Fuel Gauge Problems

john266 · Post by **john266** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:19 am

Hey guys I got a '90 Base w/ the 3.1L. Since I bought the car the gas gauge hasn't worked. At first I thought the gauge cluster was bad, but after I replaced it, it didn't fix the problem. This past week, I had the fuel sender assembly and fuel pump replaced. The gas gauge is now working but not correctly. I can fill the car up and the gauge goes up to full, but slowly moves to empty after about only 90 miles. I can then drive the car another 150 miles before the car sputters out. Before I replaced the assembly and pump I could drive 350-375 miles before the tank was empty. Now I can fill up and drive a max of 225-250 miles!? Any ideas??? By the way if anyone is curious which sender I put in it, it is the Spectra Premium assembly with pump PN# SP23A1H.

SuzukiGhostRider · Post by **SuzukiGhostRider** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:05 am

My guess would be you either got a bad assembly or it was installed incorrectly... GL.

Asylum · Post by **Asylum** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:46 am

When the car "quits" after 250 miles is there in fact still fuel in the tank, or is it actually empty?

In other words, is it using all the fuel, or just not able to pick it up?

300-350 miles sounds about right on a full tank.

john266 · Post by **john266** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 1:11 am

(asylummotorsports @ Aug. 23 2008,05:46)QUOTEWhen the car "quits" after 250 miles is there in fact still fuel in the tank, or is it actually empty?

In other words, is it using all the fuel, or just not able to pick it up?

300-350 miles sounds about right on a full tank.
Well I will tell you this. Before I changed the assembly I drove 350-375 miles before I would fill it up (which would take on average 17-18 gallons to fill back up....if that sounds right?). Since I put the sender in, after it starts sputtering after 250 miles, I filled it back up and it will only take about 11 gallons, which in my mind means the sender cannot pick up that extra few gallons in the tank.

Also....I noticed today that when the car has sat overnight and start it up in the morning the gas gauge seems accurate. After driving it for a while though the gas gauge will go down fairly fast (say to half a tank). But after I park the car again and drive it later, the gauge goes back up to where I think it should be based on the mileage (say 3/4 tank). I am at a loss here.

I dont know if it would have any effect on the gauge, but I have been told that Berettas have problems with the resistor (aka a buffer) inside the gas gauges that go bad and cause the gauge to change alot while driving it (the purpose of the buffer is to prevent fluctuations in fuel level when going around turns, braking, etc.). However since I have tried 3 different clusters, I dont think this means anything.

john266 · Post by **john266** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 1:15 am

I just wanted to add one thing.....

Although I have never seen it before, I'm wondering if the car needs to be filled up a few times to "break in" the new sender. It seems like to more I drive it, the better it gets.

I work in auto parts, and I have seen more odd things than this, so we'll just see how it goes.

SuzukiGhostRider · Post by **SuzukiGhostRider** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 5:16 pm

I would still say you have a faulty installation/bad part(s). GL.

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