Gas Guage Question: Needle Bounces...easy fix? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

TIMSPEED · 08-19-2003, 08:49 PM

Do you guys know what I'm talking about...my gas guage is functional...when the truck is 100% at rest. When I'm driving, the needle bounces around like it's drunk! But when I'm like at a red light or something, it'll sit on the right spot. I've been told it's the sending unit, but my dad told me that it's just like a little chain that holds the sender thingy on...is broken, so the sending unit is correct when the fuel is still, but when the fuel sloshes, so does the sending unit thingy. Any ideas for an easy fix guys? Thanks!

big_c_snow · 08-19-2003, 10:51 PM

No easy fixes here, but only another person with the same problem. The fuel gauges have done that exact same thing in my '86 and a friend's '82. Never fear, there are others with this same problem.

*mike reeh* · 08-19-2003, 11:32 PM

its the nature of the beast. The only way to solve it is to use a guage with a needle that moves reallllllly slow like in new vehicles... Like in my toyota when I fill the tank up, it takes a few minutes just to read full.. Theres no chain on the sending unit (not mine anyways) its just a lever that floats. and at the pivot point of the lever, is an electrical device to change the resistance to ground.. The float is gonna move all it wants.. personally I like how the guages move a lot.. after owning the truck for a while I can get a real good feel for how much fuel is in the tank.. more so than with my late model toyota

mike

87 Shortwide · 08-20-2003, 12:00 AM

My brothers gas guage used to do that in his 81...bounced around really fast...He put a new gas guage in and it fixed the prob.

bigd65 · 08-20-2003, 07:52 AM

i have never seen a CHEVY truck not do that. im told its because there are no baffles in the tank, so when the fue sloshes aroud the gauge is reading what its level is at at all times

Prerunner1982 · 08-20-2003, 11:23 AM

yep mine does it too.....if your needle starts reading full as 3/8s of a tank, or full as 1/2 of a tank PAST full.. then you know you have a problem.. but when you see the needle move around when you turn stop or gas it........ you know everything is working right!

Gibble · 08-20-2003, 11:31 AM

My gauge gets more accurate as the tank gets closer to empty

87 Shortwide · 08-20-2003, 12:33 PM

TIMSPEED, Maybe you should clarify what the exact problem is: Does your guage just move up and down according to acceleration and braking or turning, or does it bounce drastically like it has a bad connection or something?

TIMSPEED · 08-20-2003, 10:27 PM

The needle just bounces while I'm driving around any time. When I'm stopped though, it reads just fine.

apstguy · 08-20-2003, 11:44 PM

It has always done that and always will.

87 Shortwide · 08-21-2003, 12:43 AM

what I mean is does it bounce like its just fuel sloshing around, or is it a quicker bounce like a bad connection?

TIMSPEED · 08-21-2003, 12:51 AM

It's almost like both...Like, sometimes when I'm low on gas, and Im stopped, it'll kinda bounce like it's getting hit with pulses of voltage...where would the connection be so I could check it?

Gibble · 08-21-2003, 09:47 AM

If your low on gas it's because the gas sloshes easier with less in the tank...

crackajacka · 08-22-2003, 01:18 AM

yea mine holds perfectly still when my tank is full. when i get to about 3/4 i get a little bounce stopping n going and from bumps. get to a half and ill slam on the brakes or take off really fast(did anyways

) it would go from 1/2 to almost E to full. a newer slower gas gauge would fix it

Russell · 08-22-2003, 01:29 AM

My buddy's camaro's speedo did that, not sure if mine does so though, I haven't gotten the opportunity to take it out on the open highway yet, if all goes well that will be this tuesday though

crackajacka · 08-22-2003, 02:36 AM

yea buds 77 did the same, i think all it needed was oil, but he just beat the s**t out of it to make it work long enough to see how fast he was goin. in the pic is how it looked when it was in good shape, later the gas door and capr were ripped off and a rag used as a gas cap, both sides of the bed cratered in from coming around the corner of the house too close and kept goin even tho he saw he wason the house.....

jimfulco · 08-22-2003, 03:04 PM

I think the only ones that don't dance are the ones that read really really full. Anything else means there's something wrong with it. My own personal opinion is the gas tank sender has an unstable connection (corrosion?) where the moving part wipes along the resistor part. Until I get off my lazy a$$ and check this theory out, I'm just gonna keep filling up every 200 miles.

crackajacka · 08-23-2003, 12:18 AM

mine ends up goin about 1/4 tank past full or what the travel would be

Mike76251 · 08-23-2003, 01:58 AM

Mine doesn't bounce at all...........never has no matter what the fuel level. Don't ask me why.

