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Grounding a gauge wire

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IowaTom

Grounding a gauge wire

If I ground the (yellow) wire in the plug that's normally attached to the sender and flip the key to ACC, shouldn't a working gauge go to the full position? Mine isn't...and if it's supposed to it's either a dead gauge or wire to it.
Another layer of the onion.

'85 F150 XLT 4X4 with 300 c.i. six & NP435 four speed.
'63 Studebaker Avanti - 350/TH350
'59 Rambler Super - OHV 6 with 3-speed OD
'58 Studebaker Scotsman sedan - 289 with 3-speed OD

Gary Lewis

Re: Grounding a gauge wire

Administrator

Yes, grounding the wire to the sender should take the gauge full scale - but it takes several seconds to get there. That's because the gauge is essentially a thermometer and grounding the wire pulls current through a heating element in the gauge, which takes time to move the gauge.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

IowaTom

Re: Grounding a gauge wire

Thank you, Gary!
I need to make a test light now, to see if the wire has continuity to the gauge board. I'm thinking my gas gauge has gone toes up.

'85 F150 XLT 4X4 with 300 c.i. six & NP435 four speed.
'63 Studebaker Avanti - 350/TH350
'59 Rambler Super - OHV 6 with 3-speed OD
'58 Studebaker Scotsman sedan - 289 with 3-speed OD

Gary Lewis

Re: Grounding a gauge wire

Administrator

The test light should blink as the "voltage regulator" is really just a chopper.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile