Diagnosis of Stuck Fuel Gauge- Is it Gauge or Sending Unit?

If your fuel gauge is stuck full or empty this video may help to see if the problem is with the gauge itself, the wiring, or the sending unit. This video will show how to do this without dropping the tank or removing the IP cluster- if you can find a connector for the gauge and sending unit. NOTE: The techniques and data shown may not be applicable to your make and model!! This car is a 1989 Honda Accord.

[@oldporkchops]

This world needs kind, compassionate, generous mechanics like you, despite the work involved.

[@VoodooDewey69]

We need more honest compassionate mechanics like you !

[@jimbuford4147]

I believe your efforts to help others has eternal rewards.

[@SchrodingersBox]

+Jim Buford Even if the are temporary rewards it's still worth it!

[@KANNADIGA_VOICE]

If i remove the plug above diesel filter... It shows correct reading... When pluged in it shows wrong guage reading in skoda octavia 2...what is the problem...

[@user-zc7gg7fp5b]

We need more people like you to help us who is on a fixed income. May you receive many good blessings 🙌.

[@joshuam.2685]

The fact that you wanted to surprise this guy with a bonus fix.. shows your brilliant colors of goodness and brotherly love. You set a fantastic example for all those who are fortunate enough to witness. I for one, am proud of that example. May you be blessed in many ways. High five!

[@terrycotton7228]

Very well done bit of trouble shooting. As a retired US Navy Diesel Engine Inspector my job was mostly the trouble shooting. Your methods both of step by step 1 thing at a time and the clear easy to understand way you presented it we're excellent. Love the resistor and will probably use one when I get to testing my stuck on 1/4 fuel guage. That you go the extra mile to help others is to me a sign of a good person with heart. As one of to those seniors I Thank you.

[@ampload]

Matt your are so darn Awesome... most Mechanics would have swapped out the sending unit .. but you are a true Pro... your not a part swapper ... Your a Parts FIXER.. you know your stuff my friend. 2 thumbs up !!

[@tommywolffordw8182]

>put,new,wireing,new,gage,,new,sendet,put,ground,wires,still,read,empty

[@joshuam.2685]

Dude.. you are a gentleman and a scholar. Very wise format. I have absolutely subscribed. I appreciate your in depth presentation of the issues that we sooner or later face. Thank you very much.

I actually learned three things. 1. How a sending unit works. 2. Some molecular biologists are vehicular psychologists. 3. You're pretty cool.

[@carolyngordin6091]

YEAH MELANIE SUCKS AND MAULKS

[@marliscastor5624]

This may not have been for my vehicle, but of course I needed to say how awesome that you are helping this man. This is a true example of human kindness. May you receive many Blessings in return.

[@Amopower]

After not having a working gauge over 7 years, likely because he was afraid to see what it would cost to repair, to now a fixed gauge, I bet this guy is a customer for life and will be sending everyone he knows your way. This sort of fix will repeatedly be appreciated because we are usually looking at our gauges every time we drive. Molecular biologist? Chemistry major here.

[@jaredhopkins5642]

exactly my thought

[@jaredhopkins5642]

i am hoping you can help me. 98 mustang 3.8L i keep going through fuel pumps. A friend told me it's cause i buy the cheap ones. the last one i installed the gas guage slowly goes to full and stays there. it sounds like from your video that perhaps i have a short. it takes 3-5 minutes to get to full but it is consistent.

[@cjames4957]

@@jaredhopkins5642 did you get the mustang repaired? I am just wondering

[@1956Caddy]

Thanks a lot for your intelligence, your method and your wish to get to the roots of everything. You're not only a good mechanic, you're also a clever and well balanced mind.

