Chevy fuel gauge trouble.

Fritz Maurer

Well-known Member
The subject is an '85 K20. Want to replace tank sender with new Spectra unit. The gauge will operate only between empty and 1/4, while manually manipulating the float. The gauge goes to full with wires disconnected, and empty with the wires connected together without the sender. Can I assume the gauge is in working order? Is it possible that the sender must be submerged in gasoline before it will work at levels above 1/4?
Before I took it apart the gauge stayed at 3/4 regardless of the level in the tank, was like that for many years. Thanks, Fritz
 
The brand you bought is a "bottom of the barrel" unit from "The Land of Almost Right".

I would search for a new OEM unit.

OEM senders cost 4 to 5 times what the ones from "The Land of Almost Right" do, but at least they typically wprk correctly.
 
The fuel gauge sound like it is okay. the sender unit in the tank is not working right. You will not know this and till you pull the tank out and look at it. Like most of these units have a float in there that float on the fuel level reporting back to the gauge. If I was you I would look be thinking about replacing this unit. Ounce when I got the part then I would pull the tank down and replace the sending unit inside the tank. what happen is that the foloat on this device gets a whole in it and it tke one gas in the tank then it miss reads the fuel levels.
 
(quoted from post at 10:44:12 02/20/19) Land of almost right LOL! A-Zone actually had a Delco for $249... The one I bought was $42...

Fritz, to add a bit to my "off the cuff" post, if you have an accurate Ohmmeter you can check the sender.

Here's the Ohms values for the sender at three float positions:


FUEL LEVEL GAUGE PARAMETERS

For Truck Years: 1967 - 1990

The Fuel Gauge Needle Should Point to:
Left Line (Empty) when sender resistance = ~1 ?
Middle Line (Half) when sender resistance = 44 ?
Right Line (Full) when sender resistance = 88 ?

If it DOES check out, go to the link below and scroll down to "Needle only goes to 1/4 tank when full".


http://www.chevyclassicsclub.com/the-gm-fuel-gauge-mystery-1965-newer/

If the replacement sender is BAD, check out Rock Auto's price on a new genuine GM. (IF they have the correct one.)
 

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