fuel gauge messed up

[98oldscutlass]

i own a 1998 old cutlass and i resently replaced the altinator. After doing this i noticed the fuel gauge to be messed up. i reseached it and found out that a power spike caused the needle to moved the whole way around, but i do not know how to fix this... does anyone know how to fix this, or remove the dash cluster to get to the needle?

[xeroinfinity]

Welcome to AF.

I dont think the needle will move 360 degrees, if it did, then your clusters fuel gauge is broke and you would need to replace the entire ICP.

What is more likly happend, is the level float in your fuel tank has malfunctioned and needing replaced.
A typical N body problem from 1997-2001, 2002.

My 99 GA SE floats around and it only regsters 2 things full or empty.

[98oldscutlass]

i researched this problem and know people that it happend to. i guess its like a power surge when your reconect your battery, i know this too because my radio was messed up(like the clock was wrong). i was just wondering if anyone knew how to take the dash apart to get to it, but thanks for your help

[xeroinfinity]

You didnt say you jumped it .....
I would suspect the ICP was all bad not just the fuel gauge, it should have blown a fuse.

[cutlasscrazy]

Man I have 98 Cutty. I have the same problem, DONT TAKE IT TO A DEALER OR TAKE APART YOUR GAUGE CASEING ITS FINE.

All you do is get you a piece of speaker wire about 4-5 inches long and strip about half of it off the bend the end in to a little hoop. then it the should fit right through the hole where you button to rest you trip is, so just put the little hoop around the tip of the needle and push it toward the engine temp gauge. Now it takes a few times and a lot of will power but it works every time. What your trying to do is pop the needle back around once you try it you will see more of what I am saying.