Dead Gas Gauge????

Me again I got the 98 saturn SL2 (with 100K miles) running good but there are 3 problems. The gas gauge wont work, it always shows empty with the light on, I put about 5=gallons in. Is there a fuse for that? I was under the car and I could not find any wires coming from the gas tank. Just fuel lines.
The next one is, When I first start the car when its cold, It is a little noisey. It sound like its coming from the timing chain area up top but I cant really tell, I changed the oil and used 2050w and added some Lucas oil tratment. A few minutes later it disapears when it gets warmer. Does the knock sensor have anything to do with this?? It is not a consistant tick like one from a valve, it is more erratic knocking but only cold and as I hit the gas. If I hold the gas at 2-3K rpm it is gone. Just that initial instant when I hit the gas.

The last one is the stupid wipers. They have a mind of there own when I satrt the car they come on and stop where eber they feel like. Usaully in the middle of the windshield. ANy ideas???? Thanks Guys

1. *guessing* a bad sending unit. you can find the wires going thru the drivers side of the trunk, you may have to pull out the trim.

2. if the oil is not change regulairy over the life of the car, the timing chain is the first victim. $20 for the chain, or $200 for the whole kit, and about $600 for labor

3. exactly how random is the motion? does it only happen when you start the car? does the lever still work normally?

I found the wires in the trunk coming from below, but were is the sending unit? In the gas tank? Meaning I have to remove it?

I sounds lik it is coming from the timing chain but like I said, A couple minutes later its gone. Anyway, I doesnt look so bad to replace. The Hormonic balance has to be removed right?? I put in heavy oil. Do you think this makes it worse. Are the tensioners hydlaulic meaning thinner oil would be better for them? If I do change the chain, The tensioners ought to be changed as well right?
The wipers; Everytime I satrt the car they come on. Then stop were ever they want. then sometimes it works fine. weird.
I might just sell it cheap. The car is in excellent shape besides this stuff buit any way I hope you can anwser my questions, Thanks for the reply.

i beleave the sender is mounted on the pump, but i'm not sure. is you have a ohm meter you can check it with the wires you found. contect to the B and C pins on the connector(as i'm told) the wires should be purple and black with a white stripe.

18 ohms = 12 gals
68 ohms = 9 gals
113 ohms = 6 gals
163 ohms = 3 gals
195 ohms = 1.5 gals
677 ohms = 1 gal/empty

if the sender tests good, then the gauge cluster may be bad.


if you have the money get the $200 kit, it has the chain, tensioner, sprockets, and some other stuff i think.

i have heard heavy oil helps, but i havn't seen it myself. but don't use the lucas junk, it makes air bubbles in the oil.( does the store where you got it from have the little gear demo?, turn the thing really fast for 30 seconds or a minute, and you'll see the air.) some people swear by it, i swear at it.


with the wipers more important then where is when? does it stop as soon as you release the key? or just when ever? i'm thinking a short somewhere but then i would think you would also turn on the starter with the wipers. double check all the fuses, i have heard of some random fuse blow screwing up the wipers, but i don't remember witch one.

another idea i just thought of but i bet is impossible,is if the wire to the wipers was to close to the starter it may induce a current and then.... naw forget it, that is impossable.

this is a auto right? try starting it in gear, it shouldn't start, but i wonder if the wipers would still move?

Everytime The engine starts, the wipers activate for about 5 or six wipes then it stops were ever it wants to. I have to keep turning them on and off to get them to stop and the bottom of the windsheild.
I am about to start taking apart the timing chain, 1 question though, When I put the 1st pison to TDC does it matter what stroke it is in?
I am going to try the gauge wires now, Be back soon thanks again!

TDC compression, buy a haynes manual before you start, its worth its weight in gold.

i'll see if i can find a good wiring diagram for the wipers.

I checked the wires and they were good, i had I think it was 120 ohms. So I dont know what else to check, I started taking apart the dash and it sucks so I put it back together. Getting dicouraged, I think Im going to sell it cheap. Or fix it Hmmmmmmmm.