ive checked the ground on the rad support and that looks good as well. This has to be a wiring issue somewhere. Im going to head down my shop tonight and try again. Im going to bypass the valve and see if that does anything. If not, into the dash I go. Ill let you know how I made out when I get back. Thanks again.
 
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 05:39 PM
  #7  
Cuda_jim's Avatar
Cuda_jim
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 1
From: MICHIGAN
email sent.
If you need something else let me know.
 
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 10:30 PM
  #8  
F0rdF0rever's Avatar
F0rdF0rever
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 0
Well I finally got it fixed. I bypassed the valve and the gauge now works. Thanks Jim, I cant thank you enough! Ive been without a fuel gauge for almost 2 years now.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-5

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-9

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Jul 19, 2007 | 10:36 PM
  #9  
14psd's Avatar
14psd
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 1
From: troy, Mo
FF what valve did you bypass, the selector valve? The valve that decides what tank to pull fuel from? I have a similar prob. MY tanks are EMPTY at 1/4 tank mark. Found out hard way.
 
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2007 | 09:22 PM
  #10  
F0rdF0rever's Avatar
F0rdF0rever
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 0
What are the odds of my gauge dying on me today? I got in the truck this morning and the gauge was the half mark. The tank was full. I swapped out the gauge with another I had and it worked fine. Wonder if I broke it yesterday somehow..

14psd, I bypassed the selector valve on the frame rail.
 
Reply
Old Jul 21, 2007 | 06:15 PM
  #11  
F0rdF0rever's Avatar
F0rdF0rever
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 0
New gauge is also stuck at the halfway mark. I guess im running some more tests on it tomorrow. Any ideas where to start? My guess is a bad ground because I know the sender wire is good.
 
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2007 | 07:33 AM
  #12  
Cuda_jim's Avatar
Cuda_jim
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 1
From: MICHIGAN
Check your email, I sent another connector schematic to you.

Have you checked the ground behind the LH kick panel. It's G201 on the schematic I sent you? or, It's the black wire on the fuel tank selector switch connector.
 
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2007 | 03:58 PM
  #13  
F0rdF0rever's Avatar
F0rdF0rever
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 0
Thanks again Jim, you've been very helpful.
Ok..After another day trying to figure this thing out I still dont have it working correctly. This is what ive done so far. I checked all the grounds, which are all good. Ive even ran new ground to the gauge because I broke the connector in the panel. I ran a wire right from the tank directly to the gauge. Neither made any difference. I cant get the gauge to move from the halfway mark. I put my meter on the sender wire to measure the resistance but I couldnt get a reading. The way thats done is you put one side of the meter on a ground and the other on the sender wire right? Im not sure if I was testing it right. But ive checked everything 2 or 3 times. I dont know what to do next. Except swap the sending unit out again.
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 06:16 AM
  #14  
Cuda_jim's Avatar
Cuda_jim
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
Likes: 1
From: MICHIGAN
You are correct about the measurement...from the sender wire to ground. Take the reading at the connector on the fuel tank or as close to the sender as possible. If you get no reading at all the sender is bad.
 
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2007 | 05:19 PM
  #15  
F0rdF0rever's Avatar
F0rdF0rever
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 0
I guess it could be the sender. It did come from a salvage yard. The guy at the counter told me a diesel supply pump from a 98 would work in my 95. Wrong. I got the old one out and quickly realized they were not the same. What was the same, or atleast looked the same was the actual sender. So I removed it from the new one and attached it to my pump. Does anyone know it the senders are the same? Maybe thats my problem now.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:35 PM.

story-0
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-4
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-8
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE