I have just installed a new Instrument Voltage Regulator and the gas gauge still goes way past full when the switch is turned. I have already installed a new sending unit, off of Ebay, don't know that it is NOS. I believe my gas gauge is good, but not sure, can switch to another one I have??????
Your welcome. Let us know if it works for you. I'm curious if this works cause I still haven't tried it yet. Been busy with other issues on the maverick as we know are almost never ending. Good luck!
Based on what I have read so far it seems the sending unit is faulty.. Unless something is holding the float up somehow.
I hate to spend another $100 on another sending unit if I do not have to. So here is where I am. The gas tank sending unit and instrument voltage regulator are brand new. The gas gauge goes to above full whether the connector is connected to the sending unit or not. Does this tell me anything? Might the gauge be faulty? I will change it and see. Also, I believe the back of my instrument panel is from a 73 or 74, while my Comet is a 71. Were they different, and therefore, mess up the way the cluster operates, including the gas gauge? From what I see when I compare them, they are exactly alike other than one thing. The bottom center light on one is for seat belts and on the other is for an alternator. Thanks for any help!
Ron, you are making this more of a frustration for yourself then it needs to be. With the gauge at full, key on, slip the wire off of the sending unit. Does the gauge now drop down to empty again? if so, you need to take out that sending unit and test it with an ohm meter. I don't have the manual in front of me, but it should read something like 15 to 80 throughout the swing of the float arm. To me it sounds like the sending unit float is either stuck in the full position (unlikely) or the unit is shorting out to ground (most likely). I have had many new "white box" sending units fail. It happens all the time.
Might even take the sending unit out and away from touching the tank. Plug it in and see what the gauge reads. Then touch the tank to the unit while it is plugged in and see again what it reads. I would make sure there is no fuel or vapors though. Maybe stretch a wire as far as it will allow.
That tells me that the problem is in the wiring or the cluster....maybe the IVR put I would now be looking at the wiring. I bet you have a short somewhere.
Agree on short in the wiring - didn't see that in post #21 until now. If the gauge stays up while the sending unit is disconnected, the sending unit gets ruled out. Leave the sending unit disconnected and trace the wiring back and inspect it for wear at a pinch point with the body. Have someone watch the gauge while doing this, in case you free up the short, as the gauge will then fall to empty.
Doesn't the needle always go to "E" when you turn off the engine anyway? The gauge is working , only thing is that it's reading too full. On the backside of the fuel gauge are two small holes mag de for adjustments to the red needle. While there are hair like wires inside which may have detached from their connections causing the gauge to not work at all. But in your case the gauge can be calidrated by the adjusting holes on the back of gauge. In my gallery I have a picture of this gauge with the face off and blue arrows pointing to the adjusting gears or teeth.
