Ford Ranger Forum - Forums for Ford Ranger enthusiasts!

Go Back   Ford Ranger Forum - Forums for Ford Ranger enthusiasts! > >
Forgot Password? Join Us!
FRF Store Register Ranger Pictures Community Today's Posts Search

Welcome to Ford Ranger Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread

  #1  
Old 01-12-2010, 05:14 AM
More_Cowbell More_Cowbell is offline
Chrome Dont Get You Home
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,169
Default Fuel Gauge problems

well my 1990's fuel gauge dosent work i remember that my friends 91 explorer had the same problem and i was wondering if it was a common problem and what the fix would be
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-12-2010, 05:21 AM
FireRanger FireRanger is offline
Blinded by the light
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,674
Send a message via AIM to FireRanger
Default

Very common. The electrical connector at the top of the tank rots out. You need to either drop the tank or remove the bed to access and repair it.
__________________
(Formerly)
FireRanger
2003 Edge 4.0 4wd

How to: Aux light wiring, relays, & fuses
Info: 300+ intake threads here on FRF
Info: HID Projectors
How To: NO HEAT Troubleshooting Guide
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-12-2010, 03:43 PM
earnbud earnbud is offline
Exploder
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 272
Default

i have the same problem and its probably the connector , should i just get a new connector and splice it in or whole new wire , and if i took the bed off of my 94 how many bolts hold it down
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-13-2010, 11:32 AM
FireRanger FireRanger is offline
Blinded by the light
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,674
Send a message via AIM to FireRanger
Default

Well the number of bolts isn't the problem. There's probably six or eight. The problem is first you need the huge torx socket, a huge socket wrench to fit it, and a huge pipe to use a breaker bar to break the bolts loose. You'll also need a can of liquid wrench od WD40 or some kind of prenetrating oil to pretreat the bolts an hour or two before you try to remove them. Trust me, they will not go quietly. Then after you get the bolts out, you will need a team of football quarterbacks to help you lift the bed up and walk it back from the truck and put it down on the ground.

Once you do that, you have access to the top of the tank where the corroded sender connector is. On my old truck, I just soldered the wires to the sender permanently and covered it all in silicone before covering it back up. You could do that or you could buy a new sender and a new connector for the wires.
__________________
(Formerly)
FireRanger
2003 Edge 4.0 4wd

How to: Aux light wiring, relays, & fuses
Info: 300+ intake threads here on FRF
Info: HID Projectors
How To: NO HEAT Troubleshooting Guide
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-16-2010, 09:55 PM
More_Cowbell More_Cowbell is offline
Chrome Dont Get You Home
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,169
Default

well i figured out my problem after looking on google and if your float dosent float your gonna get a constant empty tank lol so i would check the float aswell just pop it off and shake it and see if yah hear a liquid sound it happend on mine so i hope thats it
__________________
1990 Ranger Extended Cab
2.9L V6 5 Speed Transmission
Planning to put a 347 and a T-5 in it eventually

Quote:
Originally Posted by FireRanger View Post
It looks like someone attacked the front of the truck with a bedazzler.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-16-2010, 10:11 PM
FireRanger FireRanger is offline
Blinded by the light
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,674
Send a message via AIM to FireRanger
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by More_Cowbell View Post
well i figured out my problem after looking on google and if your float dosent float your gonna get a constant empty tank lol so i would check the float aswell just pop it off and shake it and see if yah hear a liquid sound it happend on mine so i hope thats it
Umm, well that could also be the case. Either way, you can't get to it without removing the bed or dropping the tank. The wiring fix is actually easier and cheaper than replacing the entire sender.
__________________
(Formerly)
FireRanger
2003 Edge 4.0 4wd

How to: Aux light wiring, relays, & fuses
Info: 300+ intake threads here on FRF
Info: HID Projectors
How To: NO HEAT Troubleshooting Guide
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-16-2010, 10:40 PM
More_Cowbell More_Cowbell is offline
Chrome Dont Get You Home
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,169
Default

oh yeah thats defintly the cheaper than a whole new sensor but i was just saying i thing its just the float because my connector to it looks good and the float has liquid in it so its like 5 bucks for a new float
__________________
1990 Ranger Extended Cab
2.9L V6 5 Speed Transmission
Planning to put a 347 and a T-5 in it eventually

