Guest baccaruda Posted July 29, 2003 Share Posted July 29, 2003 advice would be appreciated: the gas gauge on the turbowagon (86, with digidash) takes a while, after filling up the tank, to register so. It'll think it's as empty as it was before i filled it, or it will catch up incrementally. this is accompanied in the trip computer as the same problem data as the gas gauge has, or by grossly overestimating the range (400 miles? i wish!) and then adjusting its overestimation downwards until it's accurate. what should i blame for this first? sending unit? ECU? digidash itself? I replaced my digidash with this newer one a week ago but this problem existed before that so the dash wouldn't be first on my list.. thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Caboobaroo Posted July 29, 2003 Share Posted July 29, 2003 check your sending unit. I'm not very familar with the digidash but usually what happens is that the sending unit goes out, or is starting to show signs of wear. The gas gauge will A) not work if the sending unit is blown or will usually cause the fuel gauge to read inaccuratly if its not working right. From the sounds of it, it seems like the sending unit is on its way out because you also complain that the trip computer also is inaccurate. But I'm not for sure so you might also what to get a second oppinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Flowmastered87GL Posted July 29, 2003 Share Posted July 29, 2003 My 86 did this, not sure why, but I just used the trip odometer and used the guage for "a ballpark figure" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rXSNRG Posted July 29, 2003 Share Posted July 29, 2003 The digi on my '85 turbo was acting up, reading erroneously then eventually quit altogether and reads empty. I put in a sending unit that works and it did not fix it, then I slapped in a digi with a gas guage known to work and still no positive results. I'm guessing that I have either a bad ground or a broken wire some place, to lazy to track it down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest baccaruda Posted July 29, 2003 Share Posted July 29, 2003 well, neither of that solves my problem 8o but it still helps! :cool: thanks guys.. more opinions? anyone know of a good price on a new sending unit? that involves taking up the carpet in the back of the car, etc, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tomrhere Posted July 29, 2003 Share Posted July 29, 2003 Be sure to check the wiring connector for the sending unit. Have had many that were corroded internally, but still looked good on the outside, my '86 for example. I just cut out the connector and soldered the wires together, using some heat-shrink tubing to cover the splices. Not sure where the ground is for the sending unit, but would have that on the suspect list also. I have fixed many an errant gas gauge, by drilling a small hole in the outer edge of the tank lip, and attaching a new tank to frame (body) ground wire. use soldered on termial ends, and starlock washers between terminal ends and the metal of the tank and frame (body). Got to have good grounds on a fuel gauge sending unit. They work on resistance, more resistance equals more fuel in tank. Bad ground equals more resistance, but doesn't mean more fuel in tank. Just a few more things to ponder on.......Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TomInCO2002 Posted July 29, 2003 Share Posted July 29, 2003 The gas guage basically just displays the information that is given to it by the sending unit. It sounds like the float in the gas tank is sticking, causing it to react slowly. On my car the digital dash died and the trip computer now shows the range as 0.0 all the time, regardless of how much gas I have. This tells me that it computes the range based on what the guage shows, rather than what the sender is sending. I would change the float in the gas tank first, then check the wires from the sender. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cougar4 Posted July 29, 2003 Share Posted July 29, 2003 Your problem may be in the tank. I think the sending unit is in a baffled area in the tank to keep the fuel level fairly constant. So when in a turn or stopping, the level stays close to the same. If the holes to the baffle area are plugged somehow this would cause your kind of problem. It could also be the sender unit itself causing your problem. Glen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest baccaruda Posted July 29, 2003 Share Posted July 29, 2003 thanks all. i'll try grounding first as it's easiest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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