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Help with why gas-gauge is not working?

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Old Mar 13, 2015 | 01:41 PM
  #1  
Crist Clapper's Avatar
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From: Blair County PA
Year: 1987 Wagoneer XJ Limited
Model: Wagoneer
Engine: 4.0
Default Help with why gas-gauge is not working?

Disclaimer: I'm not technical. What are the most common reasons a gas-gauge does not work?
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Old Mar 13, 2015 | 02:13 PM
  #2  
ehall's Avatar
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From: Southern Maryland
Year: 1991
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Engine: 1999 4.0L
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1) out of gas
2) wire disconnected (cut or unplugged)
3) possibly a short to ground depending on factors
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Old Mar 13, 2015 | 02:52 PM
  #3  
Crist Clapper's Avatar
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From: Blair County PA
Year: 1987 Wagoneer XJ Limited
Model: Wagoneer
Engine: 4.0
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Updating the obvious... Tank levels not a factor!

Originally Posted by ehall
1) out of gas
2) wire disconnected (cut or unplugged)
3) possibly a short to ground depending on factors
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Old Mar 13, 2015 | 04:20 PM
  #4  
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From: Southern Maryland
Year: 1991
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Engine: 1999 4.0L
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Is this for your 87 waggy?

Is it one of your NOS sending units or mystery part
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Old Mar 13, 2015 | 04:53 PM
  #5  
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From: Nor-Cal Coast
Year: 90,84
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Engine: 4.0,2.5
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Originally Posted by Crist Clapper
What are the most common reasons a gas-gauge does not work?
The most common problem with anything is the wires or their connections. Your pump/gauge assembly fits in the front, upper of your tank. Pretty easy to spot. Any work there is best started with a cleaning from the car wash wand, as the crud rains down into your eyes. Anyway, with glasses at least, find the wiring connector to the buisness with the fuel lines going to it, unplug it and spray the connectors with CRC electronic cleaner. Plug, unplug, spray, repeat a few times. It's recommended you remove Battery negative cable to be safe. I likely wouldn't bother myself, but cleaning the battery terminals is something to do now and then anyway.

Besides ruling out that connector as a problem, getting familiar with where it is may help diagnose it down the line. (see if you can make out the color codes)

Has it ever worked? Oh...waggy. I have a couple with mechanical pumps on the engine. I jumped to you being Renix.

Last edited by DFlintstone; Mar 13, 2015 at 05:25 PM.
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Old Mar 14, 2015 | 12:10 PM
  #6  
Crist Clapper's Avatar
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From: Blair County PA
Year: 1987 Wagoneer XJ Limited
Model: Wagoneer
Engine: 4.0
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I'm back at the garage working on this... New info: Gauge-needle spins freely.
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Old Mar 15, 2015 | 06:09 PM
  #7  
Crist Clapper's Avatar
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From: Blair County PA
Year: 1987 Wagoneer XJ Limited
Model: Wagoneer
Engine: 4.0
Default Moving on...

Poked around a bit today... No progress. Trip to the local mechanic for help.
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Old Mar 18, 2015 | 08:38 PM
  #8  
Crist Clapper's Avatar
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From: Blair County PA
Year: 1987 Wagoneer XJ Limited
Model: Wagoneer
Engine: 4.0
Default Fixed!

What I learned: The gauge-needle is moved by magnets driven by 1-ohm to 88-ohm(full-tank). Applied voltage... Watch the needle go ♬ up-and-down, up-and-down ♬. Cleaned terminals on sending-unit and applied dielectric-compound. All is good in Désirée land again!
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