Fuel Gauge issues - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

84GMCdiesel · 07-26-2008, 08:48 AM

Ok, been trying to solve my fuel gauge issue. I have a 1984 GMC 1500 2wd long bed, dual tanks, 6.2L diesel. Both tanks when full will only read just under half on the dash gauge. I cleaned and reattached the sending unit grounds on the truck frame and checked the dash gauge itself. Still can find the issue. The gauge will move as I burn off fuel and when just under 1/4 full I can take on about a half tank. Its like the gauge is only using half of the normal range. Should I try a new gauge or did fate happen and both sending units go on the fritz? She only has 52K original miles on her, but she has the age for them to go bad. Everything else works except the AC so I would like to get this fixed, along with my missing stuff for the AC. Thanks for all the help. Mike

us111 · 07-26-2008, 09:46 AM

i'm thinking it could be the resistor on the back
of the fuel gauge.there is a site u can buy repair
kits from but i cant remember it.maybe you can do
a site search,there has been several discussions on here
about it.or hopefully somone knows the site.
went ahead and done a search,this may help

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...gauge+resistor

Prong · 07-26-2008, 03:55 PM

One thing you can try is take the + lead off of the sender and ground it. Turn key on and the gauge should peg to full. If not, it's the gauge that's bad.

84GMCdiesel · 07-26-2008, 04:19 PM

I can put ground to the middle contact and hot to the left contact, or right if your looking at the gauge backwards, and it will go to full. Its very strange, I have had the dance all over the place, just not work, but not two seperate sender units give the same reading on the gauge. Both read just over an 1/8th below half when the tank is full, then if I refuel if the needle is just past the 1/4 empty mark, I can put 10-11 gallons of diesel in each tank. If its the senders, its gonna stay this way for awhile, them aint cheap, and then the hassle of droping the tanks. Mike

babyJay · 07-28-2008, 03:14 PM

Mike, I have a guage you can try to determine if yours is faulty. If you feel like taking a short cruise south, just LMK. Jay

07-26-2008, 08:48 AM	#1
84GMCdiesel Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kokomo, IN Posts: 7	Fuel Gauge issues Ok, been trying to solve my fuel gauge issue. I have a 1984 GMC 1500 2wd long bed, dual tanks, 6.2L diesel. Both tanks when full will only read just under half on the dash gauge. I cleaned and reattached the sending unit grounds on the truck frame and checked the dash gauge itself. Still can find the issue. The gauge will move as I burn off fuel and when just under 1/4 full I can take on about a half tank. Its like the gauge is only using half of the normal range. Should I try a new gauge or did fate happen and both sending units go on the fritz? She only has 52K original miles on her, but she has the age for them to go bad. Everything else works except the AC so I would like to get this fixed, along with my missing stuff for the AC. Thanks for all the help. Mike

07-26-2008, 09:46 AM	#2
us111 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: ashland oh Posts: 660	Re: Fuel Gauge issues i'm thinking it could be the resistor on the back of the fuel gauge.there is a site u can buy repair kits from but i cant remember it.maybe you can do a site search,there has been several discussions on here about it.or hopefully somone knows the site. went ahead and done a search,this may help http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...gauge+resistor Last edited by us111; 07-26-2008 at 09:55 AM. Reason: more info.

07-26-2008, 03:55 PM	#3
Prong Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: CO Posts: 475	Re: Fuel Gauge issues One thing you can try is take the + lead off of the sender and ground it. Turn key on and the gauge should peg to full. If not, it's the gauge that's bad.

07-26-2008, 04:19 PM	#4
84GMCdiesel Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kokomo, IN Posts: 7	Re: Fuel Gauge issues I can put ground to the middle contact and hot to the left contact, or right if your looking at the gauge backwards, and it will go to full. Its very strange, I have had the dance all over the place, just not work, but not two seperate sender units give the same reading on the gauge. Both read just over an 1/8th below half when the tank is full, then if I refuel if the needle is just past the 1/4 empty mark, I can put 10-11 gallons of diesel in each tank. If its the senders, its gonna stay this way for awhile, them aint cheap, and then the hassle of droping the tanks. Mike __________________ Tuned up diesels are handy for reversing the rectal/cranial inversion that most drives have these days, just a push of the magic smoke peddle leaves them in a cloud of diesel soot.

07-28-2008, 03:14 PM	#5
babyJay Arrived on a Pale Horse Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SnagTown Indiana Posts: 2,524	Re: Fuel Gauge issues Mike, I have a guage you can try to determine if yours is faulty. If you feel like taking a short cruise south, just LMK. Jay __________________ Jason 87 V30 350TBI/400 White w/Boss V-plow 89 R3500 CC SRW Last edited by babyJay; 07-28-2008 at 03:15 PM.

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