Issues with Fuel Gage

[Laztlain]

Hi Guys,

Just picked up my first jeep - a 1952 M38A1:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll85 ... 17_439.jpg

I am an absolute rookie when it comes to working on automobiles, so please bear with me! I have already found a ton of useful information on these forums, so I am hoping someone can help me with an issue I am having....

The fuel gage only reads "empty" at all times. If you tap the back of the fuel sending unit, the needle on the gage will jump slightly. I removed the sending unit and it is all still in one piece. With the sending unit removed, I turned the ignition switch to the on position and manually raised/lowered the brass float (sending unit wass still hooked up to cable). No change on the fuel gage. I removed the cable from the sending unit, and tapped on the fuel gage itself - it jumped to read "full". When I turned the ignition switch back off, the fuel gage returned to the empty position.

Does this sould like a bad sending unit, gage, cables, or all 3?!? Or pehaps an issue with grounding?

Any and all help is appreciated!

[skyjeep50]

Very nice Jeep! If that is you in the driver's seat, you have that big Jeep Grin we all get.

You are on the right track in diagnosing your fuel gauge problems - you need to test the gauge, sender and electrical system in between. For complete and specific directions, go to http://www.willysmjeeps.com and log on as a member of the forum there. In the "Downloads" section you will find a wealth of information cluding maintenance and parts manuals for your Jeep. In particular, after you click on "Downloads" at the top of the main page, click on "electrical" under the "M38 M38A1 M170 M606" section, go to the second page in that section and click on "Military 24 Volt Gauge Trouble Shooting". That section will answer most, if not all, of your questions. Step by step instructions for isolating and fixing gauge problems.

You can also do a Search on this website or over at Willys M Jeeps and come up with more posts and answers/solutions to maintenance issues.

[Laztlain]

Thanks for the reply! That is me in the driver's seat; I might need to see a plastic surgeon to remove that "jeep grin" 'cause it's been stuck on my face since the day I picked up the jeep

I'ill have a look at the files you suggested and see what I can do....