fuel gauge frustration

Ok here's the story, my fuel gauge was inop and aparently so was my sending unit, bought a new sending unit and a used instument panel got it all hooked up, the gauge worked fine that night got up the next morning to warm up the jeep for work gauge was working when i started it when i came back (10 min) the guage had died. Open the actual gauge and the wire had burned out. I had a spare temp guage so i opened it up and the inner workings look the same as my fuel gauge, so i switched the face plates and it now seems to be working (at least its reading full) the tank is full right now. so my quetion is first does the temp guage work on the same resitance as the fuel gauge, and is the fuel gauge frying like it has done now twice a common problem or is there something i'm not doing to prevent this? would it even be worth while to put a new one in there?

 

Both gauges get their feed from a small voltage regulator on the back of the cluster. It's that little rectangler looking box with three terminals that plugs in to the circuit board. That would be my first choice, since both gauges were fried. It 'simulates" 5 to 7 volts by pulsing the current flow. If the contacts stuck in the closed position it would then supply a constant 12 volts which the gauges can't handle.I think they're available at Advance, Napa or one of the major parts stores. A lot of the old Fords used them.Shouldn't be more than a couple of bucks.

 

I would do what PackRat advised and start with the voltage regulator. They are not cheap though. Part number VRC-601. Here is the advance auto link for it. I think it is also used by Chrysler. A lot of the newbies at parts places will look at you funny if you ask for a instrument cluster voltage regulator. I have a parts place here that knows their stuff and went right to the book (Yes. They still use books) and gave me the part number. Can i the next day.

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?mfrcode=SMP&mfrpartnumber=VRC601

-MM

 

Wow . Didn't realise they were that much $$$. You're right Mig Man, they ain't cheap. Better check my parts, pretty sure I saw some NOS ones in there somewhere.

 

Holy cow thats spendy sounds like thats the problem though, you guys have been a great help. I'm gonna give the guy i bought the instrument panel from a call see what we can work out. Oh and I did stop by Napa and got that crazy look you were talking about, hahaha