1989 Ranger gas gauge no worky.

[bryanb]

Hello.

My ma has an 1989 Ranger; 2.3L, A4LD. She says I can have it, but I have to drive all the way back to eastern ND to get it. Im in western MT.

One thing I remember about it, is the gas gauge isn't working. if I remember correctly its stuck on E, or near E. What might I look for as to the cause of this? Im planning on doing some work before I actually make the trip, but I don't want to be ripping apart dashes, or gas tanks.

 

[graff104]

It's the float in the gas tank. It has a hole in it and has sunk to the bottom.

 

[locovaca]

Most likely is the float, but could also be the gauge. When I got my Ranger my gauge was all over the place and it turned out the be the gauge itself. With an 89, "ripping apart" the dash is 4 screws and pulling off the front panel, and you're at the cluster. Very simple. With the dash off you can probe the fuel level signal to see if that's the problem or not, so you won't have to drop the fuel tank needlessly.

 

[84stealthranger]

i got the same problem idk what to do first im thinkin it the tank float i got a parts truck if that dont work ill let u kno what i do to fix it

 

[MagnaV30]

and with my 90 it was a failed sending unit. Remember, the guages in those years read full resistance as empty.

 

[cart]

Don't pull the tank, take the bolts out of the bed and slide the bed back. The guage/fuel pump assembly is right there on top. It's a lot less work than dropping the tank. Kust be careful when your pulling replacing the assembly don't make any sparks.

 

[strvger]

well, you know how big the gas tank is so just use a very conservative mpg estimate and drive it. each time you fill up on the trip, you'll get closer and closer to the real mpg's and distance you can drive on a tank when you do the math... assuming the speedometer/odometer is working. that will let you focus on the more important things in getting it ready for the trip. good luck!

 

[supz]

absolutely agree DO NOT drop the tank, pull the bed. Then replace your bed bolts if any are rusted out for easier future removal. Learned this the hard way after dropping the tank once. Getting it down isn't bad. Getting it back up sucks! In my 90 Ranger it was a bad sending unit. I do not recommend replacing the sending unit without replacing the fuel pump though, I learned this the hard way also. It's an expensive little project. If I had to do it again I'd say just drive it and count the miles. It was NOT worth the time and money I put into fixing it

 

[cocoasranger]

For trouble shooting gauge/tank unit before removing anything try this.
http://autorepair.about.com/library/faqs/bl845g.htm

 

[bryanb]

Well. we made it back home. I just topped it off every 200 miles or so. Seemed to average around 20 MPG.

The gauge does read near empty, and then when the ignition is turned on, it goes all the way over to E.

One reply said that full resistance is E on the gauge, so that points to a bad sender, with an open circuit?

 

[strvger]

glad to hear you had a safe trip and didn't run out of gas along the way!!