Inaccurate stock fuel gauge

GhettoPop · 01-06-2003, 06:29 PM

I have a bone stock 90 GT w/ 112k miles. I slapped on the white gauge face kits and stupidly took off the needles, I have regret it ever since. After playing around, I got them to "nearly" the correct positions. About a month or 2 after, I noticed that my fuel level gauge was going INSANE! It would go down normally to about 1/2 way, then as I drove more, it would increase! Anyone had this problem??? I don't think its related to me taking the needle off since the other gauges are all fine. Any ideas?

THATS SOME GOOD GAS MILEAGE!!! (i wish)

saltzstang · 01-06-2003, 06:43 PM

Yep! Its your sending unit...and its not cheap(dealer item). Mine went out at 140k.

GhettoPop · 01-06-2003, 10:57 PM

How much does the dealer charge for the part? How difficult is installation? Would I be better off having a mechanic install it? If you have done it, what was the basic procedure and how much time did it take? Thanks in advance.

82 GT · 01-06-2003, 11:13 PM

Same problem with my '88GT. All I know is that it's in the gas tank. My guess is that it can't be any harder than changing the fuel pump.
You could always look for people that are parting out mustangs if the price is too steep for you. The only problem is that you couldn't be positive that one was any good either.

saltzstang · 01-07-2003, 10:40 AM

ok....the part I purchased was 65$....it is in the tank....right in the center....it comes out just like the f/p........just make sure you do not strike the ring with anything but a wooden or brass rod and hammer......this is not the place to create a spark....its not a hard job if your familar with changing the f/p.

GhettoPop · 01-07-2003, 11:04 AM

The problem is that I am a beginner! I've never changed a fuel pump before, but I'm gonna look into it. Any tips or advise on changing the sending unit?

ChunkFunky · 01-07-2003, 01:45 PM

one peice of advise would be to make sure the tank is close to empty when you take it down.. cause it'll be heavy and it'll be tough to manage with it full...

it's really an easy job.. my fuel tank took out my sender.... when I dropped the tank, it turned out one of the baffles in teh tank had broke loose and it destroyed the sender.. so I had to replace the tank entirely.. but anyway...

there's two bolts on the front side of the tank that hold the straps to the car... I would jack up the car... using jack stands... then use a floor jack under the tank... loosen the bolts and let the tank down alittle... once you can get your hands between the tank and the car, unhook the fuel lines. Though you might be able to take out the sender without doing that since the fuel lines are on the passenger side the sender is kinda in the middle... you might be able to just drop the driver side of the tank and work on it... the sender is held in with a metal ring that's bayonette style.. you need to use a BRASS OR WOOD piece and hammer one of the tabs COUNTER CLOCKWISE.. it will only need a 1/4 turn or so.. and it'll pop out.. the rest is the same in reverse... it's not hard at all.. just take your time.. and if you can do it without taking the tank all the way out, you'll save yourself a hastle with the fuel lines and fuel filler neck...
-as

01-06-2003, 06:29 PM	#1
GhettoPop Gimme a Drink! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 694	Inaccurate stock fuel gauge I have a bone stock 90 GT w/ 112k miles. I slapped on the white gauge face kits and stupidly took off the needles, I have regret it ever since. After playing around, I got them to "nearly" the correct positions. About a month or 2 after, I noticed that my fuel level gauge was going INSANE! It would go down normally to about 1/2 way, then as I drove more, it would increase! Anyone had this problem??? I don't think its related to me taking the needle off since the other gauges are all fine. Any ideas? THATS SOME GOOD GAS MILEAGE!!! (i wish)

01-06-2003, 06:43 PM	#2
saltzstang Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: southeast texas Posts: 90	Yep! Its your sending unit...and its not cheap(dealer item). Mine went out at 140k. __________________ AFR 1492 heads,Track Heat Intake, d.s.s super pro bullet 331, lakewood bell, king cobra, 3550 ,UPR shifter, aluminum shaft, 4.10, 31-spline, spool,hoosier27x10, moroso ds-2, 175-juice, egt...11.40 on motor spray pass coming.

01-06-2003, 11:13 PM	#4
82 GT Import Slayer Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 2,241	Same problem with my '88GT. All I know is that it's in the gas tank. My guess is that it can't be any harder than changing the fuel pump. You could always look for people that are parting out mustangs if the price is too steep for you. The only problem is that you couldn't be positive that one was any good either. __________________ '82 GT 351W (.060)Comp Cams 274* Extreme Energy cam, ported & polished heads w/ 1.94/1.60 valves 10.3:1 flat top pistons,stealth intake, Mallory dizzy,Holley 750dp carb, BBK shorties,Flowmaster exhaust,C-4 with 3700 stall converter, B&M pro shifter,8.8 rear, 4:10's, subframes, electric fan, powermaster alternator, 4 core radiator.

01-07-2003, 01:45 PM	#7
ChunkFunky Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tustin, CA Posts: 465	one peice of advise would be to make sure the tank is close to empty when you take it down.. cause it'll be heavy and it'll be tough to manage with it full... it's really an easy job.. my fuel tank took out my sender.... when I dropped the tank, it turned out one of the baffles in teh tank had broke loose and it destroyed the sender.. so I had to replace the tank entirely.. but anyway... there's two bolts on the front side of the tank that hold the straps to the car... I would jack up the car... using jack stands... then use a floor jack under the tank... loosen the bolts and let the tank down alittle... once you can get your hands between the tank and the car, unhook the fuel lines. Though you might be able to take out the sender without doing that since the fuel lines are on the passenger side the sender is kinda in the middle... you might be able to just drop the driver side of the tank and work on it... the sender is held in with a metal ring that's bayonette style.. you need to use a BRASS OR WOOD piece and hammer one of the tabs COUNTER CLOCKWISE.. it will only need a 1/4 turn or so.. and it'll pop out.. the rest is the same in reverse... it's not hard at all.. just take your time.. and if you can do it without taking the tank all the way out, you'll save yourself a hastle with the fuel lines and fuel filler neck... -as __________________ '89 GT Convertible: TFS TW Heads, TFS Street Intake, TFS Stage 1 Cam, FMS 1.6 RRs, 24# Injectors, Pro-M 75mm MAF, No Name CAI, 3.73s, O/R H-Pipe, FlowMasters, AOD w/ Trans-Go Shift Kit

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01-06-2003, 10:57 PM	#3
GhettoPop Gimme a Drink! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 694	How much does the dealer charge for the part? How difficult is installation? Would I be better off having a mechanic install it? If you have done it, what was the basic procedure and how much time did it take? Thanks in advance.

01-07-2003, 11:04 AM	#6
GhettoPop Gimme a Drink! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 694	The problem is that I am a beginner! I've never changed a fuel pump before, but I'm gonna look into it. Any tips or advise on changing the sending unit?