Hi Scotty, big fan.
Well I have a question, I have a 1997 Ford mustang V6, I recently replaced a fuel sending unit and a fuel pump, I made sure the fuse was not blown and it isn't, well my gas gauge still isn't working properly it will work every once in a while but not often and just give out. Any idea what I could possibly do to find out the source of the issue?
It could be a bad unit, but also those years were known for gauge cluster issues. Ford used cheap plastic worm gears to move the needles and sometimes the teeth get eaten up over time.
I've fixed a few and taking them apart is a serious pain. I'd rule out 100% any issues with the sending unit before opening anything up.
Well fuel sending units can be bent wiring can be twisted grounds could be messed up something went wrong or if you bought one of these cheap aftermarket Chinese units it could just be a bad unit
You could try to find the source of the problem if you're somewhat electrically inclined. The float in the gas tank is attached to a potentiometer, which is like a sliding dimmer switch in a fancy dining room. When the float is low (dimmer is set to low) the current is low sobthe gauge reads low, when it's high (bright lights in the room), the current is high, and the gauge reads high. If you have a multimeter, you can test the input amperage to the gauge or drop the tank itself if you used a cheap aftermarket pump assembly and check it there. Personally, I would just live with it. If your odometer still works, pick a mileage and get gas at that interval. My 1999 Ranger has a screwy gas gauge as well and doesn't turn on the low gas light sometimes. I put gas in my truck every 275 miles or so, which leaves around a quarter tank in reserve.
