I have a 1991 Dakota, 318ci 4x4… the gas gauge has never worked since I bought the truck a year ago.
I fill it up, and when the gas light comes on I know I have 30 miles left.

The gauge always sits on empty, although I have seen it bounce once or twice over time.

In the Haynes manual, I can’t find anywhere where it shows replacement info on a fuel tank float.
It’s probably one of those situations where you’re looking for something, and you can’t see it, but its right in front of you!
If not the case, does it even have an internal float, or is it an electronic fuel level type deal?

Gauge problem?

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks

 

The after market manuals are OK, to a point, Best thing is to get a factory manual, off ebay perhaps.
What they expect you to do is replace the entire unit, consisting of gas guage, fuel pump, and some kind of strainer.
Until recent years, I have driven nothing but Mopar, and gas guages seem to be one of Mopar's main weaknesses....

 

i have found that the contacts on the float get dirty and need to be cleaned sometimes. the best thing to do would be to pull the pump out, clean it up and test the float with the truck in accessory mode. it could even be that the float its self came apart.

 

and lucky you...it is a truck, not a car.
Don't drop the tank, instead lift the bed.
Disconnect wiring between frame and bed at the rear, remove the bed bolts, remove screws holding the gas filler to the side of the bed, lift and slide the bed back a few feet, and you have great access to the tank.