Re: [BaadAssGremlins] A 72 Matador Gas Gauge Question Again

Hey Doc, Mike Lakin asked me recently about a non working fuel gauge. And right before him was another fellow this time with a 1970 Javelin, this was my reply, and has a few tips, some you already know and might have tried, others worth trying perhaps:

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No but before you piss away $350+ for whole unit like this which is one year only, you need to do this:
Easy to hardest, one should hit. First loosen up fusebox 5/16th screws then retighten them. Then change the smallest fuse out, might even put some lithium grease or other grease on it that carries current, as many times these are dry and don't hold current, so change it out and lube it up like old lady. Crawl under back of car and remove ground wire off frame from fuelk sending unit, scrape it (the eyelet) with razor blade so it is shiny metal, might even want to scrape the area on frame so metal also, then reattach firmly. Check the wire to make sure solid to sender. Then pull off yellow plug and make sure good, can test it also, but many times the boot, the copper wire inside it is no good, so check thins, crimp the boot with pliers and reattach to sender. Look in trunk for yellow gas wiere as it runs thru trunk, but make sure no breaks in sheath, as many times in last 40 years something slid across trunk and might have crimped or broken this wire and now it is touching metal, grounding it, especially near grommet in trunk pan. Pull out gauge cluster and loosen up the fuel gauge from circuit board, then retighten and check. Lastly make sure you have good central ground from block to engine crossmember on passenger side. There was originally a thick copper wire from block behind alt to crossmember, and if engine ever been out of car, this is gone, even if wire still there you might want to pull it as the copper in it is probably shit green and not carrying ground. You can get universal ones at any auto parts store for under $5. Hopefully one of these works for you and won't have to piss away $350-$700 for a one year only silver faced 140/8k tack setup.
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Eddie Stakes
713.464.8825
eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.planethoustonamx.com

----- Original Message -----

From: Mr AMC

To: amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx ; BaadAssGremlins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 4:43 AM

Subject: [BaadAssGremlins] A 72 Matador Gas Gauge Question Again

I know I asked this question almost a year ago but I need my mermory refreshed. The one thing that makes me nuts is a non functioning gas gauge. The previous owner said it worked. It was his wifes car and she is not what you would call a rocket scientist by any means. I doubt that she ever put more than 20$ worth of gas in it at a time. I filled it up and the gas gauge went from 1/4 to 1/2 and then 2 weeks later it read empty. I drive it locally but not far and run it from time to time to keep the battery full. When I got the car back from the new simulated vinyl top repair the shop owner said the gage read empty. I said I know. I figred itn was time to put some gas in it. I was warming the engine up to take it to get some gas when it died. Out of gas. I put 2 gallons in it and it started right up. I put 20$ in gas in it and now the gauge reads almost 1/4 which should be about right for the amount of gas I put in it. I am getting the car back from some minor repairs today. I had the ground and sender wires cleaned and the sender wire grounded. It pegged the gauge. Someone said somthing about maybe a problem with the float being bad and when the tank is filled over half it sinks? Are these floats replacable? if so where can I get one. I would prefer to get a new sender like I did with both my Hornets though due to the price of labor only to find out a float replacement did not work and I flushed the money down the drain.
"Doc"

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