1990 Ranger Fuel Gauge Not Working

[ssevans]

I have a 1990 Ranger the fuel gauge shows empty, I replaced the sending unit, went to a junk yard and bought another entire cluster swapped them out, still does not work, I also swapped the anti slosh sensor out, and I have checked the wiring it appears to have a complete circuit in the Red/Yellow wire to the sending unit, there are no open fused I can see. I am baffled why it won't work, any one have this same issue?

 

[IMenriched]

I have a 1990 Ranger the fuel gauge shows empty, I replaced the sending unit, went to a junk yard and bought another entire cluster swapped them out, still does not work, I also swapped the anti slosh sensor out, and I have checked the wiring it appears to have a complete circuit in the Red/Yellow wire to the sending unit, there are no open fused I can see. I am baffled why it won't work, any one have this same issue?

was the float on the "newer" sending unit good?? It might have a pin hole and fill with gas, or is saturated and just sink depending on what style you have.

the other possibility is that the J/Y special isn't good either

 

[ssevans]

Sending Unit Was New

I did not get a junk yard sending unit it was a new unit complete with fuel pump. I know its not impossible but I am hoping the new unit is not defective. I only git the instrument cluster at the JY all other parts were new, I got another cluster, I am going to try that if that don't work the bulb will be coming out I am not super concerned, just like when everything works like it should. Thanks for the input.

 

[budro]

Test the sending unit

You can test the sending unit with an ohm meter. Should be 145 ohms at full and 22.5 ohms at empty. Look on the second page of the attached link. This is the wiring diagram for the gauge cluster. Should be able to find the Yellow/White and Black/Yellow wires at the back of the cluster.

http://129.130.165.151/misc/fuel%20gauge.pdf

 

[piotrsko]

and if you have the assy out of the tank, hook it up to the vehicle harness and move the float up and down, but don't take too long, you'll fry the tank pump. couple of second tops.. otherwise take the red yellow wire on the vehicle harness and temporarily ground it, if the gauge moves, the sender is faulty. BTW the sender assy needs to be grounded, as I believe you have a plastic tank