Hey guys,

I just installed a set of those "white-faced gauges" in my '98 prelude. The install went fine except for the fuel gauge. The gauge no longer works. I thought I had screwed something up so I bought another cluster. Swapped in the fuel gauge from it and it worked but was not reading right (read half tank w/ full tank). I removed the needle again to set it to the correct position and now the gauge no longer works.

Since I had two of the gauges I decided to rip one apart and see how it worked. Anyway after unwrapping ~1600 wraps of winding wire I find a small disc magnet sandwiched between the two plastic parts around which was wrapped the winding wire. The magnet was sitting in a bed of grease so I guess the magnet (with the needle's steel post through its center) spins inside the gauge.

Right now I am thinking that the steel post of the needle is not staying with the magnet as the magnet moves. Maybe some glue or adhevsive from the back of some tape on the steel needle will keep it attached to the magent? Has anyone had experience with a fuel gauge that was acting up? Anyone know the proper fix?

Thanks,
the_crowbar

 

umm.. taking apart guages is never a good idea. Taking off the needle is even a bad idea, they're sensitive.

 

dude, when you unplug the gauges you have to set the needle at Empty. That gives it sort of a starting point.
If you dont then wherever it is when you plug in the gauges again it will think that point its empty and rise from there.
So set it at E and then plug them back in and turn the car on...
Mine was screwed when i installed indiglow gauges and that worked for me

 

Thanks ItalynStylion! I will try that tonight. Do the needles on your fuel gauge drop to E when you shut the car off? I seem to remember mine doing that, but it took so long for the replacement to get here that I'm not sure anymore.

Kal: I know taking apart gauges is not a good idea, but I had two so why not? Haven't you ever wondered what the inside of a gauge looked llike? FYI: You have to remove the needles to install the white faced gauge kits.

Thanks,
the_crowbar

 

I now appear to have a working fuel gauge. I say appear because I recently filled the tank and the needle moved all the way to "F". I have now driven ~45 miles on this tank of gas and the needle has moved a little lower on the gauge. It appears all is working.

The solution to the problem seems to be that the needle post (the small steel post the needle mounts on) had a bit of grease on it and would not move with the magnet inside the gauge. I removed the needle (the post always came with it) and cleaned the steel post. I then reinstalled the post/needle and drove around until the tank was empty. At that point I refilled the tank and the needle now appears to move correctly in response to the amount of fuel in the tank.

Thanks all,
the_crowbar