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Gas gauge stuck 1/16 - 1/4 tank ??
Topic Started: Jan 24 2014, 02:56 PM (1,035 Views)
RED7218
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97 LSI HB Gas gauge stuck about a 1/16 of a tank...... It this common? If so whats up.
Edited by RED7218, Jan 24 2014, 02:56 PM.
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Woodie
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No, it's not common. It's either the gauge itself or the sending unit inside the tank.
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RED7218
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Disconnected sending unit wire at connector under back seat. Gauge zeroed, grounded it and went to full. Looks like it's the sender...
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Napolean Drivinglight
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Bent Wrench Garage
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red7218
Jan 24 2014, 02:56 PM
97 LSI HB Gas gauge stuck about a 1/16 of a tank...... It this common? If so whats up.
Chances are that he previous owner(s) rarely if ever put more than a 1/4 tank of gas in it and that is where the sender is worn.
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Bad Bent
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Facetious Educated Donkey

And this is what it may look like inside...

Posted Image

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RED7218
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This car sat dead in its tracks for about eight months before I bought it. I recently got it running and filled it up with about 7.5 gallons so the gauge is reading about where it was during that time. I'm guessing thats got something to do with it.

So it can be cleaned up and fixed or new part??????

Ill wait and run it low on gas before pulling the tank. Who knows how long that could take ..ha. In the mean time im going to run a can of sea foam through it and see if that won't clear it up... couldn't hurt..
Edited by RED7218, Jan 26 2014, 09:22 AM.
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truckjohn


Mine was stuck when I got it....
The physical sending unit itself was globbed up with junk... and was stuck....

You will have to pull the tank and remove the sending unit....

I was able to *Carefully* unstick and clean the contacts on mine...
Took me 3-tries to get it all cleaned out and working properly... as it was cobbed up with a BUNCH of rust and trash...
It reads more or less OK now....

While you are inside the tank.... You may as well scoop out as much rust as you can possibly remove....
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RED7218
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Wow that doesn't sound promising.
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Old Man


red7218
Jan 27 2014, 07:29 AM
Wow that doesn't sound promising.
....but it does sound very believable and possible and expected.
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Bad Bent
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Facetious Educated Donkey

red7218
Jan 27 2014, 07:29 AM
Wow that doesn't sound promising.
Or you might try the "lazy" ways of adding either Seafoam or Chevron Techron to the gas tank. I noticed the gauge registering a little more "full" when I used Seafoam with two consecutive fill-ups. However I noticed a little more throttle response using Techron twice. :-/

Even after using those products my gauge would still not read correctly - as with almost all Geo gauges - where the needle touches the red line and it has used only 7-7.5 gallons. :smackface Some of us might call it our "reserve" and just fill it with 3-3.5 gallons still in the tank, while some run it down to "E" and still have a gallon left over. :rofl

Here is a 'how to' on removing the tank: How to change fuel pump - 95-97.
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truckjohn


Yeah... Tried it... Didn't work on mine.....

The thing is... If your sending unit is stuck - you likely ALSO have a bunch of trash in the bottom of your tank.....
This would be a perfect time to dredge out all the crap.....

Or...
Live with it for now... Just record your milage.... Say fill up at 250 miles....
Wait till the weather warms up and pull your tank....
There's nothing quite like the joy of laying out in the Yard under your Geo in 15 degree weather..... pulling a gas tank when your hands and ears are numb.....

Summer is the time to do stuff like this...

Thanks
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RED7218
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Amen brother. If that's the case and its full of rust. I'll hit the motorcycle for some tank coating.
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RED7218
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Hey one more small question. Does this tank contain a anti-syphon tube? If so I'll pump it down before removing.
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RED7218
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I know this is an old thread I started, but it got me thinking.. As mentioned above corrosion is apparently an issue. I'm thinking electrolysis in combination with the water attracted by eythanol fuel has alot to do with it. Has anyone thought to stick a sacrifical anode to the steel bracket to prevent the sender from corroding. Like they use in outboard engines.. Maybe like a small piece a zinc or piece of galvanized steel..
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geometromaniac


My Metro convertible is stuck at 1/4 tank also. Where does the wire run on the convertible so I can test the gauge unit?
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