Buick/Olds: fuel gage, little peg, oldsmobile cutlass

Question
I have a 97 Oldsmobile Cutlass (the kind that looks like a Malibu). I recently had a dead battery that I had to replace. While it was dead, my fuel gage dial got messed up.

Let's say the dial is usually between 9 o'clock (pointing straight left, on "empty") and 12 o'clock (pointing straight up, on "full"). There is a little peg at 9 o'clock so that even when the car is off and the dial is totally relaxed, it stays at 9 o'clock instead of falling down to 6 o'clock.  

Okay, so while I was replacing the battery, the dial somehow ended up underneath this little peg (it must have rotated clockwise all the way around). Now when the car is off the dial is at 6 o'clock, and when the car is on the dial is under the peg, pushing up against it just under 9 o'clock. It's impossible to tell how much gas I have because the dial is always on empty. I just reset the trip odometer everytime I fill up and keep track that way.

My question is, is this something I could easily fix myself? It seems like such a silly little thing, but I don't know how to get in there and don't want to mess up anything else. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your expertise!!!!  

Answer
Usually that happens from the surge the car gets when the battery cable first touches the battery post.  Try removing the cable and reattaching it.  You'll see or hear the arc when a connection is made.  That will fix the problem, but it's a little tricky.  if you can't get it, you may want to call a cousin or an uncle who has had to do that before.

Thanks,

Ray Barham

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