GAS GAUGE PROBLEM

[Johnny TBird]

WHEN THE KEY IS OFF MY GAS Gauge APPEARS TO BE STUCK BETWEEN 1/4 AND EMPTY. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM?

Happy Trails

[AZTB]

Re: GAS GAUGE PROBLEM

Johnny...mine's been that way since day one.

[5bird7]

Re: GAS GAUGE PROBLEM

That's where it seems to sit when not on -i.e.- not a problem.

[Leroy]

Re: GAS GAUGE PROBLEM

Sounds to me like the fuel tank float is not going down all the way. Does your low fuel light ever come on?
Leroy

[Jim Young]

Re: GAS GAUGE PROBLEM

Leroy, these cars as I recall have two fuel pumps, and if you let the gas level drop to the point where your light comes on, you stand the chance of burning out one of the pumps, with the expence of replacing it... I think there is a technical article on that here some place..
Jim
see this post http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ight=fuel+pump

[VELOCEBYRD]

Re: GAS GAUGE PROBLEM

Mine's not stuck, it just seems to go down aweful fast adn takes along time to go back to full @ $4.00 a gallon.

Have a great weekend everyone!

[yelobird2002]

Re: GAS GAUGE PROBLEM

Don't ever fill up with the key on to listen to radio, etc. That messes with the gauge accuracy. May not apply to you, but good for all to know.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: GAS GAUGE PROBLEM

Don't ever fill up with the key on to listen to radio, etc. That messes with the gauge accuracy. May not apply to you, but good for all to know.

I've always filled up with the radio on in all my rides and never had a problem with a gas gauge.

[yelobird2002]

Re: GAS GAUGE PROBLEM

The maunal says not to do so and we used to have people come in complaining that their gas gauge was inaccurate. Would say they just filled up and only show half a tank. Come to find out they had the key on. After about 5 - 10 restarts the gauge would recalibrate itself.

[luvbirdz]

Re: GAS GAUGE PROBLEM

#1 My gas guage goes down to E when off.

#2 Gas guage only shows when key is in the run position, you can listen to the radio in the accessory position.

#3 Why would you get out of the car without the keys in your pocket? You go in to pay and someone gets a beautiful car WITH a full tank of premuim gas!!!

[JAB02LHS]

Re: GAS GAUGE PROBLEM

#3 Why would you get out of the car without the keys in your pocket? You go in to pay and someone gets a beautiful car WITH a full tank of premuim gas!!!

PAY AT THE PUMP

[Nicky-The-Squid]

Re: GAS GAUGE PROBLEM

Leroy, I think what you are describing is if it won't go to empty when the power is on. The float won't go down unless it is low on fuel. It "floats" on the surface to read the level which is done electronically. So when the key is off the guage should disconect and drop to empty regardless of tank level or even if the float is stuck.
I just went out to double check mine and it drops from full to E as soon as the ignition is turned off. My "guess" is a poor ground. New model cars have a number of grounds. If one is not complete or poor it can cause eratic readings among other things.

[Leroy]

Re: GAS GAUGE PROBLEM

I'll agree with that, but what I was getting at was, if the guage doesn't go down all the way when the key is off, does it when the key is on? And if it does, does the low fuel light come on? If the guage never goes all the way down and you don't get a low fuel light, you could run out of gas. I have this problem in my 1948 Willys Jeep. When my gas guage in it gets to 1/4 tank, I know it's time to fill up. And I know it's a float problem, becuase the guage goes all the way down when it's not running. But it's 60 years old and has been converted from 6 to 12 volts, so that might have something to do with it too. Plus the 1965 Ford 289 Mustang Engine keeps the guage active.
Leroy

[Pinecones]

Re: GAS GAUGE PROBLEM

i can't even get mine to work.

i replaced the gauge, followed the grounding wire, did everything i can think of, but it only worked once. not sure what to do now.

[Leroy]

Re: GAS GAUGE PROBLEM

Pinecones, Sounds to me like the problem is the float in the tank is not sending the correct signal to your guage. Is the car still under warranty?
Leroy