Fuel Gauge

[Billy]

RE: Re: Another cooling question.

Fuel gauge stuck at empty. ( there is gas in the tank
I know this may be any easy fix. Maybe a lose wire or something. Or possibly a much bigger pain. I don't have the chance right now to check it out because it's a vehicle I'm looking to purchase. I'm wondering if anyone out there has any experience with this or tips/info.
It's a 1995 Cherokee. 4x4.

 

[Saurian]

Just a couple troubleshooting questions... Was it running when you checked gauge, some vehicles fall to E when they are shut down... Are all the other gauges working? If not, it might be one of the fuses for the instrument cluster.

 

[MudderChuck]

Just a couple troubleshooting questions... Was it running when you checked gauge, some vehicles fall to E when they are shut down... Are all the other gauges working? If not, it might be one of the fuses for the instrument cluster.

If Saurians tips don´t get it done, the higher the resitance the lower the reading on the guage (on every Jeep, I´ve tested, haven´t tested a 95, but guessing it´s the same). If a bad connector or a broken wire causes an open circuit, it shows empty.
If you can find the fuel sender wire at the tank (violet), shorting it to ground should make the needle go all the way up, will tell you if you have a circuit all the way back from the gauge (and power). If it goes all the way up, it´s probably the sender in with the fuel pump.
Have heard a lot of guys, having problems with the gauge cluster connector. May be a recall item.

 

[Billy]

All the other gauges work and it shows empty when the vehicle is on. If it is in fact the sender, is that a pricey fix? / Would I have to replace the whole fuel pump or can I acess the sender to fix it.
Thanks a lot for the quick info.

 

[MudderChuck]

RE: Rubicon Question please help

Before I´d buy another pump/sender, I´d make sure the wire isn´t open or shorted. I was double thinking my advice, and discovered I really can´t remember wether I´m bass akwords or not. Short to ground bottoms the gauge or open circuit, one way or the other. The multi pin connector to the gauge cluster, is known for a trouble spot. Have also heard of the gauge itself messing up.
I´d disconnect the violet wire at/near the fuel pump and see what the gauge does, then ground it, to something metal and look at the gauge again, should move. Could do a low voltage test even, very little current flows through this wire, but there should be some when the key is in run.
the violet wire, goes through a variable resistor in the tank, then to ground.
Never changed a 95 pump, but have heard the sender and pump are one unit, but can´t swear to it.

 

[Saurian]

Regarding a broken wire, I know that when the oil pressure sending unit got disconnected on my buddy's '95, the gauge pegged out to 80 and stayed there, I would assume the fuel gauge would do the same thing, but could be wrong... I have heard od a lot of issues with the bus to the back of the instrument cluster (stupid design if you ask me), perhaps something is just not connecting properly.

 

[XJNick]

Hi,

the gauge pegged out to 80 and stayed there, I would assume the fuel gauge would do the same thing

Sadly, that is not the case, they are all different (it makes perfect sense..... really :roll.

My Cherokee's old Instrment cluster was setup so that every gauge used a different resistance range on the signal wire to move the needle. Some gauges would peg to the right if there was 0 ohms on the signal wire, others would peg to the left.

Also, the buss connection problems you mentioned are likely only relevant to '95 or newer Jeeps where they use the CCD bus system to connect the dash, computer, and air bag systems together (using twisted pair cables)

-Nick :!: