Fuel Gauge

[cory1014]

When I bought my Bronco It had been sitting for about a year. The seller said that the "float" in the gas tank had dropped and didn't read the right fuel amount. When I fill it up and turn it off the gas gauge will show about a quarter of a tank then after turning it on, right before starting up, it will drop back to E and stay there until it's parked and sit's for about 15 minutes again. If anyone has any information on what is happening and how it can be fixed would be great. thanks

-cory1014

1993 Bronco XLT 5.0L V8

 

[gatorbronco]

When your truck is off, the sending unit (electronic device which sends a signal to your fuel gauge) is not sending a signal to your fuel gauge, which is why the gauge may look like it's showing a quarter of a tank. The float inside the tank is exactly what it sounds like...When your tank is full, the float is at the top of the tank, and sends a voltage to your fuel gauge which corresponds to how much fuel is left in the tank. If your float "dropped" or is no longer working, the sending unit thinks your tank is empty.

The access for this is on top of the fuel tank. You're also going to have to drop the fuel tank to get it out. Search the archives for a write up of how to do this on your own...Good Luck!

 

[Broncobill78]

Cory,

You've got a bad sending unit. You have two choices, either drain & drop the tank to replace it. Might as well replace the in-tank fuelpump while you've got it down since it's a bitch to do a second time if you need it.

OR

You can measure & cut a hole in the rear floorboard above the sending unit and remove it that way. That would be the way I'd go with it since you can replace the piece you remove with either the chunk you cut out & a small hinge (piano hinge works well) or a section of bed froma Ford pickup since the contours are the same.

Check thru the Archives or with either SeaBronc or JSM84, I'm pretty sure one of them has done this & posted photos along with the correct measurements. You can cut it with a sawzall but I'd think that would be a bit decey, my choice would be an cutoff wheel to avoid hitting the tank but I guess a recip would work at a shallow angle.

 

[cory1014]

thanks a lot guys you've been a huge help for everything!

 

[gatorbronco]

Watch out for sparks if you cut a hole in your floor...

 

[Seabronc]

Cutting a hole, http://broncozone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12329 . I did it with a sawzall because a cutoff wheel generates plenty of sparks, not a problem, IF you don't have any fuel leaks, vapors or oil to catch fire have someone standing by with a fire extinguisher, which wouldn't be a bad idea anyway. If you use a sawzall then you have to be careful you don't punch a hole in the tank or cut something you want to keep :wacko: . In either case do it carefully and with Fear and Trembling [-o< .

Good luck,

>-

 

[Tennessee Jed]

I had to replace my sending unit on my 1992 and I dropped the tank to do it. If I ever do it again I am going to use a 6" bi-metal hole saw (even if I have to rent the sucker) and drill a nice clean hole. Then buy an electrical conduit plug the ones with a "T" nut on the back then seal it up with some weather strip. Unless you have a helper don't drop the tank. I did it alone and it was a bear.

 

[Broncobill78]

Cutting a hole, http://broncozone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12329 . I did it with a sawzall because a cutoff wheel generates plenty of sparks, not a problem, IF you don't have any fuel leaks, vapors or oil to catch fire have someone standing by with a fire extinguisher, which wouldn't be a bad idea anyway. If you use a sawzall then you have to be careful you don't punch a hole in the tank or cut something you want to keep :wacko: . In either case do it carefully and with Fear and Trembling [-o< .
Good luck,

>-

Fred,

I had given this one some thought and had figured to use pneumatic cutoff with 2 hoses, 1 spraying a strong fan of water on it from underneath & a 2nd one directing a low-pressure stream right onto the wheel as it traveled. Water doesn't bother either the tool or the wheel (well, not for that period of time anyways). Sort of like a wet tile-saw. Jigsaw with a longer blade might be another way to go.