Help wth Fuel Gauge (that works sometimes)

[ToyCrusher]

Greetings –

Does anyone have experience with a D90 (97) Fuel Gauge? I’ve got a wild one. It bounces from true level to empty and anywhere in between at random (a problem even on the highway). I’d like to fix it but I don’t want to have to drop the tank to look over the sending unit if I don’t have to.

Unfortunately I’m not familiar with the system. Could it just be a bad ground someplace – maybe somebody has had a similar problem.

Thanks

[rustydefender]

I second that mine is crazy too im lookin for the same answer

[Mike Hippert]

They all do it, and this has been posted before.

[loykd]

yeah, me too! another one of my recent electrical problems. I've been using my odometer as a gas gauge. The other day I filled up to 14.8 gal!

[WCURoverD90]

They all do that...I usually fill up when it says its near a quarter tank...Don't want to be the guy with the D90 parked on the side of the road in Charlotte out of gas....Not that i drive it that much anyways....No worries though

[loykd]

Hey Molinator, Search doesn't show anything else on this problem. How 'bout whipping out some of your Ninja powers and help your bruddas out?

What causes the erratic fuel indications? Is it the gauge or the sensor?

[Mike Hippert]

hmmmmm

http://www.d-90.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2000

http://www.d-90.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1148

I would also guess that the problem has to do with the sender in the tank and the way the tank is, mine is very affected by movement in any direction so when fuel gets sloshed around the sender does not read correctly.

[loykd]

Thanks Mike. My latest problem is not the sloshing around of fuel in the tank causing erratic fuel level indications, but the fuel guage not indication correctly at any fuel level. I filled up and the highest the guage got was 1/3 full. It's been degrading slowly over the past month or so, and I'm wondering if I need to replace the gauge or the in-tank sensor.

How can I check if the gauge is getting a proper signal?

[Mike Hippert]

Swap it wit one from someone elses 90, I think it is easy enough to do, we can sawp this weekend.

[rover4x4]

the only problem I have with my fuel gage is the indicatorgoes from right to left too fast :evilfinge

[flippedrover]

this should be a fun weekend. we'll have ken's truck in pieces :evilfinge

[Mike Hippert]

this should be a fun weekend. we'll have ken's truck in pieces :evilfinge
Well at lest he is bringing his truck, and if you bring yours then we'll have a source for spare parts.

Ken, have you checked that the connectors on the back of the gauge are clean?

[loykd]

Mike, gimme a LITTLE credit... haha... yes, the connectors checked and the fusebox too Oh, and I checked the tire pressure too; it's ok so that probably isn't causing the problem. :grin

Check resistance (or would it be voltage) at the indicator? Would that be a good check for gauge health?

[Mike Hippert]

Good thought! I'll have too pull mine out and check what the voltage is when the tank is full and empty, then you can compare it to yours! If it reads lower then mine when full I would check for bad wiring before dropping the tank.

[flippedrover]

Yeah yeah yeah. Not sure you'd want any parts from my truck.