I have a '95 Ford Ranger with the 2.3 L 4 cyl.
The other day I noticed that the gas gauge read empty.
First I thought someone had siphoned my gas but when I put more in it
only took a few gallons and the gauge still reads empty.

What is the simplest diagnostic procedure I can use to determine if
the problem is the gauge, the sender or some other problem?
I do not want to drop the tank unless absolutely necessary.
All the other gauges work OK and the vehicle has no other problems.
Is there a fuse that controls the fuel gauge?

Engineman

"engineman" <engineman1 (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote

I don't know about the Ranger, but in my experience, the gauge is seldom at
fault. It can be anything from a wiring fault, fuse(if it has one), the
sending unit, or a bad ground. Use a volt ohm meter to check for voltage at
one of the meter terminals. The gauge is usually a heating element wound on
a bimetal blade. Not always though. The tank unit is usually a crude
rheostat moved by a metal rod connected to the float. The return circuit is
via a ground to the chassis. With a metal fuel tank, it usually grounds
through the tank shell via the mounting straps.


Steve R.

"Steve R." <ud233 (AT) nospam (DOT) ca> wrote

Most of the times I have seen this happen, the float itself is hung in the
down position. Certainly, the electricals can be at fault too, but I dont
remember ever seeing the gauge itself go bad.

On Sep 30, 4:30*am, "Steve R." <ud... (AT) nospam (DOT) ca> wrote:
Worthless response.

On Sep 30, 10:15*am, "hls" <h... (AT) nospam (DOT) nix> wrote:
Also a worthless response.

On Sep 29, 9:49*pm, engineman <enginem... (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote:
You'll need to get to the wiring harness that goes to the sending
unit. Find the wire that comes from the gauge and ground it. The
needle should start to go up and peg to "Full." Sometimes, depending
on what side the needle is leaning, they will peg to "empty." I
haven't found the wire colors for the gauge in my book yet. The wires
for the pump are supposed to be: + PK/BK and - Y/W, on the truck side
of the harness. Take a test light/meter and find the other +/KOEO.
(Key On Engine Off). That will be the gauge wire.

"twisted" <thenitedude (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote

On Sep 30, 10:15 am, "hls" <h... (AT) nospam (DOT) nix> wrote:
Also a worthless response.

Thank you so much, twisted. From you I take that as a compliment;>)

On Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:15:15 -0500, "hls" <hls (AT) nospam (DOT) nix> wrote:


Abpout 80% of the time it's a bad groiund or wiring connection. If it
starts working at somewhere around 1/2 to 1/4 full, it is a worn out
sender rheostat.

<clare (AT) snyder (DOT) on.ca> wrote

It is very seldom that I have seen trouble with these systems. I dont
doubt your figures on wiring and grounds...They are the main cause
of a lot of auto systems problems.

I used to see the floats hang up every once in a while. They could
hang high when you had refueled, and then indicate a full tank until
you hit a bump or something. Same way with low fuel.

They arent too hard to troubleshoot, if the OP has a circuit diagram
and a VOM, in most cases.

On Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:40:21 -0500, "hls" <hls (AT) nospam (DOT) nix> wrote:

stick down - and then only for a short time.