Stargrinder Posted October 4, 2020 Report Posted October 4, 2020 So I am hitting a wall here. I ordered a new fuel tank, straps, and fuel sender for my ‘50 coronet. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gas-tank-for-49-52-Dodge-Plymouth-Chrysler-DeSoto-Tank-Sender-Strap-kit/233338639595?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 The old tank was rusting (as were the straps) so I figured it was time to get rid of it. Now before I removed the tank everything was working fine. Fuel gauge was reading as it should. I installed the new tank and straps and tested the fuel sending unit on a multi-meter and my Ohm readings were 10 in the full position and 73 on the empty position. This is the stock single wire fuel sending unit. When I ran the car the fuel gauge went to half tank… roughly the amount of fuel I had in the tank and never moved although I know I drove 50+ miles. I added fuel thinking the needle would go up but nothing. Now the tank straps I installed came with rubber strips. I was assuming the strips were to go between the tank and the steel straps to prevent wear. Now I am wondering if it prevented the tank from grounding. Well I pulled the rubber strap from one of the metal straps so I had metal on metal and still my needle was not changing. I then pulled the fuel sending unit and put it back on the multi-meter and I could not get any reading on the ohm meter. I am really scratching my head. Not sure if the lack of ground caused the sending unit to fail. So I am running the stock 230ci flat six with positive ground. Question 1) should there be anything between the tank and straps or does that prevent a good ground to frame? 2) Could it just be a bad fuel sending unit? (I just ordered another one) Any thoughts and/or recommendations? Oh and I made the fatal error of not keeping the old tank and sending unit before confirming the new one was working. I am kicking myself for such a bonehead move. Quote
joecoozie Posted October 4, 2020 Report Posted October 4, 2020 The sending unit grounds to the tank when it is installed in the access hole. Yes, the rubber strips go between the tank and the straps to prevent wear. It sounds like the sending unit went bad. These new units are not made well as others have had problems, too. If you saved the old unit you also could have checked the float arms to make sure the new one is "bent" the same as the old one so as to get an accurate reading. Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted October 4, 2020 Report Posted October 4, 2020 (edited) The sending unit "cone winding" might have broken loose from the sender mounting plate. Did you use a drift and hammer to rotate the mount ring into position? That an cause the cone winding to break loose from the rivet. Carefully remove the sender cover to check. Bend the little tang holding the bulb cover to sender mount plate...slowly pull the bulb cover off to check the cone winding... It should be mounted firm and straight up. A junk sender shown... Edited October 4, 2020 by Dodgeb4ya Add pics Quote
Stargrinder Posted October 6, 2020 Author Report Posted October 6, 2020 I ended up ordering a replacement fuel sending unit. Appears the one I got was junk. Actually went with a different model. https://www.ebay.com/itm/49-55-PLYMOUTH-DODGE-DESOTO-CHRYSLER-1-WIRE-FUEL-SENDING-SENDER-6-VOLT-MoPar/174342566695?_trkparms=aid%3D1110009%26algo%3DSPLICE.COMPLISTINGS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225074%26meid%3D0d665b2e49ad4825b52d65e433676e69%26pid%3D100008%26rk%3D7%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D174093006740%26itm%3D174342566695%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3Ddefault&_trksid=p2047675.c100008.m2219 This one actually works. Thanks. Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted October 6, 2020 Report Posted October 6, 2020 A bad chinese sender? Cannot be! 1 Quote
James_Douglas Posted October 11, 2020 Report Posted October 11, 2020 Be advised....be strongly advised... I purchased one of the new sending units from a guy on ebay. Looked great. The problem is that the thing leaked a lot via the "rivets" they used to pull the parts together. When you fill the tank on my 1947 Desoto the fuel level is above the top of the tank. So, there is pressure on the sending unit. It must be fuel tight. These guys units are not. When I complained they blew me off. James. Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted October 11, 2020 Report Posted October 11, 2020 Welcome to the world of poor quality globally sourced parts. Quote
greg g Posted October 11, 2020 Report Posted October 11, 2020 I put one in last year, it worked for two months or so then went wonky. Now it leaks when tank is full. Quote
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