Just installed a '73 Mav gas tank in a '72 Mav due to rust in the tank. Kept the '73 sending unit in the '73 tank. Gas gauge does not work. I was wondering how much ground is needed. I had painted the gas tank and have a feeling that is the cause. I grounded the tank to the frame with a wire but it still doesn't work. Is the '73 sending unit different than the '72 and could that cause the problem? The wire connector is clean and fits the same on both years. The sending unit was working fine when I removed it from the '73.
The Maverick/Comet sending units get their ground from one of the 2 wires that clip to the unit. The tank itself dosent need a ground to work the gauge although its a good idea just to keep any static buildup.
Sending unit could be bad. Easiest way to check is pull the plug off the sending unit. Get a real good ground and short out one of the 2 wires on the wiring harness. Turn the key on and see if the gauge goes to full. If it does, the problem is in the sending unit or the ground to it. If it dosent, try grounding the other wire. Then if it works, go by what I just said . If it dosent, the problem is in the gauge or more than likely, the voltage regulator on the back of the dash. If you have an ohm meter, you can measure across the terminals sticking out of the sending unit. should be anywhere below 50 ohms. If not, then the sending unit is bad.
nick, i am not dennis, but the way i checked mine was took it out of the tank pluged it in and had my son turn the key on and i raised and lowerd the float. my son could see the fuel guage going from empty to full. my problem was the float was full of gas and read empty all the time. that made me think it didn't work. i had another one so i swaped the floats. hope yours is as simple...frank...:bananaman :bananaman L.T.N.G.
Couldn't wait till tomarrow so I grounded the wiring harnass. It went to full, so I'm gonna take it out tomarrow and check the float like frank advised. Hope it's an easy fix. Thanks again, keep you posted on what it is.
I just bought a new float from Autokrafters for $6. I didn't remember it being brass. Even if your problem is gas leaking in you could probably solder or JB Weld the hole after you drain it.
b mac, what was the shipping on the float from autokrafters? i hear there shipping price is a little high. that float was what 25 grams?...frank...:bananaman :bananaman L.T.N.G.
I took the sending unit out and manually moved it with the key on. When it is in the full position the gauge only goes up to between half and three quarters of a tank. It was stuck on empty because it takes about half a tank of gas for it to even register, (I had about 4 gallons). I guess the calibration is messed up. Unless someone can explain how to fix it, I have to buy a new one from Auto Krafters.
b mac, what was the shipping I ordered a bunch of other, heavier items at the same time so I really don't know what the shipping would be for just the float. Like Dennis said, check with a local Fort dealer, it would probably be less expensive.
