My gas gauge is going crazy!

static · 03-10-2006, 08:26 PM

Hey

recently my gas gauge acts like it cannot decide how much gas i have, literally going crazy, the needle goes back and forth with irregular intervals.

What gives? anyone experienced the problem?

Alex

Striker · 03-10-2006, 09:38 PM

Sending unit in tank more than likely. Stop buying bad gas

JimZYellow · 03-10-2006, 09:41 PM

Sounds like my dad's old van, the gas gauge needle used to bounce with the songs on the radio.

static · 03-10-2006, 10:16 PM

crap, what am i gonna do?
what is bad gas? i always put either shell or sunoco 87 octane as per manual.

Is it a big job to yank out the tank? I am going to be taking out the diff, catback, shaft - it's probably a good time to rake care of this little problem

Thanks
Alex

**T.Dot_E30** · 03-10-2006, 10:37 PM

you dont need to take off the tank to get to the sending unit, the top piece, that you saw me putting the pump into today can been seen by opening a little door thats under the rear seat, on the passengerside.

Jordan · 03-10-2006, 11:29 PM

loose ground nut...

BmW1718 · 03-11-2006, 12:24 AM

yea mind does that but not the gas my tack / temp goes crazy i don't no why once it hits a certain temp halfway it goes crazy for 1 mib than stops werid

Soldo · 03-11-2006, 01:05 AM

Theres a good chance its the shell fuel!

At one point, all i filled in my car was shell 91, and thats when my fuel guage started to go haywire!

Apperently shell has a lot of a certain chemical that can **** around with sending units on some cars!

Striker · 03-11-2006, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by static

crap, what am i gonna do?
what is bad gas? i always put either shell or sunoco 87 octane as per manual.

Is it a big job to yank out the tank? I am going to be taking out the diff, catback, shaft - it's probably a good time to rake care of this little problem

Thanks
Alex

I was only kidding you about bad gas, at the age of these cars now the sending unit is one component that will start showing signs of failure.

Be very careful if you will be working on trouble shooting the sender. Make sure you disconnect the battery and as your name says, discharge all your STATIC.

You can use an ohm meter to see if it's your sender and you can also ground the senging unit wire to check your gauge, you will have to reconnect your battery for the gauge test. Only do the gauge test with the tank sealed and let all gas fumes vent before.

In fact, do the gauge test first before touching the sender.

Let me know if you need more info and if you wish drop me a number, I can call and talk to you about it.

static · 03-11-2006, 06:32 PM

Thanks a lot for the tips guys

will check my grounds first, then the sender unit

Cheers
Alex

Mavrick · 03-11-2006, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordan

loose ground nut...

Where? On the gauge? How do i get to it?

Ours does this as well.. a quick fix would be awesome.

static · 03-11-2006, 09:50 PM

^^ i hope he didn't mean in my head

Alex