Gas Gauge

[Spectormj]

my 86s gas gauge reads correct only when my truck is off 

Is that a bad wire or a bad float?

if its the float how hard of a fix do i seem to be facing and will any new float work or no?

It sucks trying to prep for trips and not knowing if ive got enough gas 

Help me out 

[yxmj]

Best guess to check the float.......jack up the front and back ....or park on a severe incline  (front and back) and see if your gauge moves.......

[Spectormj]

on a full tank or almost empty?

[yxmj]

1/2 ??

[Spectormj]

ok ill try that but ive only got my high lift jack..

If i were to swap out for a new tank with all the parts would it maybe fix one but leave the other

[jimoshel]

Remove the sending unit from the gas tank. It can be done without dropping the tank. With the wire hooked up and the ign sw on, move the float up and down. What does the gauge do?

[johnj92131]

Like Jim said, just pull the sender from the tank and check it that way.  You should see the contact that moves over the coil/resistor.  Make sure it is making contact over the full range of float movement.

[jimoshel]

And yes. Make sure the gas level in the tank is below the hole. 1/2 tank or less.

[Spectormj]

Thank Jim 

my next question on that is will i have to lift my bed off to get to the sending unit?

[jimoshel]

NO. There is enough room to get to it. The drive shaft makes it a little crowded but there is enough room with out dropping the tank or the shaft.

[Spectormj]

rockin cause ive got the roll bar in the bed and I'm betting the bolts to pull it are stuck with a lot of rust and dirt

So pull the sender and move the float I'm guessing have the gf or someone in the cab to watch the gauge

[jpdriver1]

would suggest getting a new gasket before removing the locking ring --- 

[Spectormj]

ok ill tear into it sometime this weekend if I'm not asleep or at the CMA Fest