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08-04-2012, 09:42 AM | #1 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Bradford County, Pa.
Posts: 24
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Gas gauge reads backwards
I'm new to the forum and after 50+ years, again have a Model A (29 Roadster).
My gas gauge reads 0 when the tank is full and then starts backwards starting from 1/4 on up as the gas level goes down. How do I fix this? Ernie Stewart |
08-04-2012, 09:46 AM | #2 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lexington, Ohio
Posts: 782
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
Quote:
P.S. Welcome back to the hobby and to the forums, glad to have you here. Last edited by Franchise_24; 08-04-2012 at 09:47 AM. Reason: Addition |
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08-04-2012, 09:58 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Northport, NY
Posts: 1,597
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
or just turn the car upside down??
Yes, to the gauge being upside down. Pull it up with a coat hanger and make sure its on FULL ALSO Purchase and replace with a NEOPRENE "cork" float since alcohol in today's gas makes the CORK floats sink. Neoprene floats are available from all the Model A Parts Vendors. DO make sure you have 1/2 tank or less and that the battery is disconnected prior to the job which is pretty easy. The book MODEL A MECHANICS HANDBOOK by Les Andrews describes each and every step to do this job. |
08-04-2012, 10:02 AM | #4 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Bradford County, Pa.
Posts: 24
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
No, they read correctly and when it reads 0 I can see the bottom of the metal under the zero indicater.
And thank you for the welcome. Ernie |
08-04-2012, 10:07 AM | #5 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Bradford County, Pa.
Posts: 24
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
When I drive, the gauge moves, so do you think it is still the float? I've never let the tank drop below the 1/4 mark, so I guess I'll have to see how far down (up?) the gauge will register.
Ernie |
08-04-2012, 12:03 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Temecula, CA
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
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08-04-2012, 12:09 PM | #7 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Bradford County, Pa.
Posts: 24
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
Ok, I ordered both books. Barnes and Noble was the cheapest, if you call $100 cheap. Oh well, if your gonna play, ya gotta pay!
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08-04-2012, 02:03 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mansfield, Ohio
Posts: 408
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
If the guage is showing empty when it is full then the cork either came off or has sunk for some reason. The wire itself will show some floating on your guage. Good Luck
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08-04-2012, 03:01 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 5,961
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
Did that gauge come from Ricks model a parts?
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08-04-2012, 03:31 PM | #10 |
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: FRESNO, CA
Posts: 12,560
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
Could the "floatibility" of a sunken, saturated, cork float be affected by the temperature of the newly added gas??? When my cork sank after being in the hospital for 3 1/2 weeks, (Me in the "hospital," Not the car!) filling with new gas to the 1/2 tank of the OLD gas caused the guage to go up to about 1/4 tank!!! Maybe it was Ole' Bill's GHOST messin' with my "MIND."
Most "weird" stuff can eventually be explained, but some keep you awake at night for MONTHS. During one of those escapades, I discovered that my dog does WHOOPEE, smelly, quiet farts in bed under the covers. When I retaliate, he never flinches!! Bill W.
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"THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF" |
08-04-2012, 04:10 PM | #11 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
Time for a new float.
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08-04-2012, 04:52 PM | #12 | |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: So Cal
Posts: 8,747
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
Quote:
If it's a bad float why is it going up as the gas level is going down. Sounds like it reads empty when the tank is full and full when the tank is empty. Bob |
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08-04-2012, 06:28 PM | #13 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 5,903
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
Oh this is going to be good. I can't wait to hear the answer.
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Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole. |
08-04-2012, 06:33 PM | #14 |
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
It should be dead on when it reads 1/2 then
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08-04-2012, 07:16 PM | #15 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Concord CA
Posts: 635
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
Have you tried to hook the wire and put it up as far as you can and see what the gauge reads? If the gauge is installed correctly it should show the full mark. If it does, take the gauge out and replace the float.
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08-04-2012, 11:14 PM | #16 |
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Location: Oregon
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
That's what I said, replace the float!
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08-05-2012, 12:45 AM | #17 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma
Posts: 2,354
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
I had the same problem, the float would go up and down when gas was added, or just for no reason. New neoprene float solved the problem. Chuck
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08-05-2012, 11:53 AM | #18 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Bradford County, Pa.
Posts: 24
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
Yep, you were right..... the float is laying on the bottom. It must have been bouncing a little as the gas was starting to slosh around and that's why the 1/4 would start to show. I ordered a new float today.
Thanks to everyone for their help! Ernie |
08-05-2012, 03:55 PM | #19 |
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Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 5,903
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Re: Gas gauge reads backwards
Heh-heh-heh. Thanks for letting us know.
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Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole. |
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