gas gauge reads empty

[yellowabody]

 hello people . my gas gauge reads empty i was wondering is this a common problem my cars a 72 dart  I checked  the fuses and the ground strap on the sending unit seem fine but havent had time to check anything else . ps it does have fuel in it           

[sunsetdart]

Best way to see where you are really at is to remove the sending unit and keep it connected and move it up and down. Have someone watch the gauge, if it reads full to empty.......it's not the sending unit. I would also check the ground wire......biggest culprit in an electrical connection.

[Jim_Lusk]

It is common for the float to develop a hole and fill with fuel. The guage could be bad, the wiring could be bad, or the windings on the sending unit could be bad.

[guzzimike]

The Voltage Limiter any good..? My Gas Gauge was dead till I replaced my VL. All's good now.

Hint: Is your Temp Gauge dead too..? If so, chances are the Voltage Limiter is bad, as both gauges normally share this unit.



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dash-Gauge-Reg-68-69-70-Dodge-Plymouth-Satellite-Mopar_W0QQitemZ170125613769QQcmdZViewItem

[smitty72]

if you find out it is the guage or the voltage limiter, I will give you the ones that were in my car just pay the shipping.

[yellowabody]

ok i grounded the red wire with the key on and the gauge still wont move so i tried to remove the gauges and gave up i think the steering column has to come down . is there a way to check the gauge witout removing the dash ? and where is this voltage limiter located ? the temp gauge and volt meter work fine but i also dont have any dashlights . bad ground ?

[guzzimike]

<snip> and where is this voltage limiter located ? the temp gauge and volt meter work fine but i also dont have any dashlights . bad ground ?

The Voltage Limiter is located at the back of the Gauge Cluster, connected to the Integrated Circuit board. You access it by either removing the dash, or by contorting yourself while upside down under the dash, behind the steering column, with the brake pedal carving a hole in your neck...Don't ask me how I know..

BUT, if your Temperature Gauge is OK, chances are that your Voltage Limiter is also OK as the VL normally runs noth the Temp Gauge and the  Fuel Gauge. You may want to check that your ground at the gauge cluster is OK.

[68_GSS]

Could be a broken pin or pins on the circuit board for the gauges, where the wiring harness plugs in.

[yellowabody]

 thanks for the info i hope i can talk my nephew in climing under that dash .

[CARNUT]

the best way to check the gauge and the wire at the same time is to remove the electrical connection on the gas tank stick a small bolt or anything metal in the socket turn on the key to on position not running have an assistant sit and watch the gauge so you don't peg it all the way to full then just ground out the electrical socket to the rear end it only tales a second to hit full so don't try to do it by yourself or you could damage the gauge i learned this from Kim and it worked great
good luck
ray