# Help me unstick my fuel gauge **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 28, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unstick-my-fuel-gauge/242385 "2004-04-28T00:03:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unstick-my-fuel-gauge/242385/1 "2004-04-28T00:03:55Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unstick-my-fuel-gauge/242385/2 "2004-04-28T00:08:14Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unstick-my-fuel-gauge/242385/3 "2004-04-28T01:23:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unstick-my-fuel-gauge/242385/4 "2004-04-28T01:24:51Z")
That was supposed to be “instrument **panel** devices” (gauges, lights, etc.). ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unstick-my-fuel-gauge/242385/5 "2004-05-01T18:43:36Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2004, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-unstick-my-fuel-gauge/242385/6 "2004-05-01T19:10:20Z")
> [@Chairman Pow](#): > > I 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. 😃