Gas Gauge Trouble

[zinj]

My gas gauge doesn’t register the right amount in the gas tank anymore, it only goes up to about halfway when I fill ‘er up. My question is, how do I tell if it’s the floater in the tank, or just the cable or gauge messing up, and how might I go about fixing it?
Thanks,

- Chris

[damackz]

my gas guage goes up and down depending on if i am slowing down, stopping, cruising or accelerating........hmm

[YK86]

The way I tested it in my old 83 Accord was I spliced the two lines going to the float. If the gauge went up to full, then it's the float. If it doesn't, it's the gauge. I don't know which wires will do it for our 86+ Accords though....

[Nighthawk]

My "Hey stupid, get gas light" goes on when I have about a quarter tank left, and I'm on a downhill slope.

It always freaks me out the way it sneaks up on me. All the other warning lights turn on immediately, but the fuel light sort of fades into existence. I'll be cruising along, and check my instruments, notice this soft amber glow, and proceed to panic (especially when the gas needle is pointing at the E).

Anyone else have this problem? Or am I just nuts?

[damackz]

haha yeah mine used to do that it would fade on and off, really scary when ur driving on a highway!

[zinj]

Nighthawk - I think its normal for that sort of thing to happen on a hill, because the gas shifts in the tank towards the front of the car, and the floater drops with the amount at the back of the tank. I'm not really sure though. But yeah, it can be really weird sometimes.

Hey thanks YK86, I'll try to find those wires next time I'm working on my car.

[88LXiHB]

Mine fades in and out too, I thought it was suppesed to do that

[dosh8er]

Well at least your light turns on! I was in the middle of this bad part of town when I almost ran completely out, good thing I have a stick... popped her in neutral and coasted off into the gas station. Isn't there a switch for that light on the fuel tank somewhere?

[YK86]

The "slowly coming on" is normal and so is the on/off when on a hill. With both the 86 and 88, the light comes on when I have about 12L left (roughly 3 gallons) so as a rule of thumb, I don't panic about running out until I drive 50kms or more after the light has come on. But make sure when you fill up (when the light comes on) too see how much you had left in the tank just so you know when the light comes on for your car.

[87AccordsterLx]

what is the tank size agian?? 13 gallons??? every time I go to fill up and its on empty it only holds about 11.5 gallons... oh ya by the way... when I re-tank my needle only goes up to 3/4 the way full.. even when I filled it full...any ideas???

[Nighthawk]

According to the manual, the fuel tank on the 87 Accord holds 15.9 US Gallons.

I can get about 300 miles on 10-11 gallons of gas.

Hope this helps.

[Bullfrog]

i wish i got 300 miles on 10 gallons i get that on 14.5 gallons...something is wrong