Gas gauge doesn't go all the way down but light comes on, why?

[jazzmasterx]

So I've had this problem since I've had the car. I fill the car up about 13 gal normally and the gas gauge goes above full like all the other CB7's I've owned. Problem is when I get a little bit under 1/4 tank the gas gauge stops moving. If I keep driving, eventually the gas light comes on but the gauge remains just a little below 1/4 tank. So seriously WTF !!! Why won't my gauge move to the "E" I don't think it's broken because the rest of the sweep is perfectly fine. Any ideas?

Also it's not that the gas light is coming on at the wrong time the gauge should have noticeably moved for the amount of miles I've traveled between the 1/4 tank mark and light coming on.

[ExplodingCake]

You fuel sending unit is going bad.

[Rusty]

You fuel sending unit is going bad.

Only going bad when the car has just under 1/4 of a tank??? I would figure if the sending unit was going bad it would go bad at a variety of spots. i could be wrong though

Could it just be that the needle is sticking in the gauge?

[ExplodingCake]

Only going bad when the car has just under 1/4 of a tank??? I would figure if the sending unit was going bad it would go bad at a variety of spots. i could be wrong though

Could it just be that the needle is sticking in the gauge?

Good point. Sometime's I lack the common sense on small things.

[1BadCB]

So I've had this problem since I've had the car. I fill the car up about 13 gal normally and the gas gauge goes above full like all the other CB7's I've owned. Problem is when I get a little bit under 1/4 tank the gas gauge stops moving. If I keep driving, eventually the gas light comes on but the gauge remains just a little below 1/4 tank. So seriously WTF !!! Why won't my gauge move to the "E" I don't think it's broken because the rest of the sweep is perfectly fine. Any ideas?

Also it's not that the gas light is coming on at the wrong time the gauge should have noticeably moved for the amount of miles I've traveled between the 1/4 tank mark and light coming on.

I have the same exact problem...I thought it was the fuel sending unit.

[jazzmasterx]

well if the needle was getting stuck should it not work properly in other places. I thought that the gauge was the least likely to be problems related to things like this.

I don't feel so bad now 1badcb i'm not the only one, have you tried fixing it or replacing the sending unit?

[jazzmasterx]

well if the needle was getting stuck should it not work properly in other places. I thought that the gauge was the least likely to be problems related to things like this.

I don't feel so bad now 1badcb i'm not the only one, have you tried fixing it or replacing the sending unit?

[akito]

Bump this thread as my car died on my on the high way because i ran out of gas and my gauge is stuck at 3/4. It will go from full to 3/4 and the low gas light would not go on at all. So do you guys think it is the fuel sender unit or the gauge is stuck? I've noticed it will sometimes go below 3/4 and stay between 3/4 and 1/2.

[Tippey764]

My gas gauge is a worthless peice of crap. Just use your trip odometer and you will never run out of gas.

[EJX_Michael]

I'm willing to bet its the sending unit sticking 3/4 of the way down. It may be possible that the float could be worn or have some kind of corrosion on it that is making it stick at a 1/4 tank. The float for the gauge and the one for the light are different, so yay for honda making a redundant system!

The hole under the trunk carpet is for the sending unit, so you may want to try pulling it out and taking a look at it and see if you may be able to clean it up or something.

[akito]

I might just have to give it a try. Now i know that filling every 200 miles is probably the safest bet. But i really want to get it to work again u kno

[TypeG]

get a haynes manual. it tells you how to test the fuel sending unit with an ohmmeter. that way you'll know if that's the problem. later.

[kouzie]

get a haynes manual. it tells you how to test the fuel sending unit with an ohmmeter. that way you'll know if that's the problem. later.

Chilton online:

http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/...40539003520151

[jazzmasterx]

Ok I'll try to look at the sending unit today. I lost my haynes so I'll get another one or just use the library one

BTW Thanks for the help guys/girls it's much appreciated!

[blazenem]

good luck on another similiar subject... my guage works fine but as long as i have had my car which has been over 7 yrs i have never seen the light come on and i have had the needle below E lol, never have run out of gas knock on wood...anyone know how to test the light? or anyone whose light and guage work fine. where does your light usually kick on at on the guage?...