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Fuel tank or fuel gage problem.
Fuel tank or fuel gage problem.
Either the fuel gage or maybe it is the sending unit in the gas tank of
my 1978 Dodge van has quit working again.I already replaced all of the
fuses in that little plastic fuse holder inside the dashboard glove
compartment.I guess I am going to have to disconnect the fuel line from
the fuel filter under the van and drain the gas and drop the gas tank
replace the old sending unit with a new one, I dread having to have to
do that.
If I remember, I think there is a little pipe plug on the bottom of the
tank.I think I once tied to remove that pipe plug, but it was rusted on
there so tight, it was impossible.I rarely drive my van anywhere anymore
but to the food store every two weeks and to a discount tobacco store
every two or three months for cigarette tobacco (I hand roll my own
cigs) and to a vetritinary supply store every three months for dog
food.Since I dont drive so much, what I think I would like to do is use
a narrow diameter flexible lenght of clear tubing about a pencil
diameter or smaller and put that down the gas filler pipe and hold my
thumb over one end of the tubing and then yank it out quickly to get
some idea of how much gas is in the tank.But that baffle in the gas tank
wont let me do that.Does anybody know where (website or whatever?) I can
find a picture/photo of what that baffle looks like? If I can find a
piece of non sparking rod, bronze, or something, I think I would poke a
hole through that baffle big enough for a piece of tubing.
When I bought that van in 1989, it had two fuel tanks.One of the tanks
was caved in right in the middle on the bottom of that tank as though
somebady had ran over something and mashed that tank in.I removed that
tank about two years after I bought the van, the tank is still sitting
in my back yard.I think I will remove the sending unit and clean it up
with mineral spirits or gas and a little old paint brush.Is there a way
I can use one of my multimeters and test that sending unit to see if it
is in good condition.That old van isn't worth much money, I will never
sell it except maybe someday to an auto junk yard, so the van (tank and
all) will never be somebody elses problems.
cuhulin
Either the fuel gage or maybe it is the sending unit in the gas tank of
my 1978 Dodge van has quit working again.I already replaced all of the
fuses in that little plastic fuse holder inside the dashboard glove
compartment.I guess I am going to have to disconnect the fuel line from
the fuel filter under the van and drain the gas and drop the gas tank
replace the old sending unit with a new one, I dread having to have to
do that.
If I remember, I think there is a little pipe plug on the bottom of the
tank.I think I once tied to remove that pipe plug, but it was rusted on
there so tight, it was impossible.I rarely drive my van anywhere anymore
but to the food store every two weeks and to a discount tobacco store
every two or three months for cigarette tobacco (I hand roll my own
cigs) and to a vetritinary supply store every three months for dog
food.Since I dont drive so much, what I think I would like to do is use
a narrow diameter flexible lenght of clear tubing about a pencil
diameter or smaller and put that down the gas filler pipe and hold my
thumb over one end of the tubing and then yank it out quickly to get
some idea of how much gas is in the tank.But that baffle in the gas tank
wont let me do that.Does anybody know where (website or whatever?) I can
find a picture/photo of what that baffle looks like? If I can find a
piece of non sparking rod, bronze, or something, I think I would poke a
hole through that baffle big enough for a piece of tubing.
When I bought that van in 1989, it had two fuel tanks.One of the tanks
was caved in right in the middle on the bottom of that tank as though
somebady had ran over something and mashed that tank in.I removed that
tank about two years after I bought the van, the tank is still sitting
in my back yard.I think I will remove the sending unit and clean it up
with mineral spirits or gas and a little old paint brush.Is there a way
I can use one of my multimeters and test that sending unit to see if it
is in good condition.That old van isn't worth much money, I will never
sell it except maybe someday to an auto junk yard, so the van (tank and
all) will never be somebody elses problems.
cuhulin
Re: Fuel tank or fuel gage problem.
cuhulin@webtv,net wrote:Is there a way
> I can use one of my multimeters and test that sending unit to see if it
> is in good condition.That old van isn't worth much money, I will never
> sell it except maybe someday to an auto junk yard, so the van (tank and
> all) will never be somebody elses problems.
> cuhulin
>
Yes, you can also test your existing one with a multimeter. You set
it on resistance and read what the wire coming out says. A full tank
reads one resistance, an empty another and half in between. You should
be able to find the readings on the www somewhere with a Google search.
Other than that, use your odometer. My gauge has worked for maybe 3 of
the last ten years and I just use mileage for fillups.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
'New' frame in the works for '08. Some Canadian Bush Trip and Build
Photos: http :// mikeromainjeeptrips.shutterfly,com
cuhulin@webtv,net wrote:Is there a way
> I can use one of my multimeters and test that sending unit to see if it
> is in good condition.That old van isn't worth much money, I will never
> sell it except maybe someday to an auto junk yard, so the van (tank and
> all) will never be somebody elses problems.
> cuhulin
>
Yes, you can also test your existing one with a multimeter. You set
it on resistance and read what the wire coming out says. A full tank
reads one resistance, an empty another and half in between. You should
be able to find the readings on the www somewhere with a Google search.