Quote:
Originally Posted by FireRanger View Post
It looks like someone attacked the front of the truck with a bedazzler.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-17-2010, 07:41 AM
FireRanger FireRanger is offline
Blinded by the light
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,674
Send a message via AIM to FireRanger
Default

Oh I didn't know you got the bed off or dropped the tank already. Cool. Yea when the floats go bad, they rot out and fill up with gas so that's your problem. You should be able to move the arm by hand and see your gauge move.
__________________
(Formerly)
FireRanger
2003 Edge 4.0 4wd

How to: Aux light wiring, relays, & fuses
Info: 300+ intake threads here on FRF
Info: HID Projectors
How To: NO HEAT Troubleshooting Guide
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-17-2010, 08:11 AM
More_Cowbell More_Cowbell is offline
Chrome Dont Get You Home
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,169
Default

well i checked the ohm value with a multimeter and moved the arm and the resistancew changed through the whole thing but ill try plugging in just to make sure cause when i went to take the bed off one of the nuts broke free from the frame so i had to drop the tank and thats a pain in the ass and i would hate to put it back in there and find out it dont work
__________________
1990 Ranger Extended Cab
2.9L V6 5 Speed Transmission
Planning to put a 347 and a T-5 in it eventually

Quote:
Originally Posted by FireRanger View Post
It looks like someone attacked the front of the truck with a bedazzler.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-19-2010, 02:00 PM
nismo2k6 nismo2k6 is offline
87 Ranger
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 21
Default Re: Fuel Gauge problems

Here's how I fixed my fuel gauge problem on my 87 Ranger 2.9L

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/6-cyl...87-ranger.html
__________________
1987 Ranger 2.9L Auto.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 05-16-2010, 08:35 PM
earnbud earnbud is offline
Exploder
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 272
Default Re: Fuel Gauge problems

Im back again with this problem , i ended up having to buy a new fuel pump cause my old one was getting really bad and i got the whole sending unit with it

It seems like sometimes when i fill the tank completely it works but when i dont have much in there then it doesnt work

Could just the old wiring be back , if so were can i get a whole new harness for it and like i said before , were does the other end of the plug go to
__________________
96' Explorer XLT 4X4 4.0L
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-16-2010, 09:06 PM
90fordranger 90fordranger is offline
Ford Ranger Driver
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 685
Default Re: Fuel Gauge problems

hey, mine does not work either. Mechanic checked it out, says "I need a new gas tank" so i just said heck with it. i wach my miles.
__________________
90 ranger 2.9 v6, 5 speed
regular cab long box 2wd.
feature mods-
short ram intake, dynomax exhaust, homade bull guard here soon, 2" body lift 4" suspension lift, 33 bfg all terains.
selling the truck this summer and buying a new ranger hopefully.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-16-2010, 09:29 PM
earnbud earnbud is offline
Exploder
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 272
Default Re: Fuel Gauge problems

well i can live with it but it would be nice to get it working properly
__________________
96' Explorer XLT 4X4 4.0L
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 05-24-2010, 10:03 AM
dangerous dangerous is offline
Learning to use the forums
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 4
Default Re: Fuel Gauge problems

only problem with my fuel gauge is the dam thing is always on empty lol
__________________
2006 wildtrack
2.5ltr
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-24-2010, 10:09 AM
FireRanger FireRanger is offline
Blinded by the light
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,674
Send a message via AIM to FireRanger
Default Re: Fuel Gauge problems

Quote:
Originally Posted by 90fordranger View Post
hey, mine does not work either. Mechanic checked it out, says "I need a new gas tank" so i just said heck with it. i wach my miles.
You need a new mechanic if he's telling you that.
__________________
(Formerly)
FireRanger
2003 Edge 4.0 4wd

How to: Aux light wiring, relays, & fuses
Info: 300+ intake threads here on FRF
Info: HID Projectors
How To: NO HEAT Troubleshooting Guide
Reply With Quote
Reply



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
1994 Mazda B3000/Ford Ranger fuel gauge and temperature gauge not working? Adam T Electrical Tech 6 03-30-2014 12:11 PM
Fuel gauge question byrdi General Tech 0 12-01-2009 06:43 PM
check engine and erratic fuel gauge - 01 Ranger Strummer General Ford Ranger Discussion 1 10-25-2009 03:34 PM
91 2.3l fuel pump problems heather.18 4-Cylinder Tech 2 09-19-2009 11:56 AM
fuel gauge grady Electrical Tech 3 08-09-2009 06:02 PM