Expert: Roland Finston - 7/16/2011

Question
Hi, I'm trying to get a 1995 Lebaron convertible ready for my son to take off to college after its been setting for 6-7 years. Changed the fuel filter and it showed a lot of rust so I'm thinking I should replace the gas tank and fuel pump. The gas gauge is not working either. Shows empty with gas light on but the tank was full. Fuel pump is working. I checked to see if there was power coming to the wires on the fuel level sending unit and there doesn't seem to be any. Shouldn't it have power when the key is on? Does it run off of a fuse? Hate to order a new one if the problem is no power getting to it because it'll do the same thing. The wire goes up inside the car so without tearing out the interior I can't tell where it goes. Also , do you think i should replace the timing belt after its sat for so long. Thanks ahead for your help. Rex

Answer
Hi Rex,
Unless you live in an extreme hot/cold climate I doubt timing belt is weak How many miles are on it?
On the fuel gauge:
You could check the resistance between the black/light green wire at the tank plug (ground, so verify that wires is indeed grounded to the chassis) and the dark blue wire to see if it shows 90 ohms empty going to 12 ohm full. The dark blue wire goes to pin 7 at the black plug of the cluster. The other pins that are involved at the cluster are:
pin 9 of the red plug dark blue/white should show 12v with the ignition in 'run' coming from fuse #16. That current runs through the gauge so you should see voltage on the dark blue wire at the tank with the ignition in 'run'.
pin 14 of the red plug black/orange to instrument cluster ground at the right side cowl (kick panel by the passenger's right leg).
If the wiring checks out, then you could check that the pins of the plug are soldered to the circuit board of the cluster (reheat the joints).
The pins I have listed are for the conventional mechanical cluster. Let me know if you have an electronic digital cluster.
Roland
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