C1 Gas guage
I have about 3 gallons of gas in the tank of my 1961. The guage reads about half full, but when I turn on the lights it jumps to 3/4 full. Is it the sending unit or the guage? anyone know how to fix it? Thanks in advance
-
-
Re: C1 Gas guage
Richard
Sounds like you have two problems. One, the float on the sender is bent giving you the have full at almost empty. Two sounds like a grounding problem. Run a wire from the sender to the frame. Check the archives as there has been several articles on the grounding of the gas gauge and how to calibrate it.
Terry -
Re: C1 Gas guage
I agree...
The circuit topology for the C1 gas gauge is rather simple. Battery voltage to/though the gauge, out to the tank sending unit and on to ground. Therefore, you CAN and WILL see pointer needle fluxuations that vary with the specfic charge state of the battery. As battery voltage increases, branch current through the gauge increases and the pointer needle raises...
That was simply a way of life with cars of this era and owners were used to seeing the pointer needle vary based on generator output (one level, high, while on the road crusing and generator delivering a healthy recharge; another level while stopped idling at a traffic light and the generator putting out little/no charge).
But, a couple of things are 'flakey' here. First, with 3 gal of gas in the tank, you shouldn't be seeing a half full indication... The tank holds MORE than 6 gal!
Second, if the pointer needle data given is an 'apples to apples' comparison (say, engine at idle in both cases), you'd expect the needle to FALL when you turn the headlights on due to the extra load on the battery...Comment
Comment