Someone borrowed the company 200X Malibu over the weekend and when it came back, the fuel gauge was stuck at empty. I filled the tank (it was already half full), bounced the rear bumper up and down and took the bumps in the parking garage just enough so I didn’t bottom out. Still stuck.
Any suggestions?
Either you have a loose wire on the display panel (gas gauge) or at the tank, or you have a stuck gas gauge float inside the tank. The only other possiblity that I can think of could be that the gauge on the display panel is kaput.
I assume you’ve checked all the fuses with a test light or voltmeter (do not rely on visual inspection) and they’re OK. I assume all other instrument devices function normally.
Most likely cause – the tank sending unit has an open circuit.
Next most likely cause – the wiring between the dash gauge and the sending unit has a open circuit.
Next most likely cause – the gauge has an open circuit.
Way down on the probability list – something is physically stuck.
The thing to do is test the circuit and locate the flaw.
That was supposed to be “instrument panel devices” (gauges, lights, etc.).
Thanks for the help. I’ll see what I can do, but I don’t know that the company wants me messing with their car…nor do I think they’re interested in putting any money into a mechanic. I’ll just have to make a note to make sure to refill the tank every 150 miles or so…
Run it til it’s out of gas and rack up a nice big towing charge for them. Then see how fast they fix it. 