Dodgy fuel gauge

Hi all, As heading says my fuel gauge is reading empty(light on), but I have just filled it up. It dropped down, then shot back up, only to drop back down again a few miles later and has now stayed put.

I have already searched and found a post talking about the soldering on the pump. Will look at as soon as I can. What I want to know is -

If the guage is reading empty and the light is on will this affect how the pump acts? It was buzzing a bit louder than normal.

Cheers

Rob

mastiff said:

Hi all, As heading says my fuel gauge is reading empty(light on), but I have just filled it up. It dropped down, then shot back up, only to drop back down again a few miles later and has now stayed put.

I have already searched and found a post talking about the soldering on the pump. Will look at as soon as I can. What I want to know is -

If the guage is reading empty and the light is on will this affect how the pump acts? It was buzzing a bit louder than normal.

Cheers

Rob

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Check the sending unit first. If it is running well then the pump is good

Fur Trapper said:

Check the sending unit first. If it is running well then the pump is good

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Time for stoopid to stand up. Is this the sender unit on the pump?

mastiff said:

Time for stoopid to stand up. Is this the sender unit on the pump?

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generally on top of the fuel tank dependant on model

Can this be tested whilst still fitted or do I still have to remove it.

mastiff said:

Can this be tested whilst still fitted or do I still have to remove it.

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test the connections to it generally spade connectors you may just have a dodgy connection

Sorry about this, but can you confirm -
Do I need to remove the whole unit from the tank. I have currently lifted carpet, removed plate and all I have is the plug and the four pipes visible. I know I am getting to 'simple is as simple does' but I was born a doughnut and have continued to excel ever since.

mastiff said:

Sorry about this, but can you confirm -
Do I need to remove the whole unit from the tank. I have currently lifted carpet, removed plate and all I have is the plug and the four pipes visible. I know I am getting to 'simple is as simple does' but I was born a doughnut and have continued to excel ever since.

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test for power to the unit 1st before you go removing it

mastiff said:

Sorry about this, but can you confirm -
Do I need to remove the whole unit from the tank. I have currently lifted carpet, removed plate and all I have is the plug and the four pipes visible. I know I am getting to 'simple is as simple does' but I was born a doughnut and have continued to excel ever since.

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1. u have to take out the pump, the sender is attached to it...it can be replaced separately

2. the sender doesnt affect the pump's behaviour, it has separate circuit

see this

Okay, A couple of smacks to the head seems to have worked. Right there is power to the pump. Will remove and look at unit tomorrow after work. Thanks for the help - appologies for being a plum

Rob

Hi all, Didn't manage to get at the pump this weekend, but somehow the fuel guage has started to read properly:doh:. Only problem now is the pump is constanly screaming.

It's a new OE pump and new filter fitted two weeks ago. Air purged properly. Tank was half full at time of change(tescos) ran it down to just under 1/4 then brimmed it at sainsburys - this is when needle started to f'ck about and then the screaming started.

Is it the derv (as suggested on an old post) or do I just try and change it on warranty.

Cheers

Rob

Had exactly the same problem had to replace the pump again. The sender unit float is out of adjustment so when the tank is filled it will read zero a the float goes off the scale. After a few miles it will return to showing full. The loud humming noise happened aswell. Fitted another new pump from Craddocks and hey presto quiet pump and fuel gauge working fine.

****E!!!!!!!!!!!!!:doh:
Thanks for being the bearer of bad news.
Pain in the arse 'cos supplier wants old one back at time of exchange:blabla:.

Rob

Ok removed pump last saturday. Found nothing blocking the mesh. Did find a little bit of plastic inside the pump and managed to get it out. Replaced pump and was slightly quieter. Two days later and you can hardly hear it now.

New question is fuel gauge reads empty when tank is full. Could this be that when the float arm raises it goes past the copper contacts on the pump and so fails to send a reading to the guage.

If so, then I am thinking of bending the arm to a different angle to try and stop it lifting too far. Do you reckon this would work?

cheers

Rob

Thats was what was happeneing to mine but got mine changed due to the pump screaming away.Bending the float arm so that the float sits slightly higher should work.

put ignition on postion II while the pump is out and move the flotor arm up down slowly and see how the gauge acts then.

Presumably if I do this with the four pipes off then it won't try and pump. Don't want to burn the thing out.

mastiff said:

Presumably if I do this with the four pipes off then it won't try and pump. Don't want to burn the thing out.

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u better take out the pump relay(R1 engine bay)..the gauge has different circuit

Righto. Glad i asked

mastiff said:

Righto. Glad i asked

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i'm glad u asked too ... i should have told u from the beginning