Instrument Pod

Fuel Gauge Adjustment

There are a couple things that I have seen that affect fuel gauge readings.These suggestions assume you have already checked the sender and sender connections. First, remove the instrument cluster. It's not as hard as it seems.

1. Clean the instrument cluster electrical contacts where the plugs connect. Check all the meter connections (nuts) to the circuit board. They seem to get loose somehow. If your gauge used to read correctly, but does not now, those connections may be dirty/corroded or loose.

2. Separate the front and back of the cluster so you can get at the front of the gauge. Try to move the gauge meter pointer with a small tool like a toothpick. It should rotate far enough to point to the top mark (full). Yours may not move far enough. The meter pointer shaft hits a mechanical limit before it gets to the full mark. I have been able to slip the meter pointer on the shaft until it points to the full mark as the shaft comes up against the stop. Be careful if you try this!! If your gauge reads lower than 4/4 when the tank is full, and stays there for 75 or 100 miles before moving, and also moves to below the red "R" before the warning light comes on, this could be the problem.

When you have the cluster out it is a good time to check the calibration of your voltmeter. That's just in case you need something more to do. Heh heh heh

Louis Ott
'86 S
'88 S4