radio shack variable resistor to fix gas gauge?

can i splice a variable resistor into my fuel gauge wire to make the gauge more accurate? if i can how would it be done?the part from radio shack has 3 prongs and i think i only need 2. i saw the mod where you add more resistance to the sender but i dont want to remove it just for that if i can just splice a wire and have 90% of the accuracy.thanks-dave

It's pretty easy.

Get a 0-1000 ohm 20-turn trimpot resistor. You want 20-turn, because the sweet spot is kind of small for 10-turns. When the screw is in the center position, it should be about 500 ohms from the side pin to the center pin. Once you have that, cut off the third pin and solder some wires to the pins you have left. You can put heat shrink over the result. I just wrapped everything with tape to protect the pins.

You'll want to put a crimp-on ring terminal on the ground wire. I think it's a quarter inch.

Then follow the directions here: http://www.fuelgaugecalibrator.com/bbody/Instructionsbbody.html

My result was that the gauge reads F when the tank is full, and E when it the tank is empty. My low-fuel light didn't illuminate until the tank was completely empty, and the engine was sputtering. That isn't a big deal for us, because we refill at 1/4 tank anyway.

Someone put a kit together with instructions to do just that. He sold me one for each car for about $15 each. As Nick pointed out.

The shape of the tank still keeps you guessing, Joels fix seems to be the best (unit out of the tank). http://www.impalassforum.com/vBulletin/showthread.php?p=2217043

thanks for the quick replies, at the local radio shack i found a 15 turn resistor will it work or will i have to go to another r.s.?also the instructions that was linked in the replies were not complete,does anyone have a complete walk thru?thanks! dave

The 15 turn will work just fine..

I've found out the hard way that the secret is not about having your gauge be accurate when your tank is full.

The real secret is having the gauge be accurate when it is empty.

44whoo wrote:

thanks for the quick replies, at the local radio shack i found a 15 turn resistor will it work or will i have to go to another r.s.?also the instructions that was linked in the replies were not complete,does anyone have a complete walk thru?thanks! dave

I thought that the instructions were pretty good. What is left out?

It's a matter of simply hooking up the new resistor in parallel with the old one.
The wire is purple and runs along the drivers door sill. Peel back the rug under the hood release lever and you'll find it..

guy's i'm sorry that i asked for better instructions,i first looked at the link and only saw the pic of the 1st page of instructions.now that i see the full instructions it looks real easy.i hope to do the install this weekend. thanks

no problem, just show up for Wagonfest. You are in the same state!


..... and bring BEER!

i installed the resistor yesterday,it seems to be working great.thanks for the help!