[desertrat7566]

i have a 1975 Plymouth Trailduster and the fuel gauge reads wrong. when the gauge reads a litle less than half a tank it runs out of gas it's really empty. how do i fix this problom
thanks``scott

 

[BrianT]

U need ot get a new fuel sender for the gas tank . I would guess the float has probably rotted away some over the years and is sitting t half full no matter howm uch gas u got inthe tank .

 

[desertrat7566]

wondering if you can replace just the float?

 

[TheRamChargerMan]

yes you can...but not from dodge. Take the old float to a ford dealer, and they will give you the correct one...it's like 6 bucks...or you can send me a check for 8 bucks and I'll send you my old one. I replaced my float, and then about 2 months later, I had to replace the whole thing.

I said go to ford cuz dodge don't carry them anymore...and a dodge parts guy told me where to get them.

I think your problem is the sender, not the float.......if it was the float, it'd read empty all the time, or 1/2 tank when it is full.

If you do get a new sending unit, make sure you get the correct one...they are different for the 24 & 35 gal tanks. If your tank is steel, you have the 24 gal...if it is plastic with a steel skid plate, it is the 35 gal one.

One of my trucks even had a 24 gal sending unit in a 35 gal tank...came that way from dodge. I never knew it till the gas gage stopped working, and I drove a bit too far one day using the mileage. I put 34 gals in a supposedly 24 gal tank....hmmm. But the sender always read correct before it died. I'd put 22 gals in, and it'd read full.

 

[desertrat7566]

sounds like i should just replace the wole sending unit and go from there.
is there a way to find out if the sending unit is bad?

 

[TheRamChargerMan]

not without dropping the tank

 

[Adam D]

how exactly do you tell if it is bad? My '79 PW reads about 1/2 tank when it is full so does that mean it is probably the whole sending unit? can this problem be corrected, new units are kinda pricy.

 

[Chump]

Pull the sending unit and have it rebuilt by a shop that specializes in instrument repair. there are some listed in the "Links" section here on the site.

 

[jpryorx2]

one of the lines rusted off mine so i ordered the new one from dodge and guess what the new one was way off took it back and reordered it same thing ended up soldering in a new chunk of pipe and have a section of rubber hose in the tank now but it's working
jason

 

[Chump]

one of the lines rusted off mine so i ordered the new one from dodge and guess what the new one was way off took it back and reordered it same thing ended up soldering in a new chunk of pipe and have a section of rubber hose in the tank now but it's working
jason

Some of the new ones seem to be out of calibration or the float arm needs to be adjusted. Thats why I say it's best to send the old one to a pro to have it rebuilt.

 

[IntenseImages]

If your tank is steel, you have the 24 gal

then explain the 35 gallon steel tank i have?

eric

 

[EZRider]

Mine used ta read wrong. I just dropped the tank, pulled the sending unit out, adjusted the pickup tube and float, put it all back together, and it works fine! I purposely set it a little off so the wife would quit running outa gas tho. I think I just adjusted it about an inch off of the bottom. When I fill it up, it shows almost to the full line, just a little shy of it. Close enough for me. But it sounds like you're having the same problem I had. Don't think it's the sending unit because it's running til it can't pick up anymore gas!






EZ