i have several questions for the technically biased among you as i am stumped

2003 ranger 2.3 i replaced the fuel module because the fuel pump was below pressure, this corrected the fuel problem but the fuel gauge now acts strangely.

i removed the fuel tank module from the tank,(remember this is all new) with the ignition off, if i move the float arm, the gauge does nothing as it should, if i turn the key on, the gauge sets the gauge to the that which is equivalent to the float arm position as it should, however the gauge remains in that position no matter where i move the float arm until i turn off the ignition at which time it stays still but when turned back on it will assume the correct position for the float arm.

to put it another way, by turning off the key and then back on it shows the current fuel level but doesn't change when driving until i turn it off and back on.

the ohms are within the 165 - 15 window from full to empty.

i removed the fuel tank module and re installed the sender unit from the old module but the problem remained.

the gauge does not move whilst the key is on, only when it is turned from off to on, this also applies when i ground out the sender the gauge reads empty and at open circuit it reads full but only when the key it turned from off to on, not if the key is on and i ground the gauge.

i do not believe that the gauge could be suddenly defective.

the wiring for the new fuel pump module looks the same as the old other than the power wire from the gauge is now blue instead of yellow.

the plug has 7 pins in two rows in the "4" row the center two are for fuel pump power/ground the outer two are for the gauge, did ford in there wisdom swap these two wires when they changed the color from yellow to blue?

is there a anti slosh module in the back of the gauge cluster?

if so, and there was a change in the wiring, could i have damaged the anti slosh module?

i'm desparate here guys and need some help.