Hello,

My gas gauge stopped functioning a few weeks ago. I initially thought that it might be due to a filled float. When the gas tank got close to empty the needle would sometimes move up a little bit.

This past weekend I took it on a long trip and the gauge came back to life. The car sat unused for a few days and when I drove back home, it was initially dead again but, again, came back to life shortly thereafter.

I know think its electrical. Another symptom that may be related is that my rear window wiper also started malfunctioning around the same time or, at least, that is when I noticed it.

If anybody could point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

Joe

One day we returned from a trip in a 240 sedan to find the tank of our 240 wagon empty. Or so we thought for a moment.



Seems a rodent got hungry.

If you want to diagnose the trouble yourself, there's some useful tips in here: http://cleanflametrap.com/transferPump.htm
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?

Hi,

Ok, I will do some guess work that this car is a wagon! There is no other information in your post as to what year the cars is or its condition.
Is this a daily driver or was it a keepsake in a garage or an open field?

I do get it, that the car sits a lot and it must be an electrical issue.

The fuel gauge operates on a low voltage and current flow through a variable resistance setup by the float arm.
Since it's intermittent it's either a sticky sender working with the resistors wiper contact.
You could have a bad connection at the gas tank or forward to the instrument cluster.
Some of the wiring can be found easily in the thin trunk area in the highest area of the hump.
It heads to a plate that can give you access to the sender and inner tank pre-pump if further testing warrants it.
Check out the connector and a ground point for corrosion.

The rear wiper in the tailgate is a separate issue. Depending on the year of the car and how the wiring runs into the tailgate or its grounding method.
There are other components that vary also with the years that cannot be discussed without more information being forthcoming.

You are the eyes, ears and hands on the tool called a keyboard.

Phil