Broken yet accurate gas gauge I’m Stumped - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

2ndgenz28 · 01-28-2010, 07:18 PM

Broken yet accurate gas gauge I’m Stumped

Any of the experience mechanics ever seen that?

All of a sudden I cannot fill the tank in my wagon.
[1980 Buick Electra Estate Wagon]

I can only get a tad above half and its coming out the filler.

Though it reads use proper, I let it get down to 1/4 and its a squeeze to get 5gals back in. 22gal tank, all new fuel system. tank, lines, pump, carb..........

Still the original sending unit though and ill drop it to change it, if I have too [when it warms up] but it seems odd, if its broke, it shouldn't be accurate on usage between half n a 1/4 ehy?

derklug · 01-28-2010, 10:35 PM

Check the vent hose, it could be kinked, or water could have froze in it. Take a gas can with you and try running the car out of gas. If it actually runs out as if it only had a half tank, it is not the sender. If you get a full tanks worth of driving, it is the sender. Just my guess on a web diagnosis.

MLL67RSSS · 02-01-2010, 11:28 AM

So basically when it's full (gas coming out of the filler neck) it only reads a little over 1/2 tank, and when you use about 5 gal (which is near 1/4 tank) it drops 1/4 from 1/2 to 1/4 on the gauge. So the sender is trying to work. Since it is a new tank and everything the first thing I'd do is check the sender ground to make sure it is good. There should be a wire (black usually) from the sender to the chassis, if it's not getting a good ground the scale/range the gauge shows will be out of whack.

2ndgenz28 · 02-01-2010, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MLL67RSSS

So basically when it's full (gas coming out of the filler neck) it only reads a little over 1/2 tank, and when you use about 5 gal (which is near 1/4 tank) it drops 1/4 from 1/2 to 1/4 on the gauge. So the sender is trying to work. Since it is a new tank and everything the first thing I'd do is check the sender ground to make sure it is good. There should be a wire (black usually) from the sender to the chassis, if it's not getting a good ground the scale/range the gauge shows will be out of whack.

Thanks, thats a good lead right there.
With all the snow n salt it could not be grounded right.

Mister HP · 02-01-2010, 12:58 PM

I have seen this on Chevy Blazers, they have an anti-siphon valve in the event of a rollover, and it gets stuck in the closed, or semi closed position, causing fuel to spill out the filler. I have no idea if your Buick wagon uses something similar, but it may be a place to look

Ed

01-28-2010, 07:18 PM	#1
2ndgenz28 Thread Killer Drives: All Black Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: NWO Toledo Area Posts: 4,720	Broken yet accurate gas gauge I’m Stumped Broken yet accurate gas gauge I’m Stumped Any of the experience mechanics ever seen that? All of a sudden I cannot fill the tank in my wagon. [1980 Buick Electra Estate Wagon] I can only get a tad above half and its coming out the filler. Though it reads use proper, I let it get down to 1/4 and its a squeeze to get 5gals back in. 22gal tank, all new fuel system. tank, lines, pump, carb.......... Still the original sending unit though and ill drop it to change it, if I have too [when it warms up] but it seems odd, if its broke, it shouldn't be accurate on usage between half n a 1/4 ehy?

01-28-2010, 10:35 PM	#2
derklug Drives: 12 Boss 302 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Grand Rapids, Mi Posts: 1,369	Check the vent hose, it could be kinked, or water could have froze in it. Take a gas can with you and try running the car out of gas. If it actually runs out as if it only had a half tank, it is not the sender. If you get a full tanks worth of driving, it is the sender. Just my guess on a web diagnosis. __________________ The biggest mistakes in life come when you know exactly what you are doing.

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02-01-2010, 11:28 AM	#3
MLL67RSSS Account Suspended Drives: car Join Date: May 2008 Location: location Posts: 1,574	So basically when it's full (gas coming out of the filler neck) it only reads a little over 1/2 tank, and when you use about 5 gal (which is near 1/4 tank) it drops 1/4 from 1/2 to 1/4 on the gauge. So the sender is trying to work. Since it is a new tank and everything the first thing I'd do is check the sender ground to make sure it is good. There should be a wire (black usually) from the sender to the chassis, if it's not getting a good ground the scale/range the gauge shows will be out of whack.

02-01-2010, 12:58 PM	#5
Mister HP Drives: Speed Shop owner Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Decatur, IN Posts: 199	I have seen this on Chevy Blazers, they have an anti-siphon valve in the event of a rollover, and it gets stuck in the closed, or semi closed position, causing fuel to spill out the filler. I have no idea if your Buick wagon uses something similar, but it may be a place to look Ed