no fuel gauge

sluginxlt · 02-26-2008, 08:53 PM

not sure if this has anything to do with electrical but on my 1990 ranger the fuel gauge hasn't worked since i got it, and i know nothing about this, so does anybody have any ideas or ways for me to find out what the problem is? really hope its not part of the fuel pump, cause that would suck to have to buy a whole new pump to get my gas gauge to work

**4x4junkie** · 02-26-2008, 09:10 PM

Most likely its a sunk float.

There should be a way to check the wiring by shunting the sender wires with a certain amount of resistance to see if the gauge deflects. I don't know offhand what the resistance is though.

sluginxlt · 02-26-2008, 09:18 PM

can i buy just a float or does that mean i have to buy a whole new fuel pump?

**shadetree** · 02-27-2008, 07:27 AM

You can check the gauge by grounding the wire to the sender. It should deflect the needle all the way full, and when you un-ground it, it will fall back to empty.

A new float is only available with the pump assembly as far as I know. I haven't tried to buy one lately, but I bought one last summer, and they were not available separately. shady

**MAKG** · 02-27-2008, 08:26 AM

Last time I went there, you could buy the sender assembly separately from the fuel pump (but it wasn't that much cheaper), but you couldn't just buy a float.

02-26-2008, 08:53 PM	#1
sluginxlt Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 156 Rep Power: 6 iTrader: (0)	no fuel gauge not sure if this has anything to do with electrical but on my 1990 ranger the fuel gauge hasn't worked since i got it, and i know nothing about this, so does anybody have any ideas or ways for me to find out what the problem is? really hope its not part of the fuel pump, cause that would suck to have to buy a whole new pump to get my gas gauge to work

02-26-2008, 09:10 PM	#2
4x4junkie Mall-Rated Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: So. Calif (SFV) Year: 1990,1994 Make: Ford Model: Bronco II, Ranger Engine: 2.9L, 4.0L Used For: Crawling over things Posts: 5,448 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (0)	Most likely its a sunk float. There should be a way to check the wiring by shunting the sender wires with a certain amount of resistance to see if the gauge deflects. I don't know offhand what the resistance is though. __________________ '90 Bronco II XLT 5" lift (Skyjacker Jeep coils), D35 & 8.8" w/5.13s (locked), 1354 dual T-case, 35x12.50s '94 Ranger XLT 6" Skyjacker, ARB D44 front, Detroit 8.8" rear, Atlas 4.3, 33s

02-27-2008, 08:26 AM	#5
MAKG RBV Technical Advisor Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: California central coast Year: 1991 Make: Ford Model: Explorer Engine: 4.0L Class: 4x4 Posts: 4,644 Rep Power: 16 iTrader: (0)	Last time I went there, you could buy the sender assembly separately from the fuel pump (but it wasn't that much cheaper), but you couldn't just buy a float. __________________ 1990 VW Jetta GL, 1.8L 8V gasoline engine, manual transmission, painted in oxidized red paint and ponderosa pine sap, unknown mileage. 1991 Exploder, 4.0L, M5OD-R1 manual transmission, electronic BW1354 transfer case, 3.54 gears, 31 inch tires, icky two-tone blue paint with little clear coat, 230K miles. 1972 Chevy C-10, 250 I-6, SM465 (2WD) four-on-the-floor, 3.73 gears in a GM 12-bolt, puke green with a white cab. The "4 wheeled trash can," with x70K miles. x is probably 2.

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02-26-2008, 09:18 PM	#3
sluginxlt Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 156 Rep Power: 6 iTrader: (0)	can i buy just a float or does that mean i have to buy a whole new fuel pump?

02-27-2008, 07:27 AM	#4
shadetree Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: East Texas Year: 1994 Make: Explorer Sport Engine: 4.0 Class: 2WD Used For: Work Posts: 1,802 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (0)	You can check the gauge by grounding the wire to the sender. It should deflect the needle all the way full, and when you un-ground it, it will fall back to empty. A new float is only available with the pump assembly as far as I know. I haven't tried to buy one lately, but I bought one last summer, and they were not available separately. shady

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