[@analytical_computer]

I've been trying to fix my sending unit/fuel gauge/something else for two months. I got some new tests to do in this excellent video, and tomorrow is saturday! Now that's a good time to be alive! "Sorry, I couldn't RESIST" LOL

[@Stu650Zuk]

Thank you for helping out someone on a fixed income and just being a good person. Hard to find in this day and age. I too am disabled now from a bad accident involving getting run over by a forklift at work..I was a truck driver..I used to do all my own maintenance and luckily had a father who went to school for auto mechanics way back in the 50's. He owned and operated a 10 bay repair garage and machine shop for 25yrs. His training to me has been invaluable over the years. Even in my current condition I still help all my retiree neighbors with their vehicle and other mechanical issues with what I am able to physically do. Makes me feel better about myself, and I don't even care if I get paid or not. Just feeling useful in society and good self esteem is better than any pay...you know what I mean.

[@SchrodingersBox]

I do know what you mean ;-)

[@rizzleriz4457]

True words my brother. Keep on keeping on...

[@TVideoupload]

Bless you

[@jeffmiller9208]

Excellent video! Even 8 years later. I was going to just replace a fuel pump / sending unit *knowing* that it would be the idiot's approach - and one that would cost around $400 just for the unit. But after watching your clear explanation and sensible diagnosis, I don't have anything to lose by copying your technique. Thanks for making this video!

[@stevendbickham]

I don't usually enjoy videos this much, good work, VERY GOOD work, you are very entertaining and much appreciated here.

[@schrodingersboxquantummeka2008]

+Monkey Bones Thanks man! You should comment more often lol

[@loboxx337]

Wow, what an honor being called "home mechanic" forget Engineering, this is a more prestigious award, feel like I am now somebody, thank you.

[@clintoncooper1532]

That first line has me rolling. Great video. I am diagnosing a 2012 BMW with a similar problem and I want to make sure I've tested the systems independently, and now I can, thanks for sharing this!!!

[@stephensmith7322]

Thank you for your video. When you removed the sending unit and opened the box containing the variable resister, I was inspired to do the same thing. I was worried about contamination, so I sprayed the resistor block and contact point with carburetor cleaner to remove any varnish. Then, I sprayed the resistor block with the spray can electronic contact cleaner. After I did this, the resistance reading were perfect. Unfortunately, this was not the cause of my fuel gauge failure. My neighbor and I discovered that the brass float had developed a hole and was filled with gas. No matter what level of gas I had, the gauge would always show empty. Now, I know why. Found a replacement float. Installed it and the fuel gauge works now. Life is good!!

[@puffyd58]

Outstanding video. Very helpful. I just had a new fuel pump and filter installed on my 2008 Tacoma, and the fuel gauge is now stuck on full. Here's hoping they honor their 3-year warranty on their repairs! Thanks for the great video.

[@sonyyoung1036]

You present the best videos for the DIYer. Keeping explanations simple and coming up with cool ways to test components.

[@SchrodingersBox]

Thank you very much!

[@TheHandsOnGang561]

Great attitude, great work, and great video. Very informative. Thank you Matt

[@kylemcweeny878]

Best video on this topic I've found been searching for 3 days love it love it love it thank you so much

[@paulmartin3402]

Thanks heaps! Will fix ours now, love your presentation style!!!

[@nikko2115]

Very thorough and precise explanations! Keep it up!

[@spelunkerd]

At first I was surprised to see very experienced technicians go right for the sending unit, rather than testing first. Then I realized how hard it is to get there. They don't want to waste time searching for wires under the hood, and of course they argue that the culprit is usually not the gauge. Watching your videos is a refreshing look at what you can do when you have more time. Those guys never try to fix, or rarely even test a sending unit near open gasoline. Having the customer pay to replacing the unit is done to avoid conflict that may damage the shop's reputation.... Great video!

[@SchrodingersBox]

Thanks Dave, and yes you are absolutely right. I know shops get a bad rap for replacing parts that can be "repaired" like in this video but, had I been paid to do this repair, I would have installed a new part to prevent a come-back. It's better business in the long run and the shop is simply trying to prevent comebacks, not rip people off by selling new parts. My problem is when shops replace parts without diagnosing them, make the wrong call, and still charge the customer under the guise of "well, that part we changed was bad but now that we replaced it we can see the real problem better..." Indeed my biggest advantage over a professional mechanic is I have time. I had the whole weekend to do the work on this one car so I can afford to be thorough. My methods would be dramatically different where I paid on hours booked. In that case I'd have immediately called the sending unit when the gauge went to zero after unplugging it, replaced the unit, done a couple manual tests to ensure it works and I'm done in under an hour.

