New fuel sending unit and new fuel gauge.How do you match the two so it works correctly ?

Question

El camino -Tank at rear of the car.Can the resistance in the power wire throw the gauge off ?.My friend can`t figure it out.Not sure about the year of the vehical.

Answer 1

The resistance of the power wire is negligible compared to the resistance of the sending unit. You can see if the too work together by hooking them up before you install them and moving the float up and down. The important thing is to maker sure the sending unit matches the height of your tank.

Answer 2

If both parts are new, and compatible, as original equipment replacements, only a short in the wiring or bad connection will cause a faulty reading. Most aftermarket gauges and sending units in the U.S. should be compatible, and the same rules apply. Don't expect very accurate readings on ANY vehicle prior to around 1995 or later, the technology just wasn't in use on fuel gauges....By the way, total capacity isn't a facter in most gauges, and bending the float arm can't always be done, because many newer sending gauges don't HAVE the float mounted on an arm, but your friend's El Camino should be on an arm, and to a small degree, this can help.

Answer 3

the gauge reading is based on resitance from the sending unit, so yes it can. yet if the ohmed resistance is correct for the length of wire then you may need to bend the sending unit float lever to match the gauge. this could have been bent from shipping or inacurrate due to a cheep reproduction.

Answer 4

the sending unit has to match the one you took out for the gallon tank you have. lets say you have a El comino they have differnt size tanks on them lets say you have 26 gal tank you have to get fuel sending one for the 26 gal tank ,if you have 20 gal tank you have to get the one for a 20 gal tank,if you put a26 gal sending unit on a 20 gal tank the guage will be off