Hello everyone. I'm trying to figure out a sudden issue with my truck. I put gas last week on Thursday and it was almost full. When the truck got to 3/4 it stayed there. When I turn off the truck the gauge doesn't go down. When I was driving the gauge will start to move a little bit, it goes a little past the 3/4 mark then back down a little under 3/4. I don't know if it's the gauge or something else. I'm not sure how to do a gauge check because most of the instructions I've found are for trucks with digital odometers, mine isn't. Has this happened to anyone else? Any ideas on what it could be or where I could start?

 

I believe it's the same, just hold the trip/reset button, turn the ignition on, and the cluster should test.

 

That's for the newer style dash (digital odometer), all pushing the trip button does is reset the trip meter on older trucks. I'll go cruise and see if I can find the process for the older trucks.

Edit: the link I was thinking of goes to a now dead webpage. I'll go check my truck out in a bit and see what I can find.

 

It might be the same because they are still both computers

 

Updated my post, all mechanical reset on the older style.

 

yes the trip and odometer are mechanical but the giraffe cluster is still a computer. Not saying it will work but worth a try

 

On the analog cluster, there is no computer like the newer style. Most of the gauges are run independently of the PCM (or ecm, im terrible with that one) with some info going back to the pcm for reference. Like this case, the fuel gauge doesn't relay to the computer at all, but there is a feed running to the pcm to activate the low fuel light. A quick cruise in the FSM showed this for troubleshooting the gauge:

FUEL GAUGE
Circuit G4 connects the fuel level sensor to the fuel
gauge in the instrument cluster. Circuit F14 from
fuse 12 in fuse block supplies voltage to the fuel
gauge. The fuel level sensor draws voltage from circuit
F14 through the fuel gauge on circuit G4. The
fuel level sensor is located in the fuel tank.
As current flows through the coils in the fuel
gauge, it creates a magnetic field. One of the coils in
the gauge receives fixed current. The other coil is
connected to the level sensor. The magnetic field controls
the position of the fuel gauge pointer.
The fuel level sensor contains a variable resistor.
As the position of the float arm on the fuel level sensor
changes, the resistor changes the current flow
through the second coil in the fuel gauge. A change in
current flow alters the magnetic field in the fuel
gauge, which changes the pointer position.
Circuit Z11 provides the ground path for the fuel
level sensor.

Copy and past, so sorry for the format.

There is no specific cluster test on the older trucks that i can find, only a 3 second light bulb test when you first cycle the key on.
With all this being said, normally when the fuel gauge starts acting up, the fuel pump isn't far behind in my experience. I'll step aside for the guys that are better at troubleshooting and help with info where I can.

 

I think Frankie is right. Forget that the older trucks had the mechanical odometer.... there is no electrical connection to it, so, cluster doesn't really care if you push the button.

I *Think* the gauges are supposed to test at initial key on though? Anyone verify that??

 

Mine do not on my 97 cluster, I only get the bulb check. When the key comes on all gauges go to the current reading they are supposed to be (oil pressure 0, speedo 0, Tach 0, ect...).

 

What happens when you turn it to start? Do they test then? (I honestly don't remember, been a few years since I had my 96. )