Gas guage woes - Sending units

["Kerry Pinkerton" <pinkertonk@xxxxxxxxx>]

The last two mopars I worked on (62 Imp, 66 300) both had non functional gas guages.  In both cases, I verified the dash guage was correct by shorting out the sending unit lead.  If the guage goes to full the problem is in the sending unit.

 

In BOTH these cases and I expect many more, the problem was a leaky float.  The 62 was completly dead all the time but the 300 would come and go.  Replacing the float is a cheap (4buck) fix and dead easy to do.  The float is available from your local For* dealer ( Ford part number COAZ-9202-B ).  Mopar may have it also but this is an exact replacement. Just get the tank to about 1/4 full or less, loosen the retaining ring with a screwdriver and a couple sharp hits, remove the hose clamps and pull out the sending unit.  The float snaps off and if it sloshes that's at least part of the problem. 

 

You can hook the sending unit wire back up and ground the unit side (I like a long jumper cable with alligator clips for this, I run it back to battery negative) If you move the sending unit arm up and down slowly while someone watches the guage, you may see spots where the guage works.  (another long jumper from the sending unit lead will allow you to do this while sitting in the seat watching the guage).  Anyway if the guage works at all it probably means the coil is corroded.  You can either work the arm up and down until it clears up (may take a while) or remove the cover and LIGHTLY sand the coil and wiper to remove corrosion.

 

If the guage never works you probably have a broken wire in the coil.  I've never tried to fix one. It should read between 10 and 70 ohms according to Dr. Dick B.

 

There is a great repair section on guages in general and gas guages in particular on the site.  http://imperialclub.com/Repair/Fuel/sending.htm

 

KerryP
Patch panels fabricated
Pinkertonk@xxxxxxxxx
dte.net/57imperial
Imperials -- 50 Limo, 57 roadster, 61's, 62, 68 Convert, 73, a 66 300 and a bunch of lesser marques

----- Original Message -----

From: jerry hesch

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 11:02 AM

Subject: Re: IML: ran out of gas

Bill,

I take comfort in the statement that you keep the gallon of gas "buried" in the trunk.  I hope it is sealed so there are no fumes and somehow stabilized deep inithe trunk such that a minor accident would not turn into a Holllywood blockbuster?  Please hear the concern I express, I am not being harsh, just posing the question.  As one of the disabled ones on the list I am an apologist for safety concerns.

Sincerely,

Jerry53-ooops almost typed 63 but that would be nice too!

----- Original Message -----

From: Imperial59crown@xxxxxxx

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 9:20 PM

Subject: Re: IML: ran out of gas

You're not the only one Matt. The gas gauge doesn't always work in my 1959 Imperial, and I use the odometer to determine when to fill it up. Usually when it gets close to 200 miles I'd better fill, or go for a walk. In spite of this method, I've still managed to run out of gas about four times already, forgetting the type of driving I was doing while on that particular tank of gas. I now keep a small gas can bungied in the trunk with about a gallon of gas in it just in case!
Bill '59 Crown