Gas gauge inaccurate

[Trav83]

Ok so I've come to the conclusion that my gas gauge is inaccurate (off by 1/4) because something got messed up when the previous owner installed the indiglo instrument cluster. I read through many older threads today and could not find a solution to this problem.

Originally I was just going to fill the tank full, pop the needle off and then put it back on pointing at the 'F' (full) but from what I have read it's NEVER a good idea to pull the needles off.

So how am I able to fix this?

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[lex]

I had the same probem in my 91 Eclipse GS. If it doens't bug you that much leave it alone. Mine went 1/4 below the E and only up to 3/4 with a full tank. No harm no foul

 

[4Lurker4]

I'd take the needle off after a full tank just like you said. After all, you need to take them off to replace the indiglo cluster. They say it's not a good idea because a lot of people won't put them back correctly, hence your problem.

 

[Trav83]

I had the same probem in my 91 Eclipse GS. If it doens't bug you that much leave it alone. Mine went 1/4 below the E and only up to 3/4 with a full tank. No harm no foul

That's exactly how mine reads, did you have an aftermarket instrument panel installed at one point?

...and yes it bothers me a lot, that's why I made this thread

I'd take the needle off after a full tank just like you said. After all, you need to take them off to replace the indiglo cluster. They say it's not a good idea because a lot of people won't put them back correctly, hence your problem.

I just may go ahead and give it a try, best way to learn things is to try things right? I just hope it pops right off and connects right back on (and doesn't break).

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

Pull if off. The treads you were reading that said it was a bad idea would have been referring to pulling them off the first time because when you reinstall them the gauges could be off. Yours have already been removed and are reading off. I say fix it. The needles slide off very easily, it's not like you're going to break it.

 

[4Lurker4]

Best way, use a fork and put a thin paper/cardboard between the fork and the cluster (so you don't damage anything). Put the needle in the middle of the forks and use lever power! It's quick and easy.

 

[Trav83]

- RESOLVED -

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I noticed my aftermarket instrument bezel covers up one of warning/dummy lights, there are four lights but the bezel only has 3 cut outs. Anyone know what that one I circled in green is for?

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The needles don't come off very easy, but with a little bit of careful strength I was able to pop it off

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I let the car idle for a bit to make sure it's reading the gas level accurately, then I carefully put the needle back on pointing at the 'F'

Now I have a full tank of gas and fuel gauge that reads it correctly

Thanks for all your help guys

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

Glad you fixed it!

I'd have to check my dsm when I get off tonight but I know the automatics had an extra dummy light there for the overdrive switch. As far as I recal the light on the far left under the spedometer is the low fuel warning light.

 

[Trav83]

Glad you fixed it!

I'd have to check my dsm when I get off tonight but I know the automatics had an extra dummy light there for the overdrive switch. As far as I recal the light on the far left under the spedometer is the low fuel warning light.

Well I hope the one I circled is not the low fuel level light, I need that (and wouldn't that be kind of ironic ). I looked all over this site hoping to find a page or link that would show you what each warning light is and what it means, but I found nothing.

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

Well I hope the one I circled is not the low fuel level light, I need that (and wouldn't that be kind of ironic ). I looked all over this site hoping to find a page or link that would show you what each warning light is and what it means, but I found nothing.

My gas light was on today so it provided a prefect opportunity to snap a cell phone pic for you. Yes, that is the low fuel level indicator.

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[ChiTownHussla]

nice.....was it simple to do? Mine is off by 1/5 maybe....goes way below the E for me

 

[phunny]

My gas light was on today so it provided a prefect opportunity to snap a cell phone pic for you. Yes, that is the low fuel level indicator.

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^^^ HAHAHHAHA, sorry Trav but that's funny. Gas gauge reads wrong and dummy light is covered up, I'd say you were set up to have to push that beast off the road

 

[Trav83]

nice.....was it simple to do? Mine is off by 1/5 maybe....goes way below the E for me

Yeah it was fairly easy, hardest part is just knowing how to take everything apart and put it back together. Just follow what I posted and you should be able to fix yours as well.

^^^ HAHAHHAHA, sorry Trav but that's funny. Gas gauge reads wrong and dummy light is covered up, I'd say you were set up to have to push that beast off the road

I know right? Luckily that never happened though, I always filled it up when it got to the 'E' just to be safe. How dumb is that though? The company that manufactured it didn't notice they were covering up one of the warning lights

 

[lex]

Good job on fixing the gas gauge needle. As to your question, no it was a stock instrument cluster that somebody screwed with before I got bought the car overpriced at a small town dealership, back then I wasnt a dsm guy and jsut bought the car because it was a 5 spd, now the car is in pieces and donated parts to my 94.

 

[phunny]

Yeah it was fairly easy, hardest part is just knowing how to take everything apart and put it back together. Just follow what I read and you should be able to fix yours as well.



I know right? Luckily that never happened though, I always filled it up when it got to the 'E' just to be safe. How dumb is that though? The company that manufactured it didn't notice they were covering up one of the warning lights

Probably a fleabay version . I remember I wanted to get my $.20 off with my rewards points so I tried to make it 2 miles in the SRT-10 and got raped. Truck shut off and I had no gas can and was in flip flops. Did I mention it was a 90*+ day and I was at the bottom of a valley with no sidewalks... Had to walk to walmart (a mile the other way, and then to the gas station and then to the truck... Got to buy a new gas can out of it

 

[Trav83]

Probably a fleabay version . I remember I wanted to get my $.20 off with my rewards points so I tried to make it 2 miles in the SRT-10 and got raped. Truck shut off and I had no gas can and was in flip flops. Did I mention it was a 90*+ day and I was at the bottom of a valley with no sidewalks... Had to walk to walmart (a mile the other way, and then to the gas station and then to the truck... Got to buy a new gas can out of it

Wow that really sucks, I've been in a similar situation before where I had a 1990 mustang (4 cyl) I was very low on gas and didn't quite make it to the next gas station. I had to bang on some guys door and ask for a lift because it was winter and very cold out, he was nice enough to give me a ride. I bought a gas can at the station, filled it up and he gave me a ride back.

So yeah I guess at some point I'm going to have to do something about my gas light being covered up... I tell ya, if it's not one thing it's another.

 

[Trav83]

So I did the best I could on modifying my instrument bezel cover so I can see the gas warning light.

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A drill is pretty much the only tool I had to work with, unfortunately I can't laser cut it. I had to use the drill as my grinding tool as well, I attempted at making it into a rectangle...

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...but as expected it didn't come out too great, that's why I had a plan B..

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I had some brushed steel adhesive paper lying around that will work perfectly so that I can cut out my own square.

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First tracing one of the rectangles from one of the other warning lights, then cut it out with a razor.

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Far from perfect but it doesn't look too bad and the important part is now I can see my gas light if it ever comes on

 

[GMCometh]

Looks good to me

 

[Trav83]

Looks good to me

Thanks...

Only one problem left now, when I took off the clear plastic instrument panel cover I snapped off one of the clip inserts. This now makes a total of 3 snapped off clips (previous owner snapped off 2). I'm gonna go to the junk yard tomorrow and hopefully find a replacement cover, 3 clips is just too many to be missing in my opinion.

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- UPDATE -

Lucked out and found one at the junkyard today