Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Fuel

The fuel gauge sending unit is mounted on the top surface of the fuel tank. The fuel level sender itself consists of the following two components:
^ A float that rides on the surface of the fuel in the tank
^ A variable resistor that is controlled by the float arm

When electric power is supplied to the fuel gauge, current flows through the gauge to the variable resistor and then to a ground. The position of the gauge pointer is determined by the strength of the current that is flowing through the gauge.
If the tank is full, the following situations occur:
^ The resistance of the variable resistor is high (90 Ohm).
^ The current flow through the gauge is minimum.
^ The pointer indicates that the gauge reads full (F) on the gauge dial.

If the fuel level is low, the following situations occur:
^ The resistance of the variable resistor is low.
^ The current flow through the gauge is high.
^ The pointer indicates a low fuel level reading.

Intermediate fuel levels cause the pointer to indicate the corresponding position between F and E.