Psychotic Fuel Guage???

[UnkleMunky]

Have been searching in the archives for fuel gauge problems/solutions, and I'm "thinking" this will either end up being a faulty sending unit or faulty wiring/bad connections or that. BUT....thought I'd post to see if that's what ya'll think! Here's the story:

'78 J10...gauge has worked fine for over a year now(as long as I've known it)....which is cool, I'm not used to a working fuel gauge in a Jeep! http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/smile.gif But, the last few days, it's been acting REALLY weird. I "figured" I had about 1/3 of a tank, but it was registering anywhere from a FLAT "E" to maybe 1/8 of a tank.....yet, once in a great moon or something these past few days, it would zoom up to 1/3-1/2 tank...which is where I figured it SHOULD be at. Well, this was just local driving, so no big deal, but went into town today, and got more of a taste of it.

I am about 25 miles from town and there are two gas pumps on the way(stores), one just a few miles from here, and one 1/2 way to town, the latter is usually cheaper! So, I decided to "try" to make it to the 1/2 way one....and there's a HOUSE being moved down the road blocking it less than a 1/2 mile from the station....ONLY round about was as far as going back to the other station. YIKES.....this thing's on "E"! Well, I got back, put in 5 gallons and went around a different way to town, and further down to Menards in Rice Lake to pick up some stuff, and there were LOTS of houses being moved on the roads today...what is it...house moving day!?!?

Anyway.....filled up in town, but now it's maxed out at about 3/4, which it had always got to "F" before. The movement is "lethargic" most the time....just "kinda" there sorta stuff. And, hovering near "E", yet, once in a while, zooms up to a good amount, but then lags back down. Seemed to do better on UPHILLS for registering than any other position.

I have yet to get under there and look at things, but I'm starting the "plugger gas gauge" thing again....keep "post-it" notes on the glovebox everytime I fill and up and know where I'm at. Like I said, I'm used to the plugger gauge, but just wondering if it's easy to fix. 4 out of 5 Munky owned Jeeps surveyed have had the "plugger" gas gauge, so what else is new, eh!

BTW....on the way back from town, came back the other way, and turned on the county road, and here in my rearview mirror was that blasted first house...hogging up the road ACROSS where I turned...WHEW....just missed that one!

Any thoughts on the gas gauge, or why "Today" was a major house-moving day!?!?! http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/smile.gif

Thanks.....

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Michael(UnkleMunky)
'78 J10: 258, 4 speed, longbed, topper
'76 J10: Honcho, 360, TH400/QT
'89 Plymouth Reliant(PluggerMobile)
J-Pages(some of my auto pages) (http://www.eskie.net/superior/j-pages/index.htm)
unklemunky@eskie.net

[GaWd]

I'd guess that your gauge problem was a cracked/leaking float full of gas and not getting to the F positiong on the mechanism, or a faulty ground.

Ccheck the ground on your gas gauge(no idea where it should be though, try checking on the top of the tank, or where it ties into the gauge cluster?).

Sam

[tuckers89GW]

Well, Saturday I was car shopping(the wife thinks I need better mileage for all the work driving I do. Even though it is paid) and My guage never goes about 3/4 tank. When I get to about 1/4 tank it seems dead true to what is in the tank. Well not this time. I had about 1/8 tank on the gage and about 1 mile out of town and it died on us. I'm thinking bad electronic control or vapor lock. THE WIFE IS MAD AS H$@@. Decided it wasn't control box, and went got some gas. LUCKLY it was empty. She will not let me live it down. Still gets mad about it. Guess I'll change the sending unit.

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Mike
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>'89 GW
completely stock
<LI>'99 Windstar
under WARRANTY
<LI>see MY JEEP (http://tuckermj.tripod.com/jeep/)[/list]

[Darin]

I was pretty sure I wasn't the only one with a psycho gauge but being new to the GW I wasn't sure. My problem is a little different, but am thinking I might replace the sending unit as well. The float mention got me think however.

My issue is that it registers F down to 1/4 to about 1/3 and then I'm out of gas. So I guess I could say that the guage works but is out at 1/4. Seems to come off Full pretty fast though. Anyone know how big the tank is on an 89 GW? I'm guessing 20g.

[mtn goat]

my vote is for a hole in the float. My chero had similar problems. turns out that the float fills partually with gas and becomes lazy, even sinks to the bottom sometimes.

[1nathan]

I don't know about your year, but on an 87 J-10, the gas guage sending unit is on the front side of the tank. Not the top. Dealer and no one else I spoke to makes one anylonger.
I re-built mine.
The arm the float is on has a brass needle that rides on a rheostat to indicate level. That brass wears out over time of going up and down and the point gets widened out giving false readings. I used a brass washer and made up my own pointer. Was not easy and is not exactly accurate, but still works.
Good luck.
Try looking in old car magazines, I have read ad's for people who re-build sending units in old cars. Maybe someone can re-build yours?
Nathan

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Nathan Van Meter

'87 Grand Wagoneer,3" spring lift,31"X10.5" Dunlop RV,Front Receiver,Factory Brush Guard,360 V8, NP229 & 727,Edelbrock Intake & carb.

'87 J-10, 3" Body Lift,1.5" Add a Leafs, 35" BFG Mud Terrains, Factory Brush Guard, 360 V8, NP208 & 727, Holley Pro-Jection, Jacobs ignition

'81 GW " parts truck ", 360 V8, NP208 & 727, 130K on odometer ***SOLD***

[UnkleMunky]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mtn goat:
my vote is for a hole in the float. My chero had similar problems. turns out that the float fills partually with gas and becomes lazy, even sinks to the bottom sometimes.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hmmm....that sounds kinda how it's acting....sorta like a drugged fish(hey maybe THAT's what's in there!) or something...."lazy" describes it pretty well(some of the time). Being it maxed at 3/4 when I filled it,that could mean it's partially filled too. Not sure how soon I'll want to tackle this one. I'm pretty used to the post it notes on the glovebox, so it's not a major deal to me(though I was kinda liking a functioning gauge).

My '77 Cherry "never" registered "F"....when I filled it, it came to 7/8, but I could go below "E" some too, but tried not to push that too much(though one night I DID actually push it too far and ran out of gas, I was actually carrying a spare gas can(with gas in it) WITH, so that came in VERY handy)!

I'm not sure on the GW tank size....wait '89, yeh, I got the book on that..... "20.3 gallons" for '89! Your gauge might be like my '77 Cherry was...reads, but "off kilter". Yours is kinda nasty though as yours reads "gas" when it might be out....be careful and keep 'er above that by a good measure!

Any ideas on the house moving marathons today? I swear I saw at least 1 "full" house, and 2-3 "half sets" on the road today...in a 90 mile roundtrip....definitely above average I'd say! http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/smile.gif Oh, also got passed by a semi hauling "carnival ticket booths".....not everyday a bunch of clown boxes passes you! http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/smile.gif Was an interesting trip!

Thanks for the input, gang....maybe next time I'll spell "gauge" right in the topic header...can't believe I missed that one!

Oh well...




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Michael(UnkleMunky)
'78 J10: 258, 4 speed, longbed, topper
'76 J10: Honcho, 360, TH400/QT
'89 Plymouth Reliant(PluggerMobile)
J-Pages(some of my auto pages) (http://www.eskie.net/superior/j-pages/index.htm)
unklemunky@eskie.net