car savvy? fix my gas gauge!

[ViviTheMage]

Its definatly busted, i bought it this way, is there anyway i could look into getting it fixed...myself? Its a 1994 dodge shadow!

 

[Pliablemoose]

It's always been the sending unit in the tank of my cars that goes out, buy a service manual or go to the library to see how to replace yours.

 

[farmercal]

On my car that unit can be reached by taking out the bottom cusion of the back seat. Real easy.

 

[ViviTheMage]

is it possible to look this up online? i havent found a lot of information on 94 dodge shadows.

 

[scorpmatt]

go check out www.autozone.com, they have the repair manuals online.

 

[ViviTheMage]

that sites VERY helpful, but it doesnt exactly say how to adjust my fuel gauge.

 

[ViviTheMage]

could it be a fuse?? ...

 

[Vette73]

you can't adjust your fuel gauge. There is a sending unit in the gas tank. If the rest of the dash is still working chances are you need a new fuel sending unit. That and might as well put a fuel pump in since you have the gas tank down also.

 

[ViviTheMage]

thats what my dad was figuring. they rest of the gauges are fine. how expensive, and labour intensive are replacing the sending units?

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
thats what my dad was figuring. they rest of the gauges are fine. how expensive, and labour intensive are replacing the sending units?

Call your local garage or dealership and ask them for a quote to replace the sender unit in the fuel tank.

Quixfire

 

[Pliablemoose]

Most modern cars have a small access panel you can access through the floor of the trunk etc, purchase a new sending unit & replace it.

It's one of those simple things to fix.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Most modern cars have a small access panel you can access through the floor of the trunk etc, purchase a new sending unit & replace it.

It's one of those simple things to fix.

id love to! i just need a little explanation on how

 

[waggy]

heh my wife's car has the fuel gauge broke. it is stuck on half a tank.

so we just fill up every 200 miles.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: farmercal
On my car that unit can be reached by taking out the bottom cusion of the back seat. Real easy.

Do you have a Nissan? That's where the fuel pump was located on my old Nissan Stanza.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Most modern cars have a small access panel you can access through the floor of the trunk etc, purchase a new sending unit & replace it.

It's one of those simple things to fix.

If it doesn't have an access panel however, then replacing the sending unit requires dropping the gas tank. This can sometimes be a major PITA.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: waggy
heh my wife's car has the fuel gauge broke. it is stuck on half a tank.

so we just fill up every 200 miles.

exactly same thing!!

 

[Xionide]

Originally posted by: farmercal
On my car that unit can be reached by taking out the bottom cusion of the back seat. Real easy.

BMW e30?

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
thats what my dad was figuring. they rest of the gauges are fine. how expensive, and labour intensive are replacing the sending units?

If it is the sending unit (and not the gauge itself) and it requires dropping the fuel tank, labor for that job will be $$$$. If you're lucky, it's the gauge that is bad -you might consider getting a fuel gauge out of a similar car in a junkyard, and trying to clip that in place and see if it functions. If not, then it's probably the sending unit, as others have said.

My car is this way - you must drop the fuel tank to replace it. This is the "right" way to do it.

There is, however an "alternative" method, though - some people will just cut an access panel in the sheetmetal above the sending unit, and get to it that way. Much easier and faster, but this is definitely a hack job. Not to mention, you're left with a big hole in the back that must now be covered up somehow...

 

[ViviTheMage]

ohh, wow so much work..ill just guess at every 200 miles at a full tank.

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Most modern cars have a small access panel you can access through the floor of the trunk etc, purchase a new sending unit & replace it.

It's one of those simple things to fix.

id love to! i just need a little explanation on how

Your vehicle doesn't have an access panel to the fuel pump/sender assembly. But you don't need to remove the fuel tank either. On the back of the tank you show be able to see the fuel pump/sender assembly. All you need to do is have your fuel level around 1/4 and loosen the fuel tank strap bolts to drop the tank down about an inch. Then you should be able to safely remove the fuel pump/sender assembly without mush trouble.

Quixfire