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Fuel Guage not working. Low fuel warning light is still working. What is the fix?

D

Dr. Vitriol

New CEG'er
Joined
Nov 25, 2010
Messages
19
Location
Utah
Car: 1998 Conotur SE V6. 91,000 miles. This is the 'new' style that was after the mid year change if that makes any difference. Anyway, the fuel guage started working intermittently and now just reads mostly full. The low fuel warning light seems to be still working fine when fuel gets that low. Any ideas what the problem and fix is? As always, your help is greatly appreciated. This is my daughter's car and I need to get this fixed as soon as possible----
 
The fuel guage is showing near full all the time regardless of how much gas is in there.
The low fuel warning light is working properly, meaning that it only goes on when it's low on fuel. Like right now, there is about a third tank full by my estimation and the light is not on, but the guage is reading almost full.
I did see how I did not state my post well so I apologize for the confusion. Thanks for taking the time to consider my problem.
 
Most likely it is a guage problem if all esle is working fine and there have been no mods under the dash just before it quie working....BUT...... It could aslo be a wiring issue.... if you suspect the wiring then I'd check ground first. If everything up front checks out the sending unit on the fuel pump is the issue.

Your car being a 98.5 is still a return style fuel system so you should be able to use any 98 fuel guage as a replacement.

My 2 cents,
AF
 
If it were the sending unit/pump, the low fuel light wouldn't behave (it is).

There are no grounds that are exclusive to the fuel gauge. In fact, the fuel gauge shares its ground with the low fuel lamp which is working properly. That takes grounds out of the equation.

You're likely going to need a new cluster or to have this one repaired. The WSM has the step-by-step instructions on how to troubleshoot the gauge.
 
IF there is a u-pull-it around you can grab another 98 guage for $5, plug it in and see if it works.... Knowing the dash wiring and messing with the printed circuit on the back of the cluster, that seems to me like the easiest way to start. One can trace grounds from one splice point to another or check printed circuits and test resistors for a very long time.

Of course one could take their spare fuel pump, hook the guage and power to it, move the float, and see if the needle moves.... LOL ..... sorry I just have way too many tour parts on hand and then I keep my broken ones to tinker with too.

AF
 
projectSHO89 said:
If it were the sending unit/pump, the low fuel light wouldn't behave (it is).

There are no grounds that are exclusive to the fuel gauge. In fact, the fuel gauge shares its ground with the low fuel lamp which is working properly. That takes grounds out of the equation.

You're likely going to need a new cluster or to have this one repaired. The WSM has the step-by-step instructions on how to troubleshoot the gauge.
Click to expand...

Please let me know what a WSM is--------I would like to have the step by step instructions on troubleshooting the guage
Thanks,
 
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