fuel gauge question

Well, now that I've started I can't stop posting on here.
Anyways, my fuel gauge will not come off a little past full.
The only way I can tell how I'm doing on fuel is when it dies then I have found that I can re-start it and go about 2-3 miles (haven't tried to go any farther yet) to someplace to get more gas. Anybody know what I need to replace? I've heard from other places that I need to replace the fuel tank sending unit. I'm wondering if there might be another cause for this?
I hate dropping fuel tanks.
But I'm questioning this only because I hade a 98 yukon that needed the fuel sending unit replace in it and the give-away on that was the gas gauge needle would wiggle back and forth.
The wagons gauge hasn't moved at all that i've noticed.
Thanks again everyone.


vamp

Check the grounds in the back. I believe if you have a bad ground, it pegs the fuel gauge and if you have an open "+" it pegs it to the E.(I could have that backwards)... That is the EASIEST thing to check first.

I agree to check the wires FIRST. If all checks out, the sending unit may be bad. While dropping the tan can be a pain, running these cars out of fuel will GUARANTEE that you'll replace the pump/sending unit.

Krzdimond wrote:

I agree to check the wires FIRST. If all checks out, the sending unit may be bad. While dropping the tan can be a pain, running these cars out of fuel will GUARANTEE that you'll replace the pump/sending unit.

Good point Rob... These intank pumps need the fuel to cool them, not to mention running low sucks up all the shit in the bottom and clogs the sock...

Just reset your trip odometer and fill it up every 300 miles or so, fixed!

Thanks guys, I'm assuming when you talk about checking the wires you are refering to pulling the instrument cluster check the back of it and work my way towards the actual sending unit?
and as far as using my trip odometer for a fuel gauge that's what I'm doing now and I really don't like that "fix".


vamp

Ok, so now it's time to get serious and quit putting off the repairs needed on my wagon.
Today I got started by pulling my OBD codes and only got a 32. That was fixed by replacing the hose that goes from exhaust to EGR butterfly (it was missing).
After 2 days of searching all over for an in gate lock switch I finally gave up and was actually able to bring mine back to life (physical damage, not electric). dash switch now works and my hatch will actually latch now. And I even got my 3rd brake light fixed but still no cruise control. Gonna check the wiring from column before start digging into the control module. After I verify in the morning that she's not gonna gimmie another code then I'm gonna pull the instrument panel and start checking connections. On a side note since last fill-up I parked her this evening with 299 miles flat on the trip odometer I'd say it's not doing to bad on MPG. By my estimates I'd say it's about 15 MPG so far, and that's with my EGR valve stuck shut until about the 250-260 mile marker.
Going back to the pick a part tomorrow to grab a set of 93 diamante headlights I saw day before yesterday.
Also am looking into the sewer pipe intake mod.

Thanks again everyone for getting me this far. Only 999,997 more questions to go!!


vamp

The ground you are looking for is on the drivers side of the car, behind the rear wheel well cover. It is a common ground for mostly everything that is in the rear of the car. Someone has a picture of it I am sure, please post it ASAP so this poor guy doesn't tear his dash apart looking for something he isn't going to find.

This one??

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R

UberWagon wrote:

The ground you are looking for is on the drivers side of the car, behind the rear wheel well cover. It is a common ground for mostly everything that is in the rear of the car. Someone has a picture of it I am sure, please post it ASAP so this poor guy doesn't tear his dash apart looking for something he isn't going to find.

Ok uber, that was actually kind of funny. I got a little over-zealous in the previous post about pulling my dash after checking my OBD. I decided after I wrote that to wait for a response about the wire I was looking for question before I went on a disassembly spree. gonna go check that ground I saw in the pic posted on here. thanks guys. You have all been very helpful so far.


vamp