Replaced fuel pump on 92, now fuel gage is pegged at full?

[crazyd]

Not sure what, if anything, I did wrong in this process, but after my fuel pump died I got a complete tank and pump from a junkyard '93 STE, and now my fuel gage is pegged beyond full. There's only one connector and it only goes one way, so is there a common mistake to this installation I made or is the sender really stuck? I've filled the tank to the max several times since, and the gage never moves.

[RobertISaar]

sounds like the sender is stuck. or it's track that it runs on to create a variable resistance is corroded/cracked/etc.

[Schurkey]

Broken wire/corroded connection/bent pin in a terminal somewhere between gauge and sending unit; or between sending unit and ground.

 

High resistance or open in the circuit will put the needle past the full mark on the gauge.

 

If you short the wire going from the gauge to the sending unit to ground, the gauge should go to "empty".

Edited March 20, 2012 by Schurkey

[Crazy K]

CHECK THE WIRING. I discovered a 92 fuel sending unit has different pinouts than the other ones i had lying around. the connector is physically the same but has relocated two of the wires.

[crazyd]

Okay, so I didn't see these last two posts until now, and the wiring difference between the 93 and 92 makes perfect sense to explain this mystery. I was just checking Rockauto for senders, and noticed the replacements all curiously recommended replacing the harness. Good thing I haven't disposed of the old tank yet. Think what I'll do is just swap the wiring harnesses between them. Thanks K!