Inaccurate Fuel Gauge Readings

[TASummers]

Hey guys,

Finally got my '64 Belvedere on the road (and strip) this summer. For the first few months, the gas gauge worked perfectly with a normal needle sweep. Then one day, a full tank began showing as "half tank" on the gauge - the needle straight down. From that "half tank" position, the needle seems to sweep normally to the left as I burn fuel. A true half-full tank of fuel shows the needle on "E", and an empty tank will place the needle to about the 8 o'clock position, far beyond and above the "E".

I have noticed that when filling the tank, the needle moves from the left to the right normally until it gets near the half tank mark - then the needle begins to jump and skip. The car has a new tank and sending unit.

Any ideas? And thanks ahead of time!

 

[threewood]

Check your grounds and connections. Ground strap from the sender to the fuel line. Ground from the gauge cluster to the dash frame. Make sure the push on fitting is tight on the sending unit. There is a wiring connector behind the driver kick panel that should be checked as well.

Any one of these will throw the gauge off. Hopefully it is not the new unit. Old floats can develop pinholes and take on water.

EVeryone has gone through this. I am no exception and even with all clean and tight connections and grounds I am still just below F on a full tank. I have heard the replacement sending unit resistance numbers are off so it affects the gauge.

If it is still off, check this site out. http://www.technoversions.com/MeterMatchHome.html

They sell a meter that allows you to adjust gauges to senders to get it dead on.