85Supreme · 08-23-2003, 09:08 PM

Both I have owned an 85 C10, and my 85 K10 both start to bounce about 3/8 or so. In the 84 I just flip tanks when it start to bounce on E too much.

08-19-2003, 08:49 PM	#1
TIMSPEED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,321	Gas Guage Question: Needle Bounces...easy fix? Do you guys know what I'm talking about...my gas guage is functional...when the truck is 100% at rest. When I'm driving, the needle bounces around like it's drunk! But when I'm like at a red light or something, it'll sit on the right spot. I've been told it's the sending unit, but my dad told me that it's just like a little chain that holds the sender thingy on...is broken, so the sending unit is correct when the fuel is still, but when the fuel sloshes, so does the sending unit thingy. Any ideas for an easy fix guys? Thanks! __________________ I have a few cars... See Them Here

08-19-2003, 10:51 PM	#2
big_c_snow Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 157	No easy fixes here, but only another person with the same problem. The fuel gauges have done that exact same thing in my '86 and a friend's '82. Never fear, there are others with this same problem. __________________ 94 Ford Aerostar AWD Which is useless in Florida... 86 FJ1200 Daily Driver

08-20-2003, 12:00 AM	#4
87 Shortwide Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Wichita Ks Posts: 536	My brothers gas guage used to do that in his 81...bounced around really fast...He put a new gas guage in and it fixed the prob. __________________ Daily Driver: 1992 Blazer dropped on rallys Project: 87 GMC shortwide, About to get a little boost

08-20-2003, 07:52 AM	#5
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Clute, TX. Posts: 1,935	i have never seen a CHEVY truck not do that. im told its because there are no baffles in the tank, so when the fue sloshes aroud the gauge is reading what its level is at at all times __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab 1972 Chevy Monte Carlo 2017 Chevy Tahoe

08-20-2003, 11:23 AM	#6
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,904	yep mine does it too.....if your needle starts reading full as 3/8s of a tank, or full as 1/2 of a tank PAST full.. then you know you have a problem.. but when you see the needle move around when you turn stop or gas it........ you know everything is working right! __________________ Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call

08-19-2003, 11:32 PM	#3
mike reeh 5 day ban, learn to behave. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: san diego, ca Posts: 683	its the nature of the beast. The only way to solve it is to use a guage with a needle that moves reallllllly slow like in new vehicles... Like in my toyota when I fill the tank up, it takes a few minutes just to read full.. Theres no chain on the sending unit (not mine anyways) its just a lever that floats. and at the pivot point of the lever, is an electrical device to change the resistance to ground.. The float is gonna move all it wants.. personally I like how the guages move a lot.. after owning the truck for a while I can get a real good feel for how much fuel is in the tank.. more so than with my late model toyota mike

08-20-2003, 11:31 AM	#7
Gibble mmmm....Rye and Coke Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: MB, Canada Posts: 485	My gauge gets more accurate as the tank gets closer to empty

08-20-2003, 12:33 PM	#8
87 Shortwide Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Wichita Ks Posts: 536	TIMSPEED, Maybe you should clarify what the exact problem is: Does your guage just move up and down according to acceleration and braking or turning, or does it bounce drastically like it has a bad connection or something? __________________ Daily Driver: 1992 Blazer dropped on rallys Project: 87 GMC shortwide, About to get a little boost

08-20-2003, 10:27 PM	#9
TIMSPEED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,321	The needle just bounces while I'm driving around any time. When I'm stopped though, it reads just fine. __________________ I have a few cars... See Them Here

08-20-2003, 11:44 PM	#10
apstguy LED King Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,087	It has always done that and always will. __________________ Tyler 1985 C10 305 w/ Bowtie OD TH700R4 3.42 LSD 202,000 miles 2006 Ford Focus ZX3 5-speed Stick 2016 Chevy Spark EV Gone: 2002.5 VW GTI 24v VR6 Gone: 2008 VW R32

