New Instr. Cluster in 93 Corolla - Gas Gauge Issue

Hi folks -

new to the group - looks like lots of good discussion in here. I have an issue you might be able to help with ....

I have a 93 Corolla - about 170k on it, all told. I recently bought a new cluster (well, new to me - it was actually used), cause my speedo had stopped working. Cluster looked great, had it installed, and the speedo issue seems to be OK. But ....

The gas gauge is not working as before. The needle moves very little at first (I put in 7 gallons once, and the needle had been almost at the 3/4 full mark). I am currently almost done with a tank, and the needle is lower (between 1/8 and 1/4, and I think I have about 2 gallons left), so it seems to catch up with itself later on in the tank.

The cluster, when I got it, said that it was for a 93-95 Corolla. So, I am thinking that this gauge issue COULD be a coincidence (though I doubt it), or it could be that the cluster I have might have been from a 94 or 95, and my fuel tank sensor is sending a signal that it not being read correctly. Just a guess on my part.

Anyone have any insights into this? I have been using the trip odometer since I found this out, and that is a good way to avoid getting stuck - but it still bugs the heck out of me. I would like to get this fixed, if it is not too expensive ....

thanks !

Jason B

Reply to
Buckman98
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Toyota uses 2 different kinds of fuel gauges. One type shows fuel level even when the ignition is off, and when the tank is filled, moves to the full position slowly. The other type only shows fuel level when the ignition is on and the needle moves pretty quickly. I don't know which type your car has.

Try filling the tank and seeing if it moves to the full mark, and when it gets to the 3/4 mark, re-filling to see if approximately a quarter of the tank's capacity goes in, then doing the same at the 1/2 to see if 1/2 of the capacity goes in, and again at 1/4 tank to see if approx. 1/4 of the capacity goes in.

Check to see if the connection for the fuel gauge at the back of the instrument cluster is tight.

Reply to
Ray O

If it is like my '92 Wagon...it is the slow type..

Reply to
Scott in Florida

Yeah, it is the slow type.

I am going to call my mechanic to have him check the connection (he is the one who put the cluster in). At least some of the connections are fine - when I fill it, it goes right up! It is the other direction that seems to be an issue ......

Any idea is the ful tank sensor might send a different signal, depending in the year? I was wondering if that might be the issue ......

Reply to
Buckman98

If the fuel gauge moves to the full position when filling the tank, then the connections are fine.

Are you saying that the gauge shows a higher fuel level than is actually in the tank? In other words, when the gauge shows 1/2 full, can you put in more than half of the tank's capacity when filling up?

The fuel tank sender doesn't really send a signal. The sender is basically a rheostat connected to a float. As the float rises, the sender sends higher voltage to the gauge, and the higher the voltage, the higher the gauge reads.

I doubt if the voltages differ depending on model year, and I am not aware of any reference that compares voltages between model years. As far as I know, the only way to tell is to look at the repair manuals for each model year to determine the specified voltage.

Reply to
Ray O

I have no idea, but I would doubt it.

I looked in my factory repair manual, and it mentions two types of gauges depending on whether the dash has a tach or not. The voltages and resistance of the circuits is the same...just that there is a damping oil in the fuel gauge with a tach.

Reply to
Scott in Florida

Sorry if I was not clear on this - my bad.

For the most part, I am able to put more gas in the tank than I expect to. For instance, when the guage was reading a little below 3/4 full, I thought I would put in up to 4 gallons (an 11 gallon tank, or so). I put in a little over 7, and that has happened twice - so I there seems to be some consistency to it. That is very different than what I would have experienced with the old gauge. From the 3/4 to 1/4 makrs on the guage, it moves pretty fast - maybe 100 miles (about 3 gallons worth). So, the top 1/4 to 3/8 of the guage moves lots slower than it should, and then is goes very fast.

Interesting about the tach/non-tack cluster difference. My original one never had one, and this new one does not either, so I think I am OK there.

As I mentioned, I am going to have my mechanic check the connection. I suppose that he might have tweaked something when he installed this new cluster. I am just not car-savvy enough to know what :(

Reply to
Buckman98

I do not have an explantion for what you are experiencing without actually seeing the gauge and knowing the actual capacity of your fuel tank.

From the 3/4 to 1/4 makrs on the

This movement is typical of Toyota fuel gauges.

Reply to
Ray O

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