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Car Forum / Dodge / Dodge Trucks / January 2006Odd fuel gauge question(s).
Hi - Two days ago, the fuel gauge in my '97 Dodge Ram stopped working - read empty, fuel light on, even though I knew I had plenty. So... I did newsgroup searching (this is a great group, BTW) and figured I was in for a sender replacement. Today on the way to work, I, um, -happened- to drive across a traffic island to avoid a slowdown. When I landed, boing, the gauge started working again. What are the odds of this being a somewhat permanent fix? If it happens again, should I just drive willy-nilly over concrete barriers and save some money? Thanks, -Scott (OK, the last one was facetious : -) The contacts are dirty or worn out on the fuel level float. They are open contacts and sometimes they get crudded over but most of the time they just wear out. You cannot just change the float it is integerated into the fuel pump. A new fuel pump is around $180.00 dollars. Coasty > Hi - > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > -Scott > (OK, the last one was facetious : -) Actually, yes you can change just the float...about $40.00 for the part.  Signature------------------------------------------ Laszlo Almasi Cool Toys (formerly Carolina Watercraft Works) Ice Angels > The contacts are dirty or worn out on the fuel level float. They are open > contacts and sometimes they get crudded over but most of the time they [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >> -Scott >> (OK, the last one was facetious : -) > Actually, yes you can change just the float...about $40.00 for the part. But the actual contacts are likely part of the pump assembly. SignatureMax "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed Howdershelt (Author) > Actually, yes you can change just the float...about $40.00 for the part. > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >>> -Scott >>> (OK, the last one was facetious : -) >> Actually, yes you can change just the float...about $40.00 for the >> part. > > But the actual contacts are likely part of the pump assembly. I don't think they are. I'd rather repair the part than replace it. Check out these repair procedures: http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/sender.htm http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/Huey_C-sender.htm SignatureKen On mine, the actual contacts were damaged and beyond repair. Think about it...the brand part is $40...why go through all the trouble to remove the tank and assembly, take time to try and machine something, and more downtime than necessary when you can be done in less than maybe an hour. But that all depends on your skill level. Signature------------------------------------------ Laszlo Almasi Cool Toys (formerly Carolina Watercraft Works) Ice Angels >>> Actually, yes you can change just the float...about $40.00 for the >>> part. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/sender.htm > http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/Huey_C-sender.htm Either way, on the 97 either the tank is coming down or the bed coming off to get to that sensor. SignatureIf at first you don't succeed, you're not cut out for skydiving > On mine, the actual contacts were damaged and beyond repair. > Think about it...the brand part is $40...why go through all the trouble [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/sender.htm > > http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/Huey_C-sender.htm That is correct. Signature------------------------------------------ Laszlo Almasi Cool Toys (formerly Carolina Watercraft Works) Ice Angels > Either way, on the 97 either the tank is coming down or the bed coming off > to get to that sensor. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >> > http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/sender.htm >> > http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/Huey_C-sender.htm Naw, just apply 120 VAC to the leads so that they arc the contacts back into shape. Caution: the tank may remove itself. beekeep >Either way, on the 97 either the tank is coming down or the bed coming off >to get to that sensor. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >> > http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/sender.htm >> > http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/Huey_C-sender.htm "may remove itself"???? Signature-Chris 05 CTD 99 Durango > Naw, just apply 120 VAC to the leads so that they arc the contacts back into > shape. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > >> > http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/sender.htm > >> > http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/Huey_C-sender.htm Yes, violently. Wear ear-plugs. SignatureKen > "may remove itself"???? > >> Naw, just apply 120 VAC to the leads so that they arc the contacts >> back into shape. >> >> Caution: the tank may remove itself. ah, as long as hearing protection is all you need *grin* Signature-Chris 05 CTD 99 Durango > Yes, violently. Wear ear-plugs. > > "may remove itself"???? