Need help. 1959 Ford Ranchero Gas Guage Facts: new (2nd one) tank sending unit new (2nd one) dash cluster pod rebuilt gas guage sending unit is well grounded to tank Temperature guage works good Once I installed a new sending unit and filled it up, it read "full". Once I ran it enough to reach a 1/4 tank, I refilled it. She only reads 1/2 tank and won't go higher. I checked the ground, the sending unit and the wires. WTF, over???????????????
Run it enough to see if it drops with the level. Maybe the new float is hungup and needs worn in. At least that's what I'd hope as I ran another tank thru before going to the trouble of dropping it again. Good luck.
I have the same problem with a nova. Never could figure it out so I put in new stuff just like you. Still only reads half full. Stupid gauges.
Did you get the sender for the Ranchero/wagon tank? They are different from a sedan tank and not reproduced when I was looking for one a few years ago. The wagon tank is very odd with a big depression in it for the spare tire well. A sedan sender probably would not read correctly. I can't explain why it would read full the first time though.
Have you checked the voltage regulator on the back of the dash cluster, I think it sends either 6 or 8 volts to the gauges, I don't remember which. Does the temp gage read correctly? I am ***uming it is an electric gage also. If not I bet it's the regulator. Brian
The gauge itself is a NOS and the regulator has been replaced twice. Now, the sending unit in the tank may in fact have been a replacement for a sedan. Never thought about that one. I'll check that angle out, but where dear lord do I find one for a wagon or ranchero?
did you try and do a "sweep" of the gauge itself yet? when you unhook the sending wire (at the tank) , and ground it (at the tank) can the gauge go past 1/4?
Think I would do a couple of things first--Remove hot wire from gas tank sender-Turn on ign key and have someone ground the hot wire-Your gauge should read full-Remove wire and it should read empty.--Next-Remove sending unit and connect wires and turn on key--let the float drop to bottom-should read empty-Raise it to the top-should be full-If it doesn't read that way the sender is bad. This should eliminate the bad part or if your habnging in the tank with the float
First thing to check, is the tank actually full? Pumps nowadays kick out with just a little bubbling, maybe the pump jockey is hanging the hose up too soon? Those old cars don't always have the best vents, sometimes they blow back a bit and fool the nozzle into thinking it's full.
Float is good for sure. I will do the "take the wire off & ground" test I will then do the "remove sender and check lever down and lever up" deal I have checked all the normal places (Dennis miller, Macs auto, Vintage Ford, etal) for a new sender. None have the one for the station wagon or Ranchero. Anyone have any ideas where/who may have them? Needd me input Thanks guys.
I got the same trouble on my model A hot rod and from what I could work out it is electrical. The earthing idea raised could be the solution as at one time I was doing something else behind the dash and noted that the fuel gauage wire when bumped would then show a full reading instead of the usual half reading I was getting. Turned out to be a loose wire on the gauge peg. So check that out as well.
Its the price of gas that does it ! Every time I fill up, it seems like I pay for a full tank, and only get half a tank worth of gas !!!
I always run a seprate ground wire to the gauge. That elininates any grounding problems that may occur in the future.
There used to be a guy that went by "Ranchero Wizard" that specialized in R/Wagon parts. I do know that the arm is bent differently. The tank is real deep on one side where the sender goes and about half that deep on the other end after it goes under the tire well. I never could figure out how they got the rheostat to read right. I think you are going to have to find a good working used wagon sender.
OK guys, thanks for the help. I did the pull it out deal and hold up the arm,,,she reads full,,let the arm down,,,she reads empty. Findings: I need the correct sending unit. The good news is,,,I found one at John's salvage in Seguin. He says it might even be good. If not, I can get it rebuilt. Again, thanks for the help.
Also, make sure that your tank ground to frame is bare metal. Had an aftermarket set up that did what yours is doing and ground went to frame, but frame was painted. I cleaned off paint on frame and reinstalled ground wire , gauge worked fine after that.
Yeeha,,,,,get er fixed. Found me a sending unit out of a 59 ranchero. It was bad, but I used parts from my good (wrong one) one and made it work. That baby reads gooder n hale now
The Jalopy Journal
