Confession first
- I'm so confused I have submitted this thread to both sites in the hope an answer comes my way.I really use my fuel guage so recently I've noticed it sticking, it takes a few hundred yards to register new gallons of gas after the gas station and yesterday I ran for 60 miles at half the lights - all the time - no drop in lights, normally that would result in 2 lights and the red gas pump! So today started her up and red gas pump and 2 lights so off to gas station - put in 2 UK galls which I know will take it up to half the lights to check and no change!. I get it home and even with all the vibration still no change.
So I pulled the sender and checked it, - it moves freely - no snags, magnet securely in place and at the top of the float. Still, I rounded the edges a titchy bit and polished it and it glides up and down. I connect it and tip it up and down and the lights go right up smoothly up and down exactly to cue. Put it straight back into the gas tank and zip! one light (the base reading) and red gas pump light! What?!
The float is a black material and doesn't feel like styrofoam.So back out it comes and I check I didn't imagine the gas level - no it's half up the left tank - I measured and with the sender base out pushed up the float to the same level and half the lights showed (as normal). Confused... I checked the holes in the sender tube letting gas in and out - all 3 clear and when I pull the sender out of the gas tank I have to let it all drain before clearing the top of the tank or gas goes everywhere! So gas flows in and out OK and yet the float doesn't appear to rise.
Now here's the wierdest thing - I wired up the sender (complete) and dipped it into a measuring jug of water next to the tank and hey Presto! lights go up and down to cue as I drop and raise the sender in and out of the measuring jug - ?!?!?! so the float works in water perfectly, not in gas?! I couldn't believe my eyes!
Any ideas? I'm totally confused and really want a gas guage that works.
so pulled the screw, turned on the ignition (1 gas light), pulled up the sender and turned it clockwise until the wires coming out of the sender were facing 3 o'clock. Then I could see 5 holes and wiggled it to check the seating - then the second light came on!, red gas pump goes off, more lights appear, up to 5! Pure joy! 
