car will not start and the gas gauge is pegged past full

 

Do you hear the fuel pump prime when you turn the key to "run"? Should run for 2 seconds, then turn off. The cause of the fuel gauge being plugged could be an open circuti (high resistance = high level indication). Since both the gauge level sensor wire and the fuel pump wires are in the same connector over the axle, I would check there:

Courtesy of Shoebox

Test Fuel Gauge/Level Sensor



If you have continuity on the fuel gauge circuit, and the pump is priming, check, the fuel pressure at the Schrader valve:

Courtesy of Shoebox

http://shbox.com/1/fp_reg.jpg

Should prime to at least 40psi, and not drop off rapidly.

With fuel verified, check for spark at several spark plugs, and at the coil wire.

Scan the PCM for codes.