To find out, check your owner's manual for the exact volume of your fuel tank. Then, the next time your needle shows empty, find the nearest gas station and fill 'er up. Subtract the number of gallons it takes to fill your tank from the volume stated in the owner's manual, and you'll know just how much farther you can go when the gauge hits empty.
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Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Prev NEXT. Under the Hood. Other Systems. In the sending unit, the fuel has to drop below a certain level before the float starts to drop.
Running on Empty. The fuel sending unit is constantly in motion when a vehicle regularly uses fuel, which causes constant movement of the wiper in the variable resistor. Over time, this can wear down the resistive material strip, creating an open circuit. Another issue may be a defect in the wiring from the fuel sending unit to the fuel gauge causing a shorted signal, or a bad ground wire to the grounding terminal.
Although rare, a faulty fuel gauge could be an issue as well. A fuel gauge displays that fluctuates between empty and full may be due to a mechanical failure. Once the float arm falls back into place, the fuel gauge becomes accurate again. This event can often be replicated, giving more evidence of mechanical failure. In some cases, a faulty fuel gauge could be an issue here as well. A fuel gauge not working may not make a vehicle undrivable, but not knowing the fuel level risks the vehicle running out of fuel.
While walking to the gas station to get fuel is not ideal, running out of gas is not good for the car either. A fuel pump relies on fuel passing through for lubrication and cooling. When the fuel is gone, the fuel pump will overheat and become damaged.
If a vehicle constantly runs out of fuel, constant damage to the fuel pump will cause it to fail. If a vehicle constantly runs on low fuel, potential debris from the bottom of the fuel tank can clog the fuel pump strainer, or bypass the strainer and clog other components of the fuel system such as fuel lines and fuel injectors.
A clogged fuel system can not only cause performance issues but may become a problem for the longevity of other expensive auto parts or the engine itself.
While a faulty fuel gauge may be a low priority on most DIYers, it is beneficial to always fill the tank full and be aware of the fuel level at all times - whether for the sake of the driver, or the vehicle. If your vehicle is experiencing any issues above, there are tests that can be done to confirm the issue is with the fuel sender.
We recommended trying all tests before getting into the gas tank and replacing a sending unit that could still be functional. Sometimes the fix can be as simple as changing an instrument cluster fuse. For more information on how to fix a gas gauge that is not working, check out our Resource Center article on how to test and replace a fuel gauge and sending unit. Your fuel sending unit may come separately from your new fuel pump in the box.
See below for how to install. How it works. How a fuel sending unit works. One wire goes to the center pin on the tank sending unit, one goes to ground, and the third connects to a volt source, normally the ignition switch.
Remove the fuel gauge. Install the new sender by lowering the float and float arm into the tank. Be sure to slide a new gasket into place under the flange, then align the gasket with the holes in the sender and in the tank. When the gasket is aligned, mark it in relation to the flange, as it may turn while you are centering the screw holes to match the tank holes. Mark the screw holes in the tank for easier alignment; the flange will cover them and make them difficult to locate.
Check to be sure the float arm can move freely and will not stick in a corner of the tank or against a vertical wall. You can check this ahead of time by holding the sender next to the tank before you install it to see which way the float can move freely. Once you know the proper orientation, duplicate it when you put the unit in the tank.
To minimize confusion, use a marker to show the direction of travel of the float arm once the screw holes are aligned. Put in the new screws and tighten them down. Install the new gauge, reconnect the wiring and turn on the power.
The fuel gauge should now show the correct fuel level in the tank. To make sure the readings are accurate top off the tank. Problems often involve incorrect grounding and inadequate power. If the gauge does not read at all, check the power with a multimeter at the gauge terminal. Test between the positive terminal on the fuel gauge and a good ground; the reading should be 12 volts. If that reads 12 volts, turn off the ignition.
Then use the Ohm scale on your multimeter to check continuity between the ground terminal on the gauge and ground; the reading should be at or near zero Ohms.
If not, recheck the ground circuit. When everything is working properly, your new fuel gauge will give you a proper reading. Now you can relax, even if there is no wind, as you will now know whether you have enough fuel for your iron genny to carry you home safely. Vetus Maxwell, vetus. AB Marine, ab-marine. BEP Marine; bepmarine. Faria Marine Instruments, faria-instruments. Livorsi Marine, livorsi. Mirax Fuel Products, miraxfuelproducts. VDO, vdo. Westberg Manufacturing, westach.
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