08-21-2003, 12:43 AM	#11
87 Shortwide Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Wichita Ks Posts: 536	what I mean is does it bounce like its just fuel sloshing around, or is it a quicker bounce like a bad connection? __________________ Daily Driver: 1992 Blazer dropped on rallys Project: 87 GMC shortwide, About to get a little boost

08-21-2003, 12:51 AM	#12
TIMSPEED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,321	It's almost like both...Like, sometimes when I'm low on gas, and Im stopped, it'll kinda bounce like it's getting hit with pulses of voltage...where would the connection be so I could check it? __________________ I have a few cars... See Them Here

08-21-2003, 09:47 AM	#13
Gibble mmmm....Rye and Coke Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: MB, Canada Posts: 485	If your low on gas it's because the gas sloshes easier with less in the tank...

08-22-2003, 01:18 AM	#14
crackajacka Stylin Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Tuttle, OK Posts: 620	yea mine holds perfectly still when my tank is full. when i get to about 3/4 i get a little bounce stopping n going and from bumps. get to a half and ill slam on the brakes or take off really fast(did anyways ) it would go from 1/2 to almost E to full. a newer slower gas gauge would fix it __________________ Ive been traveling for some time, with my fishin pole and my bottle of shyne. Most Girls like finished products and just dont understand what a good addiction does for you http://www.paulwall.us/

08-22-2003, 01:29 AM	#15
Russell Professional Grade Join Date: May 2003 Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta Posts: 7,915	My buddy's camaro's speedo did that, not sure if mine does so though, I haven't gotten the opportunity to take it out on the open highway yet, if all goes well that will be this tuesday though __________________ 1995 Chevrolet 2 Door Tahoe (6.6L LBZ Duramax / ZF6 / NP241 with 1 ton solid axle swap)



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08-22-2003, 02:36 AM	#16
crackajacka Stylin Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Tuttle, OK Posts: 620	yea buds 77 did the same, i think all it needed was oil, but he just beat the s**t out of it to make it work long enough to see how fast he was goin. in the pic is how it looked when it was in good shape, later the gas door and capr were ripped off and a rag used as a gas cap, both sides of the bed cratered in from coming around the corner of the house too close and kept goin even tho he saw he wason the house..... Attached Images __________________ Ive been traveling for some time, with my fishin pole and my bottle of shyne. Most Girls like finished products and just dont understand what a good addiction does for you http://www.paulwall.us/

08-22-2003, 03:04 PM	#17
jimfulco Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Shreveport LA Posts: 3,170	I think the only ones that don't dance are the ones that read really really full. Anything else means there's something wrong with it. My own personal opinion is the gas tank sender has an unstable connection (corrosion?) where the moving part wipes along the resistor part. Until I get off my lazy a$$ and check this theory out, I'm just gonna keep filling up every 200 miles.

08-23-2003, 12:18 AM	#18
crackajacka Stylin Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Tuttle, OK Posts: 620	mine ends up goin about 1/4 tank past full or what the travel would be __________________ Ive been traveling for some time, with my fishin pole and my bottle of shyne. Most Girls like finished products and just dont understand what a good addiction does for you http://www.paulwall.us/

08-23-2003, 01:58 AM	#19
Mike76251 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,499	Mine doesn't bounce at all...........never has no matter what the fuel level. Don't ask me why.

08-23-2003, 09:08 PM	#20
85Supreme Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 27	re: Both I have owned an 85 C10, and my 85 K10 both start to bounce about 3/8 or so. In the 84 I just flip tanks when it start to bounce on E too much. __________________ Currently Own: 1984 k10 Silverado 2-tone Gray on top and bottom red middle, Goodwrench 350, Headman Headers, Edelbrock Intake, Holley Carb, All Emissions Equipment Removed. Paid to Much. Previously Owned: $150 1985 Custom Deluxe C10, 4.3 Liter Carburated Vortec, Fairly Rusty, Leaky Gas Tank, Desert Sand in Color. Sold For $675 1985 Cutlass Supreme with a 307ci V8, Automatic, Baby Blue w/ Navy Vinal Top, 68,000 miles. Sold for $1400.

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