Other than that, use your odometer. My gauge has worked for maybe 3 of
the last ten years and I just use mileage for fillups.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
'New' frame in the works for '08. Some Canadian Bush Trip and Build
Photos: http :// mikeromainjeeptrips.shutterfly,com
Re: Fuel tank or fuel gage problem.
cuhulin@webtv,net wrote:
> Either the fuel gage or maybe it is the sending unit in the gas tank of
> my 1978 Dodge van has quit working again.I already replaced all of the
> fuses in that little plastic fuse holder inside the dashboard glove
> compartment.I guess I am going to have to disconnect the fuel line from
> the fuel filter under the van and drain the gas and drop the gas tank
> replace the old sending unit with a new one, I dread having to have to
> do that.
>
> If I remember, I think there is a little pipe plug on the bottom of the
> tank.I think I once tied to remove that pipe plug, but it was rusted on
> there so tight, it was impossible.I rarely drive my van anywhere anymore
> but to the food store every two weeks and to a discount tobacco store
> every two or three months for cigarette tobacco (I hand roll my own
> cigs) and to a vetritinary supply store every three months for dog
> food.Since I dont drive so much, what I think I would like to do is use
> a narrow diameter flexible lenght of clear tubing about a pencil
> diameter or smaller and put that down the gas filler pipe and hold my
> thumb over one end of the tubing and then yank it out quickly to get
> some idea of how much gas is in the tank.But that baffle in the gas tank
> wont let me do that.Does anybody know where (website or whatever?) I can
> find a picture/photo of what that baffle looks like? If I can find a
> piece of non sparking rod, bronze, or something, I think I would poke a
> hole through that baffle big enough for a piece of tubing.
>
> When I bought that van in 1989, it had two fuel tanks.One of the tanks
> was caved in right in the middle on the bottom of that tank as though
> somebady had ran over something and mashed that tank in.I removed that
> tank about two years after I bought the van, the tank is still sitting
> in my back yard.I think I will remove the sending unit and clean it up
> with mineral spirits or gas and a little old paint brush.Is there a way
> I can use one of my multimeters and test that sending unit to see if it
> is in good condition.That old van isn't worth much money, I will never
> sell it except maybe someday to an auto junk yard, so the van (tank and
> all) will never be somebody elses problems.
> cuhulin
>
They are probably different units. Usually dual tanks are not the same.
One will be deeper than the other.
Before you tear it all apart I would try a few things.
Find the wiring that goes to the gauge. Hook a multimeter across the two
of them and see what the sensor reads. With the tester connected rock
the vehicle and see if the reading changes. If it does the gauge itself
might be bad. Also check the ground connection for the gauge. Most
vehicles used a short ground wire from the sender to the body/frame. A
bit of rust or a corroded wire and No Ground.
--
Steve W.
Near Cooperstown, New York
There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today than
on Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there will be a large
elderly population with perky boobs and huge erections and absolutely
no recollection of what to do with them.
cuhulin@webtv,net wrote:
> Either the fuel gage or maybe it is the sending unit in the gas tank of
> my 1978 Dodge van has quit working again.I already replaced all of the
> fuses in that little plastic fuse holder inside the dashboard glove
> compartment.I guess I am going to have to disconnect the fuel line from
> the fuel filter under the van and drain the gas and drop the gas tank
> replace the old sending unit with a new one, I dread having to have to
> do that.
>
> If I remember, I think there is a little pipe plug on the bottom of the
> tank.I think I once tied to remove that pipe plug, but it was rusted on
> there so tight, it was impossible.I rarely drive my van anywhere anymore
> but to the food store every two weeks and to a discount tobacco store
> every two or three months for cigarette tobacco (I hand roll my own
> cigs) and to a vetritinary supply store every three months for dog
> food.Since I dont drive so much, what I think I would like to do is use
> a narrow diameter flexible lenght of clear tubing about a pencil
> diameter or smaller and put that down the gas filler pipe and hold my
> thumb over one end of the tubing and then yank it out quickly to get
> some idea of how much gas is in the tank.But that baffle in the gas tank
> wont let me do that.Does anybody know where (website or whatever?) I can
> find a picture/photo of what that baffle looks like? If I can find a
> piece of non sparking rod, bronze, or something, I think I would poke a
> hole through that baffle big enough for a piece of tubing.
>
> When I bought that van in 1989, it had two fuel tanks.One of the tanks
> was caved in right in the middle on the bottom of that tank as though
> somebady had ran over something and mashed that tank in.I removed that
> tank about two years after I bought the van, the tank is still sitting
> in my back yard.I think I will remove the sending unit and clean it up
> with mineral spirits or gas and a little old paint brush.Is there a way
> I can use one of my multimeters and test that sending unit to see if it
> is in good condition.That old van isn't worth much money, I will never
> sell it except maybe someday to an auto junk yard, so the van (tank and
> all) will never be somebody elses problems.
> cuhulin
>
They are probably different units. Usually dual tanks are not the same.
One will be deeper than the other.
Before you tear it all apart I would try a few things.
Find the wiring that goes to the gauge. Hook a multimeter across the two
of them and see what the sensor reads. With the tester connected rock
the vehicle and see if the reading changes. If it does the gauge itself
might be bad. Also check the ground connection for the gauge. Most
vehicles used a short ground wire from the sender to the body/frame. A
bit of rust or a corroded wire and No Ground.
--
Steve W.
Near Cooperstown, New York
There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today than
on Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there will be a large
elderly population with perky boobs and huge erections and absolutely
no recollection of what to do with them.
