I just found out the gas gauge is not working on the yellow Maverick. Odd, as it was working when I brought it home. Where are the problem spots that I need to check for (outside of a fuse)? Could the ride on the car hauler have done anything because of the angle the car was at (I filled up the tank on the way home while it was in tow)? Art
Look under the driver's side of the rear quarter and you will see the fuel line and the plug. Is the gas guage reading all the way empty or all the way full?
I'm pretty sure it's reading empty. I'm also pretty sure that it was working when I filled it up on the way home while it was on the car hauler. Seems to me I looked after putting gas in it. Is it possible it's just a fuse? Some members said that a non-working fuel gauge is common on these cars?
What year is the car also? If its a 75-77 it might be that the gauge cluster plastic where the plug goes into the back of the printed circuit has crumbled. My gas gage and and cluster lights werent working on my 77 when I got it and that was the problem.
Unplug the sending unit and with the key on engine off ground the yellow-white wire (yellow wire white tracer stripe) Ground the wire then remove the wire from ground while watching the gauge, if the needle moves then the problem is the sending unit in the tank or the sending unit ground, black wire. I attempted to look specs up but all I could find is wiring diagram from gauge connector to tank. If the needle does not move we need to check for a break (open) in the wire from the gauge to the tank, you can use an ohm meter. If this wire is good then we need to check the instrument cluster and power going to the fuel gauge circuit. I believe (but am not certain) that you should have a voltage regulator for the gauge cluster - dont get to excited about this until you verify that the sending unit is good or bad. I do not have access to the dash wiring schematic or gauge specs. I hope this helps, Dave
Wow, thanks for the tips. This gives me some direction as to tracking down the problem. I appreciate everyone's input very much! Art
Gauge update... Last night I did some checking. I unplugged the sending unit and tried to ground it. I utilized a testing tool (the ones that have a clamp on one end of the wire and a sharp metal point on the other end with a light bulb to test circuits). What I noticed which I wasn't expecting was the fact that the bulb was going on and off while connected to the yellow wire (looked similar to a blinker circuit). Is that normal? I did not notice much movement in the fuel gauge, but it does move slightly when the key is turned on. I'm not sure if I did everything correctly, is there another way that I can check the sending unit. Also, I could not find a fuse for the fuel gauge, so I'm assuming that it's combined with the other idiot lights in the gauge cluster? Any suggestions as to where I go next? Thanks! Art
Sound like it is working correctly if the light is flashing. that just leaves the sender itself or the float.
Tonight I re-checked the gauge with a solid ground wire. The results were: --> The key on, sending unit unplugged ~ gas gauge needle in the empty position. --> The key on, sending unit unplugged, yellow wire grounded ~ gas gauge needle moved to the full position. Ok, does this mean the sending unit is bad? If so, is that a part I can get at my local auto parts store, or do I have to special order it someplace? Is this an expensive part? Thanks for the help! Art
It could be the sender itself, or the little brass float on the end of the sending unit, like Craig said before. Either way, your gonna have to pull the sender out of the tank. Shake the float a bit, if it has a leak, you'll hear gas sloshing around in it. You can get both the float and the entire sending unit assembly from Auto Krafters. Sender assy. costs $69.95. The float would be $5.95. I hope it's only your float, but either way, its not too bad. P.S. Change the filter sock while you got it apart, its well worth it. They run $9.95 from auto krafters.
Slantsickness has it down. I don't think AutoKrafters sells a fuel sender for your car yet. I would still pull it out and check the float. You can send your sender in and get it rebuilt...but it is costly.
Just got back from the local NAPA auto parts store. No luck on either a sending unit or the float (which I was going to try the float first, hoping that's the problem). Anyone know where I can locate first a replacement float and second an entire sending unit (if it comes to that)? I checked AutoKrafters and they have one for a 1970 Maverick, but I'm sure that one only has one wire going to it (mine has a black and a yellow wire). Would anyone be making these for the more popular Mustangs, and would they be they be the same? Thanks for any help you can offer! Art
Don't know if this will help, but i found this from 1999 i believe on this site from joe divito """""""Posted by Joe Divito (IP: 207.239.0.112) on November 02, 1999 at 13:00:50: It looks like post from the person who was searching for a gas tank sending unit for a '76 Maverick has been archived. I found a couple of sources who may be able to refurbish (recondition or locate a replacement) for your existing unit (or a non-functional salvage yard copy). 1. Antique Auto Parts Cellar. 781-335-1925. 2. J Pinto. 717-839-3441. They didn't specifically mention refurbish of gas tank sending units by name, but they did say they restore electric motors and all switches, relays, and solenoids. They may be able to help. There are also NOS parts locator services you can try: 1. NOS Only. 408-227-2355 (E-mail: nosonly@aol.com). Covers 1955 to current year. 2. National Parts Locator Service. 801-392-9455. Foreign and domestic from 1895 to present. When I have some more time, I'll see if I can locate some more sources. Joe """""" Also, i believe the 1976 had a 19 gallon gas tank maybe if you can find the proper ohms reading and correct wire hookup with another 19 gallon ford tank, maybe theres an interchange.... i dont have the info on that. worth a shot.