[@EXOVCDS]

We're damned if we do and damned if we don't.

[@SchrodingersBox]

***** Very true, Thomas. And there are legitimate reasons you could get damned with a comeback even with the right diagnosis and repair. I once had an easy one- O2 sensor circuit code and find dead B1 S1 O2 sensor with a trace at dead zero. Replaced, worked fine with normal waveform. Week later, customer says MIL back on. No way, I'm thinking. I read code and now it's an 0420 cat code. Of course, there was no way the 0420 would have shown with the dead sensor, so fixing the sensor "revealed" the cat code. Of course explaining this to a customer is not so easy- to them the same check engine light came back on and they want the O2 sensor money back!!

[@spelunkerd]

Schrodingers Box Great story, worth remembering. You could make a video of 'top 10' examples like this, where the computer's perspective is distorted by how it sees the world.

[@thesqaanalyst]

Great video. Loved the explanations throughout the troubleshooting process.

[@mrtrek64]

You're a good man for doing things like this for people, and I can only imagine his reaction when his car was returned. Always a good thing to have that kind of positive karma. Hey, if you're in the 5 boro's of NY, let me know. I'm having the same issue the fuel gauge not indicating the correct level. Shame too, because I purchased a 2005 Kia Sorrento last week as a surprise for my daughter to take back with her to Texas for collage. Unfortunately, I didn't noticed the gauge issue until the gas light came on and almost ran out of gas.So now the car has to stay here with me until I get it fixed, and then another thousand dollars to have it transported to Texas afterwards.

[@legovenator5000]

a video so full of love , thank you for helping your brother. Life will pay you with happiness ,thanks for for the video and for helping all your brothers. you a good bro.

[@SchrodingersBox]

+Derpy Hooves Thanks bro. Sadly, the guy I did this for died last year from cancer. I never even knew he was ill-- no one did, not even his family!! He was a great guy, I am glad I had a chance to cross paths with him as a result of this channel!

[@raulmercadal8060]

Schrodingers Box my fuel pump works has 4 wirings but fuel gauge stuck on empty on full tank.How to test sending unit wiring.

[@AsaM00RE]

I have the same issue with the 89 Accord I just bought tonight. Going to try this fix as soon as I get the chance. Thanks for the help.

[@ursulajuta9541]

This is great! I'm a "try and fix it myself" kind of girl and my fuel gauge is giving me strange readings so I'm going to have a go at diagnosing the problem. Thanks so much for sharing the knowledge!

[@ptrim1902]

Excellent, excellent video on this topic! The easiest of troubleshooting methods explained here. Thank you!

[@richardhill2379]

That was a nice thing you did for your customer, God bless you my friend.

[@johnoktavec]

good will.thats why you're a good mechanic and people come back to ya brother.good man.

[@caduceus33]

You really had me fooled by the intro! I could hardly believe my ears that you were about to change the sending unit right off the bat! And good job on helping the fellow out, I'm sure that was quite satisfying.

[@SchrodingersBox]

Hahahaha Got ya! I really, really appreciate my regular viewers so i wanted to do something that only they would get and appreciate. Thanks for watching enough of my channel to get the beginning!!

[@natalienicosia4263]

Thank you for such an informative video! I just bought a used Infiniti i30 and notice the gas gauge hasn't moved in over a week so wanted to see what I could find online. This gives me a good starting point. Thank you. :)

[@nivlem131303]

You seems like a nice guy. Really taking care of your customers. I have the same problem with my 1999 civic. And thanks for your video

[@Kanjo_Retired]

nivlem131303 mines is same but reading empty, did you diagnose the problem?

[@realplank]

Glad I stumbled across this video! My '96 F250 has the same problems but I've had a glad time narrowing the problem but I'll try all these tests soon. Thanks a lot!

