Fuel Gauge Wiring

[Mr Dave]

What route does the fuel gauge wiring take on a 76 Waggy? My gauge stopped working since I bought it and I am about to open up the dash and try to fix it. Is the wiring from the dash to the sending unit one harness? Or does it come up through the firewall as part of another harness?

[Sgt. Dave]

Save yourself the trouble of pulling the dash. About 99 & 44\100ths % of the time it's either the sender, or the ground at the sender. Check the ground first, then do some troubleshooting. It's REAL common. Ask how many FSJ owners carry a gas can, or have hiked for gas.

I personally have 2- 2 mile gas hikes & a couple of "Help" cellphone calls! :rolleyes:

[Mr Dave]

Well, I needed to glue the lenses back in the gauge cluster anyway, so I have already removed it. But it doesn't look like the connection there is the problem. Do I have to drop the tank to get to the sending unit? That would suck, because its almost full right now. I've been keeping it full since it always reads empty.

[Sgt. Dave]

Not sure on the 76. The later Wagoneers have an inspection plate right over the sender. You just pull the carpet, remove a couple of screws, and it's right there.

[Mr Dave]

Thanks Dave, I'll look next time I have a chance to work on it. smile.gif

[joe]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mr Dave:
Well, I needed to glue the lenses back in the gauge cluster anyway, so I have already removed it. But it doesn't look like the connection there is the problem. Do I have to drop the tank to get to the sending unit? That would suck, because its almost full right now. I've been keeping it full since it always reads empty.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yup, on the pre-80 rigs ya gotta drop the tank :(
If your gauge lenses ever fall out again get one of your kid's darts from his dart gun. No not the Crossman air guns, the dumb little kind ya gotta lick-to-make-stick kind. smile.gif
Lick-n-stick the dart to the lens and hold it by the shaft. Using quick dry glue put a dab or too on the lens and just hold it in place for a minute or so. Beats tearing out the gauge cluster. smile.gif

[Balming]

Sgt. Dave- What ground at the sender? I just had to remove my tank and pressure wash the inside to remove a buttload of rust, so I installed a new sending unit and pickup filter while I was in there. It still doesn't work. Does it ground itself to the tank via the little snap ring thingy?


Dan

[Sgt. Dave]

I honestly don't remember how the ground runs. I just put a 40 gal. tank and new sender in my Suburban, and there was a lug with a ground wire in the sender. The ground wire bolts to the frame. If the sender doesn't have a ground wire, it should!
If you have it out, look for a ground lug, or where one broke off. If there isn't one, you should be able to put one on easily.

[la mula pescadora]

you can easyli check the gauge to se if its working or not just desconect the cable that is in the sending unit at the gas tank and ground it if the neadle goes moves then u have a good working gauge a good test light will also helpu to diag. i replace my sending unit and gauge with a universal one they work prety well

[Bombadier]

hmmm, faulty fuel gauge....sending unit......wiring......fuses......sounds familiar........well, it may be inconvenient, and a bit embarassing, but maybe do as i do.......keep the gas cans full and the fueltank topped to the brim!........(seems like we jeepers run out of gas anyways!)........i do this for one reason......i hate wires!.

[JNErotten]

I'm haveing the same problem. (Great tip for gluing the guage lenses back BTW) That sender is a real pain to get to. My nuckles are still healing. If you want to test it, save yourself some trouble and look for a connection by the rear wheel on the drivers side next to the tank. It connects the sender to the guage. Pull that apart and ground it from there to test your guage. Who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and that might even be coroded and causeing the whole problem.

Hope That Helps,
J

[Mr Dave]

Thanks J! I'll definitely check that before I go pulling the tank.

[ClarkstonGT]

I agree with Mr. Rotten. Check that ground behind the rear wheel on the driver's side. It often gets corroded

[Angie D]

Is this ground located back by where the hitch might be?

[JNErotten]

Well on mine, and this is keeping in mind that who knows have done what, it is right behind the front of the drivers side rear wheel. Pretty close to the frame.