4 Wheel Drive/SUVs: Gas gauge, jeep grand cherokee, model jeep

Question
I just bought a used 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee.  I filled it up this weekend and this morning as I was driving the gas gauge went all the way to empty the low gas light came on and then quickly it went back to the almost full setting.  It did this several times on my drive into work (about 45 minutes).  It appeared to be when the tach was almost at 2 and there was no pattern to it.

Answer
Angela,

This can be tough to trouble shoot.  It sounds like you may have a bad ground, or loose wire somewhere.  See if you can check on top of the fuel tank, and see if a connection is loose, or if there are any loose wires hanging under the Jeep.  There may be a bad connection under the dash also.  Check out all the fuses, and make sure that they are plugged in tightly.  I would suggest that you purchase a repair manual (around $20) for your model Jeep.  These manuals give step by step instructions on most repairs, along with electrical diagrams.  The electrical part of the manual should give you the color codes of all the wiring, so that you can trace out the existing connections.  These manuals can come in handy for future trouble shooting.  They can be purchased at most auto parts stores.  Other than that, you may have to go to an automotive electrical shop, and have the wiring traced out.

  Carl.