[@SchrodingersBox]

Zach Plank Yep - you are smart to do the testing first. See other comment just before yours of someone who just changed the sending unit and pump without diagnosis first- and it didn't fix the problem. Probably $180 wasted and no fix. In fact, most likely the cause is going to be a free fix- just short to ground on the gauge signal explains his problem perfectly. A little electrical tape is probably all he needed instead of a fuel pump and sending unit. Hopefully thats the case for you and you can fix it the first time for free.

[@TheRealDJHunt3r]

i want to thank you soooo much for this video, my tractor ( Zetor proxima 7441) fuel gauge was showing more than full, with and without sender plugged in. i noticed you testing with a resistor and i remembered that i have a bunch of resistors from an arduino kit. I tried your method and yup! fuel gauge moved as i connected and disconnected a 100ohm resistor! I thought it was a bad gauge but you my friend have proven me wrong! now ill take out the sender and hope that the rest of your instructions can save me from spending any money on it!

[@allenmundorff3941]

Matt, you are much like myself. If I run across something that I can do as an aside in the course of a repair, I find it very satisfying to go back to the customer and say "oh, by the way, I fixed the problem you were having with your fuel gauge" just as you got the satisfaction of doing.

[@PaulT08]

Great video. My son's older Toyota vehicle has a non-responsive gas gauge. Looking forward to diagnosing it now that I have a better understanding how it all works. Thank you so much!

[@alinice82]

Very great informative video. Helped me figure out what’s going with my fuel gauge. Thanks a lot.

[@weinerschnitzelrock1]

Good post ! Very informative ! learned just enough to get myself in trouble working on a Dodge Dart 1973 !

[@henrytripp6334]

Outstanding logic and analysis. Very helpful... Thanks,

[@MrTincap]

You're a good guy! I am the same. There are not many out there that get a kick out of just helping people in need sometimes. Good job. You just took all of the guessing out for this old guy that could end up on the side of the road empty.

[@SchrodingersBox]

Miles S. Thanks, he was definitely appreciative. Unfortunately the owner of this vehicle passed away a couple months ago. I never even knew he was dying of cancer- and in fact no one else knew, not even his family.

[@stevefromnotts2587]

very good and nice to know that you spent time helping someone who was short of money its really good of you

[@costgene]

Great video.....what a great guy you are!

[@jasonfischer874]

Great video I'm about to test my honda's sending unit now. Well demonstrated, again great informative video.

[@carrollmorris924]

Excellent video. You are a real pro. I learned a lot.

[@michaelbasha2027]

Just helped me fix my fuel sender problem. Thanks

[@samuelolujimni]

Thanks.... loved the way you broke everything down step by step.. certainly opened up my awareness...

[@SchrodingersBox]

+Samuel Olujimni Thanks man!

[@johanssonKarl]

Great and interesting video (and intro of course)! I like your trick with the resistor, trying to emulate the sending unit. If you have a resistor lying on the bench and do not know the resistance value of it, you can always use your multimeter and measure it (no need to learn the color coding schemes). Then it is convenient with autorange function of the meter.

[@aaafamily27]

If I haven't seen this video I wouldn't be able to know how to test and do check my fuel sending unit properly, I do try and fix my own cars to save money and I do appreciate your help sir. I have this 1998 lexus gs300 that it has a lump on the gas tank due to their gas tank design and my gas won't hit full even though I have a full tank of gas. I hope this will work now since both sending units works properly thanks to your guidance. I really appreciate you sir and hope you're doing well and still wrenching till today 🙏🏼🙌🏼

[@sunilnand62]

Appreciate your good mind set mate.....keep up the good work...... Be Blessed.

[@tos826U]

Matt you are awesome. Thank you for the great video.

[@gerryroberts662]

I just loved your video, it was so cool with anthusiasm.. I'd deff watch more videos.. They are so cool.. and fun to watch..

[@jasonwagner9575]

Excellent video. That for the suggestions!

[@IMARBAN]

Thanks for your awesome video well done and well explained... thanks and excellent work..

[@youroam1]

Thank you for making this video & God Bless you.

[@wdonnelly7198]

This is a great video! Thanks!

