No gas gauge

[pappichurro.1972]

The gas gauge in my 86 1.9l 4 speed doesn't move at all. Its been like since I got her from my friend. Would I just need to replace my sending unit? Or could it be a bad ground maybe?

[Halden]

Does it show full or empty?

[pappichurro.1972]

It shows empty.

[Halden]

Pretty sure it's disconnected somewhere... If my memory serves me correctly, full is 15 ohms across the float; empty is something like 130? So, if it's not grounded, you'll read (below) empty. Check the connection at the tank, they get a lot of road spray and crap there. Pull it apart, clean it, maybe pack it with dielectric grease and slap it back together. Let us know if this fixes it

[Quahlity]

If the sending unit is the same as my 92, it's available on Amazon (8943106901). Though this fits so many models, it only goes back to 1987, so it might not be the same as yours. Be sure it has the low fuel sensor, if your truck supports it. When removing the nuts that hold it on, I broke the top one, and that was less than ideal. I never fill it up anymore.

Once you have the old one out, it's easy to test and easy to see why it doesn't work, if it was as bad as mine was.

[puttputtinpup]

Do what Halsen said but perhaps b4 you do, carefully inspect and wiring along the way near & at the tank and upstream for breaks, or rubbed through or disconnected behind rhe instrument cluster even. You may find the wire to the senser disconnected. If the wire on the sender is indeed connected, remove it and ground it out to a good ground. Turn key on and it should peg out the needle on the gauge to full

[Quahlity]

Another way to know if the sending unit is bad or not, is to buy a new one, then connect it electrically (simple connector), move the float by hand and have someone tell you if the gauge moves. That will save you a lot of work, if your current sender is okay, though it does require buying a replacement you might not need.