As the title says, I have a 359 Pete with the 3406 KittyKat in it. Since we purchased this truck we can't seem to get either fuel gauge to move off of E. Has the toggle switch to check tanks, but the up position on the switch doesn't see any activity, where as the lower position just sits at E. The float isn't stuck and moves freely. What course should I go? Anything I can test with a multimeter? Or should I chase wires?
87' 359 Fuel Gauge
Discussion in 'Peterbilt Forum' started by Erik Blazer, Mar 5, 2020.
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Most likely the sender units are bad.
The floats will swing even if the senders are shorted. Very common on the vintage trucks. Nothing else really will go bad. Gauges do sometimes but senders are usually the problem.
They make a tube type replacement sender with a floating ball in it. Much more reliable and accurate. Be prepared to pay up to $60 a piece for them. I’ve had them for 17 years in twin 90 gals. with no problems.Erik Blazer and 650cat425 Thank this. -
Pull senders out and run a new temp test wire from them to the gauge and by hand move float arm and see if needle moves. If does than sender good. Than you can test switch same way. Temp wire to gauge from switch and from sender to switch. If works than you know truck wire from sendor to dash is bad. You well have to ground out the mounting plate on the sender to test. Hold it to something to get a ground or use a jumper wire to a ground.
The sender needs good separate ground wire from frame to a mount plate screw when mounted in the tank. Without that nothing will work.Erik Blazer and AModelCat Thank this. -
The float actually floats right? As they age I've been told they sink.
Erik Blazer and SmallPackage Thank this. -
120 isn't that bad, we havnt had to replace much on this truck thankfully. Glad to hear that the tube styles will work. Thank you

Will give that a try, I didn't think about running test leads that way, it's always the simplest of ways we tend to forget Thank you, we will be giving that a try soon
Yes, this was one of the first test I did on it. On some of our older Mack's they would have an issue of getting stuck or binded. I'm lucky enough that my arm fits into the tank
Thank you all for your help, it's greatly appreciated.SmallPackage Thanks this.
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