pegged out fuel gauge/Dual fuel tanks

Asked by 302junkie Apr 21, 2013 at 09:34 PM about the 1987 Ford F-150 XLT Lariat Extended Cab LB

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Fuel gauge is maxed out no matter which tank is selected. Front/Rear. If it were the sending unit then one of them would be accurate but its not.Just bought truck and it was almost on empty so I filled the rear tank and afterward the gauge pegged out way past full.switch to front tank and its pegged out.HELP Please.

1 Answer

177,545

The wire going to the sending unit is grounded. -- The fuel gauge is a volt meter with a different face. Twelve volts come in one end and the sending unit changes the ground potential. The changing potential allows the needle to move. When the ire is grounded, the gauge sees zero volts and the needle swings full range. BTW - all electric gauges are the same. Different faces and ranges but all voltmeters.

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