Gas Gauge

Since I switched back to gasoline I have been getting by just fine with a wooden stick with a few marks drawn on it but one of these days it would be nice to have a real working gas gauge again. At first I though it would be as easy as replacing the sending unit that didn't work but after reading some other threads here I can see multiple problems with what I have. To start with my gas gauge is an after market type made by Auto Meter mounted in the dash that I have no idea if it is compatible with a stock sending unit. I do have the original gauge in the instrument cluster but that might be toast. I definitely do not want to burn out a new sender so I'm looking for is some advice as to what would be the most practical way to go with what I have.

Replace the stock gauge if there is a replacement available?

Replace the aftermarket gauge with one that works with the stock sender (Anyone know of one that is compatible?)

Or....?

 

The AutoMeter gauges are available with the ohms needed to match a stock jeep sending unit.Check there web site.The gauge should have a number on it to i.d. ohm range. A little time with a digital ohm meter will tell you what you need to know about the condition of your parts. Just depends on what route you want to go.I have a Autometer dash gauge w/stock sender on the '69 and all stock gauge and sender on the Renegade.There is a good write up on gauge repair here that will tell the ohm range for fuel gauge.hope that helps. mike

 

After 3 sender units and a bad result (I have a 71, tank at the rear) I plan to buy one day a boat gouge, sender unit + dash indicator.
The ohm question is just that the principel is to calculate a difference of resistance, full to empty.
The boat gauge make only the calculation of the level of gas, and the Jeep sender unit is also sending the fuel to the fuel line.
Boat gauges are very serious, need to make a hole in the tank that is the problem, and I am not in a hurry.
Everytime I get gas at the gas station, I write the km on the dash. The needle moves a little bit, probably a ground problem or something else.
When I tested the new sender unit before re-installing the tank, is was working quite well, and when all bolts were fixed, not good result.
I am sorry to give all these boring details, but I don not trust the Jeep gauge now (from Omix) and I understand that it is a very subtle system invented by the Jeep people, so I prefer to have all independant informations with direct gauges.
Temperature is from a Willy gauge, and oil pressure to, direct on engine.

 

Like many others, I gave up on the stock gauge. I went to NAPA and picked up an in dash gauge with matching sending unit. Fairly easy to set up and works fine for the past 20+ years.

 

A matched set appeals to me, I'll stop down to my local NAPA store and see if they still offer that.

Mike: I'll have a look at AutoMeter's web site and see what they have.

Alan: My wooden dipstick is starting to look better and better!