Re: IML: IML DIGEST

[Joe Strickland <jwstrick426@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> From: "Jim Poltrock" <jtpoltrock@xxxxxxx>
> Subject: IML:  It worked yesterday...
> Date: Mon, 28 May 2007 13:34:19 -0500
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>  
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> Happy Memorial Day fellow IML members!
>
>  
>
> I took my '55 out for a drive this morning and discovered that my gas gauge
> is no longer working.  It was buried all the way down past "E".  I drove at
> top speed to the Mobil and topped her off with 13.0 gallons of 93 octane,
> hoping this would jar loose a sticky sending unit float- no go (my mileage
> on this last Tank was 11 mpg, around average).  The gauge still read E.  I
> found this strange because I had the car out for several trips yesterday and
> the gauge was working fine.
>
>  
>
> I replaced the sending unit after I bought the car- early in '05- and it has
> worked fine since.  Is it possible this sending unit "sank", or should I be
> looking elsewhere for the cause?
>
>  
>
> Also, a fellow motorist pointed out to me that my reverse lights are always
> on.  I move the shifter around and ended up just removing these bulbs.  They
> worked fine yesterday.
>
>  
>
> I have spent a lot of time getting everything 100% operational on my
> Imperial since I bought her- radio, windows, light switch, cigar lighter-
> and I would like to keep everything fully operational.  Any
> help/guidance/tips on these matters would be greatly appreciated.
>
>  
>
> Thanks.
>
>  
>
> Jim Poltrock
>
> '55 sedan
>
> 42k miles
>
> Wisteria blue over Rhapsody blue
Jim;

Since it had been working recently, I would first look for the 
possibility that the wire has come loose at the tank sending unit.  Also 
there could be a bad ground at the tank causing the problem.  If you can 
find where the ground lead is attached to the frame, un-fasten it and 
clean it and the area on the frame where it fastens.  You might want to 
consider putting a star washer between the ground lead lug and the frame 
along with some grease to keep moisture away from the connections.

There is also a possibility that the problem could be in the 
dash/instrument cluster area.  Many of these cars have a 5 volt 
mechanical voltage regulator for the gauges.  In operation you can see 
the pulsation of the voltage being fed to the various gauge circuits if 
you use an analog volt meter.  That is it's normal operation.  If there 
is not voltage on the gauges, you will note that other gauges may not be 
working either - temperature and possibly oil pressure.

I don't remember if the '55 models had an actual oil pressure tube going 
to the oil gauge or if it is strictly electrical.  You would have to 
check the service manual on that.

From memory I believe the individual gauges in the instrument cluster 
were hard wired and not part of an etched circuit board, so you will 
probably not have to be concerned about open wiring except at the tank.

I hope this helps.

Joe Strickland


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