Can I clean a Fuel Gauge Sending unit?

[Swank911]

Can I clean a Fuel gage sending unit assembly? Or is it better to buy a new one?

It seems my gauge is getting stuck at 1/4 tank of fuel. At this level the car is starving for fuel around corners, cutting in and out.

At stops lights, coming to a stop, I can hear the fuel pump not getting any fuel, then the engine stalls. But will restart and idle.

Seems like I am lower on fuel than the gauge is reading. Thus the stalling, etc when the fuel is sloshing around.

Thanks

[Joeaksa]

Jon,

Unscrew the sender and there is a very small nut at the bottom. Should also be a securing tab there. Unscrew the nut and carefully pull the metal cover off of the sender.

Mine was covered with years of slime and the float did not move completely up and down on the range of the sender. Cleaned the guide rods and the sensor wire off with some steel wool and then reinstalled it.

Attach the sender to the harness but not into the tank, and slide the float up and down, watching the gauge. It should function correctly at this time. Make sure that you resecure the nut on the bottom by bending the tab over to keep the nut from coming loose.

My sender has worked for three years with no problems. Be very careful of the sensor wire as its very fine and easily breakable. These senders are around $70 a hit so well worth working with. I buy them when I see them on Ebay just to have a spare and have found several for under $20.

Joe