[@Ottonic6]

Just tuned in, and after you said you were going to just replace the fuel sending unit I thought to myself "no way" that's not Matt. Right about then you scooted back into the picture... I knew better... Matt, thanks! You're in a class of your own...

[@SchrodingersBox]

Ha I fooled everyone on that!!!

[@ivesbarbosa885]

Great video! It helps me a lot! Thanks!

[@MrTincap]

Nice to know you made him smile.

[@itsabuscus1619]

Helpful stuff. Thank you for sharing!

[@Darklighter43]

Good information. Subscribed.

[@charlesso1060]

Great vid! youve made the electrical things easy to understandm might have to check the fuel gage issue myself:)

[@cliftonlindsey5747]

Awesome, dude! I like your intellect, and even more your good heart. You give "Automotive Technicians" a good name. ;)

[@SchrodingersBox]

Thanks man but i’m actually a DIY- not a technician. but if i give a demographic a good name that’s fine by me!!

[@everardocamacho5063]

great video matt, I'm my way to diagnose a same problem except this reads empty, it has a new pump, and it was reading perfect, but few days later didn't read , 1996 cherokee laredo 4.0, thank you again matt, cheers from ontario california.

[@bwagenberg]

A smart guy would jump to the end of your video to see what was needed, saving lots of time.

[@SchrodingersBox]

I don’t see how that would be smart- what if their car had an open on the ground for the sending unit. The end of this video wouldn’t show that.

[@ChrisTheBroadcaster]

You're a hell of a good guy ... congrat's & thanks for this video. I've, pretty clearly, a gauge problem: ('82 Mercedes 240D)-- 1. I opened instrument panel (for bulbs/oil gauge line, etc., work)... 2. after reassembly, gauge goes up only 2/3s. 3. It DOES decrease, appropriately, down to empty; i.e., when filling tank, gauge goes up to 2/3s, as if obstructed. Mystery = how'd I screw it up by just having back opened? I can't recall, nor see, where I'd hit or otherwise damaged gauge. Thanks again. It's a privilege to enjoy your "vibe" & good wit, brains & heart. Have a hip holiday.

[@bdm408]

Did u ever fix ur gauge? I have an issue on my 98 Camry where the gauge works from full down to about half and then stops working. I already swapped sending unit and problem persists so it must be the gas gauge. I wonder if u fixed urs.

[@Eeropolvasti]

Thanks a lot, you are a good man, bless your heart ! And also, you are helping me, who is helping my familyfriend's Plymouth Voyager, 1998, with same problem, Thanks a lot !!! youtheman =)

[@charlesfrandolig5090]

You helped me find a way to diagnose my problem. Thank You.

[@SchrodingersBox]

Most welcome!

[@eduardobaez-muniz4926]

Great diagnosis demo.

[@lisab3396]

Hello Matt, I realize this is a bit of an old thread but still relevant. Love your Video's and I just came across this one. I'd like to share a bit of info with you and your viewers that may be of help in the future. I used to do a lot of electrical and electronic service and repairs. With variable resisters / brush contacts that were faulty and giving erroneous or no readings, I found that by using an electronic contact cleaner, an old used and soft green scrub pad and also 2000 grit wet and dry sandpaper will do a remarkable renewal of the contact surfaces. First make sure the rotating part is moving freely. Trim the sandpaper so it fits and slides under the brushes, wet it with cleaner and gently slide it back and forth to renew the contact surface being sure not to lift or bend the brushes. Then wet the fixed carbon surface and gently use the green pad to rub it down. Finish off by spraying off all residues with the cleaner and test for smoothness and variable resistance. Q-Tips also work good on small brush contacts. Cheers

[@markmcdermott8307]

Thanks for the ideas!Yes I have a good idea how the sender works for all cars, including my 1954 willys.I will try to imitate your tests on my sender unit and try to determine if it works or not.

[@SquealTeamSix]

Thank you. followed your video and managed to fix my Kia Venga fuel gauge problem.

[@SchrodingersBox]

Excellent! nice job!!