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >> > >> Caution: the tank may remove itself. Since the truck is a DC voltage truck, Would not the 120VAC do more damage to the contacts?? You really should use 120 VDC instead!! :-) > Naw, just apply 120 VAC to the leads so that they arc the contacts back > into [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >>> > http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/sender.htm >>> > http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/Huey_C-sender.htm The external contacts are part of the pump housing and if that is where his problem is then the entire pump would need to be replaced or the housing modified. If you look at both links that you provided, you will see that the sending units in both links have internal connector tabs, not wires which indicates clearly that they are intended to be plugged into the internal pump housing existing wiring. SignatureIf at first you don't succeed, you're not cut out for skydiving > >> Actually, yes you can change just the float...about $40.00 for the > >> part. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/sender.htm > http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/Huey_C-sender.htm An interesting fix, and a welcome design. SignatureMax "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed Howdershelt (Author) >>> Actually, yes you can change just the float...about $40.00 for the >>> part. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/sender.htm > http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/fuel_sender/Huey_C-sender.htm Nope, just 2 leads and you're done. Signature------------------------------------------ Laszlo Almasi Cool Toys (formerly Carolina Watercraft Works) Ice Angels >> Actually, yes you can change just the float...about $40.00 for the part. > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] >>>> -Scott >>>> (OK, the last one was facetious : -) Actually, in this case, Max is right. While the fuel sending unit can be replaced, in a 97 it still requires removal of the pump since the mounting screws for the sender are attached to the side of it and the connector is part of the pump housing so if it went bad..... How do I know this, because I just did it on mine (replaced the pump). SignatureIf at first you don't succeed, you're not cut out for skydiving > Nope, just 2 leads and you're done. > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > >>>> -Scott > >>>> (OK, the last one was facetious : -) HHmm....I must apologize then....I was assuming the '97 was the same as the '01. My bad. Signature------------------------------------------ Laszlo Almasi Cool Toys (formerly Carolina Watercraft Works) Ice Angels > Actually, in this case, Max is right. While the fuel sending unit can be > replaced, in a 97 it still requires removal of the pump since the mounting [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] >> >>>> -Scott >> >>>> (OK, the last one was facetious : -) > Hi - > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > -Scott > (OK, the last one was facetious : -) Haven't done that on my truck, but recently did it on my T & C and I think it is the same. Sensor/float assembly is attached to the fuel pump but can be removed and replaced independent of the fuel pump. The part that fails is the slide area that looks like a reostat. Can't be fixed is what I was told, has to be replaced. Hard part is dropping the tank to get it out, not changing it. I'm told that certain gas additives might cause the premature failure, with shell gas in certain locations being suspect. Don't know if that is true or legend. In your case I would wait a while. Could just have gotten stuck. Mine started giving intermittant bad readings and what finally got me to change it was the incessant ringing of the low fuel chime. I tried to find a way to disconnect the chime, but on the T & C at least it can't be done without cutting the wires and I was warned that it might cause other problems if I did that. Frank > .... The part that fails is the > slide area that looks like a reostat. Can't be fixed is what I was [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Mine started giving intermittant bad readings > > Frank my 2c worth: I had the same problem with my old Fairlane -- I took it out in the Spring and found the gas guage not funtioning (piece in gas tank possibly had frozen down and broken off) but after a bit of driving around and the pot holes in downtown Hull, QC it started working I agree -- wait until warm weather -- take the gas tank off later, give the tank, sender, and contacts a good clean, you may as well coat and paint the tank while you are at it, then troubleshoot. In the meantime, use the odometer to tell you when the tank needs topping up and keep it over half full I am lucky -- my 86 ram has fuel pump under the hood, easily installed laying underneath and cost less than $50 CDN. If I were looking at $180 for a fuel pump, I know an electric fuel pump is only $100 CDN brand new, fits up front, is easy to install, great for trouble-shooting etc. so I might look into whether to replace the fuel pump with that if it is the culprit best of luck rach |
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