97 1500 Asp Gas Gauge Fail

[Doc H]

I am sure something has been posted. Have not found it. I just need to ask.

The gas gauge reads empty. Moving the float did not work. Low fuel light works.

Before I tear into this in hopes to blindly run across the fix. I would guess someone or many have seen this and fixed it easily and simply.

I did look through the service manual. Did I understand what I found... likely did.... and what I understand is this.... I need to ask someone a whole lot smarter than my novice idea of being a wing mechanic. But I find joy in trying. Thanks Doc

[CrystalPistol]

I fixed exactly the same issue on a Subaru we used to have, just needed the wiper arm bent to apply consistent pressure to the resistor winding.

[DenverWinger]

Try grounding the fuel gauge sender terminal at the tank, if the needle then moves to "full" issue is the sender in the tank. Also can disconnect the wire to the sender at the tank and measure voltage on the sender wire to ground. Should be somewhere around 12 volts with sender disconnected. You can also put an ohmmeter on the sender terminal with the wire to gauge disconnected. Measure between sender terminal and ground. Should read somewhere between 0 ohms (full) to around 100 ohms (empty).

If the problem is in the sender, remove float assy from the tank and soak the rheostat in vinegar overnight, this will clean out all kinds of crud.

[WingAdmin]

Pull the connector off the sensor at the tank, and connect the sensor wire (yellow/white) to ground. If the fuel gauge needle moves to full, then the problem is the sensor itself. If it doesn't move, then the problem is the gauge itself, or (most likely) the wire in between the sensor and the gauge is broken somewhere.

[Doc H]

Thank you very much. This should trouble shoot and find the issue. I really appreciate the replies. Doc