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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 714 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 714 | Trying to figure out why my gas gauge does not work. All the gauges in the speedo display has been rebuilt. The wires, sending unit, and tank are new. When I turn the key could I test the brown wire to the tank with a test light? I did this and there seemed to be no power. The gauge worked before the restoration.
Thanks!
1957 Chevy 1/2-Ton TruckIn the Stovebolt GalleryMore pixThe coldest winter I ever saw was a summer I spent in San Francisco M. Twain
If at first you don't succeed...skydiving is not for you!
If you don't like my carbon foot print, stick it up your Prius!! | | | | | Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 | the wire to the tank is a ground, variable as the float moves, the power comes from the ignition sw when it's turned on, with a test light you'd go from the + pin on the gauge to ground [dash] - if you've got an ohmeter, check continuity of the brown wire from the gauge to the sender [key off] ... there's a connector under the floor that could have gotten unplugged
Bill | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
Disconnect the lead to the sender on the back of the gauge, Turn on the key. If the gauge pegs to Full, you have a good gauge and good gauge ground; otherwise, the problem is in the lead to the sender, the ground at the sender, or the sender itself.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 714 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 714 | OK, So the brown goes under truck and back in to the cab under the tank to the sender unit. There is a white wire coming from the sender down to the floor. Is that the ground for the sender?
Thank you guys!
1957 Chevy 1/2-Ton TruckIn the Stovebolt GalleryMore pixThe coldest winter I ever saw was a summer I spent in San Francisco M. Twain
If at first you don't succeed...skydiving is not for you!
If you don't like my carbon foot print, stick it up your Prius!! | | | | | Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 | if that white wire is from a mounting screw in addition to the brown one to the sender terminal, then it'd likely be a ground - not original tho
Bill | | | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 714 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 714 | Hi Bill,
I was looking at the manual for my truck and there is a white ground wire from the tank sender to the cab floor. SECT. 12 SHEET 26.
1957 Chevy 1/2-Ton TruckIn the Stovebolt GalleryMore pixThe coldest winter I ever saw was a summer I spent in San Francisco M. Twain
If at first you don't succeed...skydiving is not for you!
If you don't like my carbon foot print, stick it up your Prius!! | | | | | Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 | so ya should have a good ground - I've never seen a seperate ground wire on'em, and the straps bolted to the floor are so tight I wouldn't expect a problem without it
check the continuity of that brown wire, or as Tim said, remove it, or short it to ground and see if the gauge moves as you do so
Bill | | | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 714 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 714 | Hey Tim & Bill,
Got the gas gauge to work. It was just that white ground wire that was not working.
Now to figure out the oil pressure and temp gauges!
Thanks!
Jon
1957 Chevy 1/2-Ton TruckIn the Stovebolt GalleryMore pixThe coldest winter I ever saw was a summer I spent in San Francisco M. Twain
If at first you don't succeed...skydiving is not for you!
If you don't like my carbon foot print, stick it up your Prius!! | | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 111 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 111 | how can i get to the gauges in bezel i can pull it out but the speedo plug holds in from coming out, does it just pull out twist off clamp ..... Also waht is this wire thats on floorboard that could have come on done squeeze that u speak of?
1959 CHevy Apache
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 |
Jon,
Good job.
The other gauges are usually easier to set-up (or diagnose) compared to the fuel gauge.
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