Fuel Gauge problems

[Bizzy]

Anyone know how the fuel gauge works? I mean is it getting some sort of ele signal from the sender as to what it should display? My fuel pump and sender were both replaced on my 94 back in like 98-99 (before I had the car) and I have noticed that a few times now that the fuel gauge will read way off the scale when there is only like 1/4 tank of gas. I always keep track of mileage so it's not a big issue, and it seems that if I shut off the car and restart it the problem goes away, at least for a while. It also seems to happen more when it is really really cold outside. I thought it might be water in the tank frozen onto the float, but now 2 tanks of gas with a bottle of drygas haven't fixed it. I'm wondering if the acutal gauge in the dash might have an electrical problem.

Anyone have any suggestions or seen this before?

thanks

 

[projectSHO89]

The fuel level sender in the tank is a potentiometer connected to a float on an arm.

When the tank is empty, the sender should read 22.5 ohms. When full, it should read 145 ohms. It should be somewhat linear as the level in the tank changes, but due to irregularities in the shape and position of the tank, it will never be completely linear.

The actual guage movement is a standard meter movement that will change postion depending on the amount of current passing through it. There is a solid state module (Slosh Module) within the instrument cluster that provides the interface between the sender and the actual guage. This module should send a current through the sender unit. The actual reading of the needle wil be dependent on the resistance of the sensor whish is dependent on the float level. (Note: This is a simplified description. I'm not going into the internals of meters and measurement systems and the posible variations of the solid state module).

Steve

 

[MYSHO1]

My 89 fuel gauge is gone to!

 

[svtC_and_SHO_Owner]

the gauge on my 89 is only close to right when under 1/4 tank. if i put in over 5 bucks it says its full. can i fix this? cost?