Fuel gauge/sending unit issues? October 11, 2014, 08:57:19 PM Hello, I am having an issue concerning the fuel gauge/sending unit. I'm not sure what's wrong, but it's not reading accurately. I wait until I'm almost empty before I go get fuel. When I fill up, the pump shuts off after 6-7 gallons has gone in. I try to manually pump it in, holding the lever, but it keeps shutting off, like it's full. When I turn the ignition on, the gauge will go all the way to FULL, but then go down a little. I can usually drive about a 150 miles before the gauge reads almost empty again. Then the whole thing starts over. My question: Is the fuel gauge bad, or is it the sending unit? Since it never reads FULL, how far can I go (approximately) after the gauge reads Empty (since it's not accurate)? Also, has anyone else had this problem with their Fox Bird/Cougar? Thanks! Quote Selected
Fuel gauge/sending unit issues? Reply #1 – October 11, 2014, 11:32:24 PM My 88 TC is very sensitive to the angle of the car when being filled. If I park moderately downhill at the gas station, I usually can get 3-4 more gallons in the tank than when filling the car on the level or nose slightly uphill. I actually choose what station and pump I get fuel from based on this quirk. I think the problem on mine is the sleeve or lining/coupler (?) of the filler neck has slipped down into the tank a bit, and so allows less fuel into the tank before shutting off unless I angle the tank down. Weird.Your sending unit may also be at issue, but IDK. Try filling while parking downhill? Quote Selected
Fuel gauge/sending unit issues? Reply #2 – October 12, 2014, 01:33:09 AM My cougar reads accurately to half a tank and has a few dead spots where it will read empty past that. I just set the tripe and refill between 350-400 miles.IM sure mine is the sender because the temp guage seems to read correctly. Quote Selected
Fuel gauge/sending unit issues? Reply #3 – October 12, 2014, 06:43:29 PM your sender in the tank needs to come out,,,you can read it with a meter and move the arm and see where the wiper arm on the variable resistor part might be corroded.the variable resistor part is dirty or has contact issues. there really isn't anything else that can go wrong with them other than this.you should be going about 350miles on a tank of gas for the 3.8L average case.now in my case,, I walk out of the garage, I come back and my 4 and 6 year olds at the time are fighting over the fuel sender playing tug of war with it..... so to this day I have no clue what the angle of the float rod needs to be till I get a replacement. Quote Selected
Fuel gauge/sending unit issues? Reply #4 – October 12, 2014, 06:54:19 PM Thanks guys! I'll have to drive for a while before I can drop the tank. I just filled up yesterday. Quote Selected
Fuel gauge/sending unit issues? Reply #5 – October 13, 2014, 05:19:22 PM It could simply be the float has fuel in it and has jacked up the buoyancy. Anyhow, here is a really good thread with all kinds of good info on this very subject:http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?33063-1983-Thunderbird-fuel-level-sender/page2Darren Quote Selected
Fuel gauge/sending unit issues? Reply #6 – October 13, 2014, 07:44:48 PM Quote from: 1985Elan;438960Thanks guys! I'll have to drive for a while before I can drop the tank. I just filled up yesterday.sure you canon your connector up where you pull codes inside the engine bay.......... find the tan/light green wire......undo the supply fuel fitting which I believe is the drivers side rear of the CFIground the tan/light green wireundo the fuel supply lineextend it with a rubber hose,turn key forward only! and the fuel pump will run constantly.you can fill up another car, fill up several gas cans ect.that's the nice thing about these cars, you can get a couple gallons of gas pretty easy if you know what your doing.once the tank Is empty, turn off your key and connect stuff back up. undo the ground jumper from the tan light green wire and ~~~ in the words of Tom Renzo... "That's how its dun!!":) Quote Selected
Fuel gauge/sending unit issues? Reply #7 – January 19, 2016, 02:38:58 AM I noticed that my Temp gauge starts to climb and at the same time, my fuel gauge starts to climb. I was told that there was a resister that looks like a 9 volt battery that is connected behind the dash gauges. I have a 1985 T-Bird and have tried several times to find or reach that resister. Does anyone know where it is located on my car?Thanks Quote Selected
Fuel gauge/sending unit issues? Reply #8 – January 19, 2016, 02:53:54 AM Check your ignition switch. My tbird did this, I could leave with 1/4 tank and within an hour of driving it was past 1/2. It ended up being a corroded and loose ignition switch.There is a ivr that regulates voltage to the dash. It should limit voltage to around 5v's to make everything read accurately. I've personally never had one go bad out of 11 cars now. Quote Selected
Fuel gauge/sending unit issues? Reply #9 – January 19, 2016, 02:48:26 PM Check post #41: http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?36515-Gas-tank-won-t-fill-to-full/page3 Quote Selected
Fuel gauge/sending unit issues? Reply #10 – January 19, 2016, 10:26:13 PM LOL,, post 14 is what I think you meant Quote Selected
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