1989 Reatta, I have no bars showing on the fuel gage except once in awhile one bar will show for a short time then disappear and the fuel warning message is constant.
Asked by retiredmechanic74 Dec 23, 2016 at 03:46 PM about the 1989 Buick Reatta
Question type: General
One will display and sometimes two bars will show if I switch to 1/4 mode. I
applied a ground to the bcm where the wire for the gastank unit connects and
no response. I used a test light and checked continuity from the bcm to the
gastank unit and got a faint light, tank was at least 1/2 full.
3 Answers
retiredmechanic74 answered 7 years ago
Thank you for the heads up I'll recheck the grounds. I applied power to a test light removed the center connector from the BCM and tested #5 pin for the gage and got a faint light. The car has been setting for a long time and I'm wondering if you ever came across the float unit stuck on the resistor from being rusted?
retiredmechanic74 answered 7 years ago
I'm trying to save myself un-needed labor and expense. I figured it must be the unit or the BCM. I didn't want to drop the tank if I didn't have to because I no longer have a hoist to work from but also don't want to buy a $100.00 part if not needed. I'm going to drop the tank and see. I will come back on line to tell what I found so others can have that information and thank you for the time you have taken in helping me. A friend Dave.
retiredmechanic74 answered 7 years ago
I found the answer to my gas gage problem. Even though the factory test I performed on the gas tank sending unit told me it was good I took out the unit and tested it on the bench with an ohm meter. I found the wire for the resistor was broken at the ends. I removed the resistor from the unit and removed the broken piece's then carefully unwound some of the good wire and re-positioned it to make contact with the two small contact springs used in the unit. I buffed the springs with a fine wire brush as I did with the resistor board (gently) and added small copper washers between the resistor board wiring and the contact springs, re-assembled the unit and test it in the car. Works like a charm. Hope this info. will help someone else out. A friend Dave.