Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: NO GAS?!?! says Empty but im not (Read 1852 times) previous topic - next topic

NO GAS?!?! says Empty but im not

summary; fuel gauge isnt reading gas in tank. 1986 LS full digital dash

Story;
so my fuel gauge as been acting weird lately and i just passed it off as being parked on slanted ground like alway. well yesterday it said i had 200 and something DTE when i should have had maybe 100. well i parked after school and then then i ent to leave for work and it said E and DTE was 0. i was backed in the driveway so the car was slanted back up. passed it off. i drove 20-25 miles since and put more gas in and nothing has changed.

thought it was stuck so...
-slammed on my half ass breaks...Nothing
- hit every speed bump at my school.... nothing
- shook my car while looking like a complete retard in my works lot..... priceless yet nothing.

What could it be
1986 Cougar LS

NO GAS?!?! says Empty but im not

Reply #1 –
Odds are you need a new in tank sending unit. If you have a rubber hammer, try and hit the bottom of the tank with it. if there is a reading change then it is probably a worn out sending unit.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]      STEVE ;)

NO GAS?!?! says Empty but im not

Reply #3 –
I have the base dash and mine reads lower than it should, too--and I just put a NOS sender in. Our gauges have never been all that accurate, but I've been beginning to wonder if there's something else going on--maybe galvanic corrosion where connectors and wire meet in the circuit? Maybe in the gauge itself? When it gets warm I might swap out the gauge to see what the effect is. For most things it's not all that important, but the fuel gauge is especially sensitive to changes in resistance.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
5.0L Speed density
Explorer intake
'92 Mustang GT cam
GT-40 racing heads
Unequal length headers
Custom-made duals
19# injectors
65mm TB
AFPR
T/C header panel
11" brake upgrade
T/C rear sway bar
Electrical mods: too many to list :D

NO GAS?!?! says Empty but im not

Reply #4 –
possible that your float fell off like in my case.  was reading fine then wouldnt read at all.  apon dropping the tank and removing the sender the float was nowhere to be found.  Thanks to Aerobird Motorsports I now have a working fuel guage.

NO GAS?!?! says Empty but im not

Reply #5 –
I have an buttstuffouge one, but it use to not read anything at all.  Threw a can of SeaFoam in, and now its somewhat accurate.  Worth a shot.
1988 Thunderbird Sport (1st car)
351W in the works
"I'll get it one piece at a time...":D

Quote from: bhazard;300566
You got woman'd.

NO GAS?!?! says Empty but im not

Reply #6 –
Quote from: tireshredder;190808
I have an buttstuffouge one, but it use to not read anything at all.  Threw a can of SeaFoam in, and now its somewhat accurate.  Worth a shot.


I run seafoam though every so often but i dont want to put all that gas in my car and then have to drop the tank.

as far as sending unit im not sure what your guys mean. is it what sends the reading to the gauge?
1986 Cougar LS

NO GAS?!?! says Empty but im not

Reply #7 –
ok i beat on the tank and nothing changed so looks like im dropping the tank.

is it going to ok to drive til Saurday?
1986 Cougar LS

NO GAS?!?! says Empty but im not

Reply #8 –
Yes it is ok to drive until saturday or whenever you want. Just make sure to keep gas in the tank.

NO GAS?!?! says Empty but im not

Reply #9 –
what else is reading zero?
IVR being defective will cause the same results i think.

ground out your oil wire, temp wire and see if you get a light or indicator.
 

NO GAS?!?! says Empty but im not

Reply #10 –
Quote from: jcassity;191001
what else is reading zero?
IVR being defective will cause the same results i think.

ground out your oil wire, temp wire and see if you get a light or indicator.


all my gas readings, gallons, DTE, Gauge. i beat on the tank last night and nothing changed. after i looked up what a sending unit was i might try a little seafoam since i have to wait til saturday to do anything anyways.

Any Idea what this is going to cost? i can get all my parts at shop cost and not worried bout labor. any good guesses. trying to do my brake this weekend too.
1986 Cougar LS