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gauge gaz fj 1100 up and down

Started by ericsimard, October 20, 2019, 04:12:47 PM

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ericsimard

my gas gauge moves constantly with the gasoline level I got another gauge use but still the same thing if you have the real solution to solve the problem

red

Quote from: ericsimard on October 20, 2019, 04:12:47 PMmy gas gauge moves constantly with the gasoline level I got another gauge use but still the same thing if you have the real solution to solve the problem
Eric,

Try this: Clip a separate (temporary) ground wire from the battery negative terminal to the ground terminals of the instrument cluster, or to the gas gauge sender, or both.  Sounds like you have a flaky ground connection at one or both places.  Also check that the power and ground cables from the battery are shiny-clean where they make contact, and secured.  Each cable has two ends.  A bad chassis ground can cause such a problem, or you may have a bad sender in the tank.
.
Cheers,
Red

P.S. Life is too short, and health is too valuable, to ride on cheap parade-duty tires.

ericsimard

the needle indicates good fuel level but oscillates

FJmonkey

This is a symptom of our older bikes. The gauge had a damping fluid to smooth out the bouncing, that fluid is no longer present or low enough to not work. Some have put Dimethacone (or similar product) back in with some success but it is not an easy DIY project. The needle will eventually rotate/jump to the other side with out it. This can be prevented by adding a stop pin to the gauge face. But with the gauge being nearly useless, I don't see the point. The FJ was my first bike with a fuel guage, I already had the habit of using the trip meter and knowing how far I can go on a full tank.  My phone/GPS covers the fuel gauge so I don't even see it when riding.
The glass is not half full, it was engineered with a 2X safety factor.

'86 Ambulance - Bent frame, cracked case, due for an overhaul
'89 Stormy Blue - Suits my Dark Side

Moto1te

Gas Gauge is on the other side of E mark

Once the gas gauge flips to the other side of the pin (as mine has) is there any sense in trying to repair it? If so how would you go about getting the needle on the right side again? I have heard of someone using a magnet?? But I didnt have any results with trying that myself. I have seen mods form Fj owners where they put a vertical pin/wire at the top of travel (above the F mark)  to prevent the needle from going "over the top"

I know the sending unit is still good. Is it worth repairing or just looking for a new gauge?   :dash2:

Thanks, Todd
1989 - FJ1200

Pat Conlon

Yes Todd, you can repair it and at the same time you can prevent it from happening again.
Take the gauge cluster out, take the gas gauge off and very carefully (don't bend it) lift the needle over the stopper, back to it's proper position above the stopper.
Now our FJ fuel needles bounce around, it's their nature, so  to prevent the needle from doing this again, drill a very small hole at or just above the 'full' mark on the fuel gauge. In this hole you will epoxy a black pin that will prevent the needle from flipping over.

Just as you described....

Cheers.

Pat

1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

ericsimard

Quote from: Pat Conlon on October 21, 2019, 05:30:09 PM
Yes Todd, you can repair it and at the same time you can prevent it from happening again.
Take the gauge cluster out, take the gas gauge off and very carefully (don't bend it) lift the needle over the stopper, back to it's proper position above the stopper.
Now our FJ fuel needles bounce around, it's their nature, so  to prevent the needle from doing this again, drill a very small hole at or just above the 'full' mark on the fuel gauge. In this hole you will epoxy a black pin that will prevent the needle from flipping over.

Just as you described....

Cheers.

Pat
gauge fuel closter or gaz gauge tank failled ,,,,,,,



Pat Conlon

I suspect the gas gauge is at fault. The gauge has dampening fluid between the coil windings and armature that the needle is attached to. When this dampening fluid dries out, the needle fluctuates.
It can also be a bad ground connection to the gauge.
There is also a mod (in the electrical files) where you can put a capacitor in line with the signal wire from the tank sender float and this supposedly dampens the electrical signal to the gauge, which is supposed to calm the needle down. I don't know if this works.

To rule out a bad fuel tank sender float assembly, remove it from the tank and place on your work bench and ohm test it as you raise and lower the float rod to assure it sends an accurate signal to the gauge.
The GYSM has the details on this test.

Cheers
1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3