my fuel sender unit in the gas tank is not working. i researched the cost of a new one. it's 150 bucks. I was wondering if there is a way to repair the old one. but i don't want to take it out of the tank until i am ready to either replace or repair it. also, it is mounted on the side of the tank and there are no screws it looks like it twists out but i am not sure exactly how it comes out. Thanks for your advice.

Are you 100% sure its the sending unit and not the gauge/cluster regulator/wiring? The sending units usually don't go bad, just get junked up and stick.

To get it out (at least this is how it is on my 71 duster) there is a metal ring with 3 tabs on it. You tap on the tabs with a hammer/screwdriver until the ring turns enough so that it comes free from the frame of the tank. Now the ring is loose and you can pull it out, then the sending unit pulls straight out (you may have to tilt it at an angle so the float clears the hole in the tank).

I believe you tap the ring in a counter clockwise direction and then clockwise to put it back on, but I am not absolutely positive. There are notches on the ring that fit into notches on the tank frame, thats how you know the ring is securely in place when you put it back in.

yeah i am sure the sending unit is bad. i grounded out the wiring coming from the unit and it pegged on full indicating that both the gauge and wiring are functioning.

When you get the unit out, you can test it externally with an ohm meter. Put one lead where the wire would be, and the other lead on the round metal base that secures the unit to the tank, then move the lever up and down by hand. It should read between 10 and 60

I agree that the sender itself rarely goes bad, just hangs up. However, is the sender itself grounded to the chassis? There should be a tab attaching the sender to the fuel line leading forward. The sender may not work if this ground is missing or defective. Check to see if someone put a rubber hose in the fuel line before it grounds to the chassis.

If the sender is bad, I have always had luck taking one out of parts cars. In one case, I had a bad sender on one, and a bad fuel pickup line on the other. I cut the good fuel pickup off the shot sender, cut the shot pickup off the good sender, and put them together with a compression fitting. Worked with no problems.

If you need to buy a new unit, I have seen them for less than $100 on the web. Can't tell you a site, but they are out there.

Lastly, use a new rubber gasket and sock! You can find the part numbers on the parts search section of this site.

The fix could be as simple as installing a new brass float to your current sending unit.
I buy the floats from a Fo&D Dealer, (I hold my breath the whole time I'm there) the float part number is in the parts list database.
DD

i got a sending unit for my dart off of ebay for around $30 including shipping, it was used but had been completely cleaned and tested, i would try ebay if i were you.....

Instead of using the sock over the end of the line in the tank I put an inline filter between the tank and line on the chassis. That way it took longer to get under the car than to change the filter. I did that with both the Valiant I had and a TransAm that I had. This worked great for me. Just change the filter every couple of years.

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Former bent 6 owner
Mark

I just dropped my tank out after finding out the fuel pump wasnt bad. I believe now it was the pickup screen in the tank. I have been looking on ebay for the screen; one they have is 5/16 another is 3/8. does anyone know the size. I also considered rigging another inline filter instead of replacing the screen, it would probly filter better anyway. What are your thoughts.

They also have the grommet for the fuel filler neck I have located on Ebay. The ones they have listed are for a 66-69 Charger or 71-74 B-body but they look exactly the same as mine, can anyone guarantee a fit?

I recently picked up a new sending unit from a Chrysler dealer for about $87. The part number is 4051004.

Until my server's new address is "propagated", you can access the parts database at http://65.219.22.103:5004/sl6-parts/

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Chuck Rivers, Webmaster

the 3/8" tubes were stock for some big block and hemi applications, you'll find most cars from /6 to 383-2v got the 5/16" gas line.

Make sure to 'blow' through the sending unit tube, these sometimes rust shut or 'crud-up' if the tank is low or the 'sock' fails....


-D.Idiot