intermittent fuel level guage

[Jim NotreDame IN]

hey again.. once in the last month or so my fuel gauge flashed down to zero for about a minute and then regained its proper display. i remember i had this issue about two years ago and asked what to look for, but now i can't remember what i was told to look into. does the sender actually go bad, or is there a ground somewhere to look into? hopefully i don't have to drop the tank. thanks.

[Guest campolojr]

Yes, sending units do go bad. This is not an exact sending unit of the Reatta but to give you an idea here is a picture. There might be some wore out fins or possibly a bad ground, but unfortunately your are going to have to drop the tank. Maybe if you could trace the wires for the sending unit use a multimeter with a empty tank and have somebody fill it very slowly with the key on. If there is a dead spot (no voltage) then its the sending unit.

[Jim NotreDame IN]

i love dropping fuel tanks... i just changed the pump in my mom's ford escort and there was an access plate under the rear seat, it made the job really easy. on one of my old dodge neon's the pump is side mounted, so you don't have to drop the tank on those either, there's just a cover plate / stone guard. are the straps for the reatta tanks readily available? thanks

[Machiner 55]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">are the straps for the reatta tanks readily available? </div></div>

Yes. PN ST41:

AutoZone - $32.00.

AdvanceAuto - $25.00

[Jim]

Very good answer.

I have seen this problem with cars that sit for a while with a low level of gas in the tank. The rub area on the sending unit will dry and corode a little. I have had good luck simply filling and running the tank down a few times to clean the corrosion off the slide area.

[Guest campolojr]

Also a good answer Jim I have never thought about corrosion. Maybe take a bumpy road with s quarter of a tank and gas and stop a lot along with emptying and filling.