[@ajaharon5802]

Big Matt great skill, good video, good job, good learning. Thanks, G-d bless.

[@chaunceyjohnson6332]

i did find this helpful. thank you man

[@duncanotema]

Full of so much humor...molecular biologist indeed. Thank you for this video.

[@johnbennett9294]

Great video, great instruction! You're awesome, man. Thanks!!

[@SchrodingersBox]

Glad you liked it!

[@ruskiryan2398]

Nice video, I hope the old guy was happy with your efforts! well done.

[@SchrodingersBox]

Thanks Ruski- he was absolutely thrilled! And just as it should be, the good karma move caused him to tell his friends about me, meaning more videos will be coming soon!! It also means, of course, the fix is still working.

[@ruskiryan2398]

Nice result! keep up the good work.

[@stevenshapiro4213]

Besides being a top notch mechanic, you are also a good guy.

[@SchrodingersBox]

Thanks man!!

[@BrandonCockridge18]

Idk why but I came so hard watching this video. Great content. Thank you!

[@michaeljam2132]

Excellent and concise explanation. La pièce de resistance was delicious Mr Bond. LoL

[@2006g6gtp]

so grateful for this video!! I have a Pontiac Aztek, so it probably doesn't apply, but the frame of reference is amazing!! Thank you!!

[@SchrodingersBox]

+Robert Moore II This applies to most every car using potentiometric fuel level sensing.

[@2006g6gtp]

Great news again!! Thank you!!

[@richardacol4777]

awesome video...very helpful! just in time with my kia sportage with similar problem! For sure i,m gonna apply this tutorial. tnx n Godbless!

[@markkammer2670]

What year is your Kia Sportage? My wife's is having the same problem

[@erosvaping1102]

Wow man you helped me i fixed my car i drive VW Jetta 1991 it is running now thanks a lot ..and really smart movie with the resistant...thanks again

[@JU0800]

Wow i have been to mechanics and dont bother testing to this extent. This is great workmanship

[@jengtsai1033]

nice straight forward and no bs video

[@ekim955yt]

Thanks. Excellent video.

[@khaem9675]

full of love... agreed! great video, thank you!

[@sohaibahmedkhan7908]

Thanks for helping.mine wasn't working for like 5 years and it is working now.

[@Ezekeoe]

Thanks man... super helpful video!!! DOITS

[@janbill79]

Yes it was very help full. Yes I'm a home mechanic, mostly on cars from 1988 to 2005. If only I would of known this information when installing a new sending unit in my 77 ford f-150. there was nothing wrong with the old sending unit and the gauge worked. Now with the new tank and new sending unit. I have a non working gas gauge. so obviously the new sending unit, not doing something. It's just installed in the truck now. I wish I would of tested it before installing. Next time I'll do what you did, and know what I have before installing tank. thks

You sir, are funny. I'll go check with a multimeter. Thanks for sharing! I know now where to start.

[@davidknudson6071]

thanks for sharing. I am actually having an issue with my GL1800 fuel gauge. based on this presentation, I have a better understanding of the mechanics behind this and how to trouble shoot my issue. I think in my case, I will have to pull my fuel sending unit as well and see if its stuck etc. by disconnecting my wires, the gauge did drop to E. based on your information, that pegs it more to the sending unit than the gauge.. Thanks again...

[@charlescoolman675]

Beautiful explanation

[@gilbertjaramillo8735]

Awesome video!

[@1drivewasher]

Hey Matt, I know I'm a nobody, but thanks for doing what you did for the young gentleman and his gauge. For someone who's on a limited budget, it sure is a nice hand up ! ......awesome work dude !

[@SchrodingersBox]

Lol why would you be a nobody? You sound like a nice guy that you would notice that and take time to comment! Welcome to the channel!

[@1drivewasher]

Thanks for the welcome. I figured, there's so much poop in this world, stinky stuff, and filthy scenes, crappy scenarios. So I might as well point out some of the good things that are happening, so it wont be such a sickening place to live in. And those people who are now fed up living, gets their back scratched, and have a little hope, .....of goodness.

[@ifixeditmyself1926]

This was really helpful