Fuel Gauge Sender: Description and Operation

The fuel level sensor is a variable resistor. Circuit G4 connects the fuel level sensor to the fuel gauge in the instrument cluster. Circuit G5 from fuse 17 in the fuse block supplies voltage to the fuel gauge. The fuel level sensor draws voltage from circuit G5 through the fuel gauge on circuit G4.

Circuit Z1 provides the ground path for the fuel level sensor. The grounding point for circuit Z1 is right rear door pillar.

As current flows through the coils in the fuel gauge, it creates a magnetic field. 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 fuel gauge circuit. A change in current flow alters the magnetic field in the fuel gauge, which changes the pointer position.