fuel level sender problem plus other electrical bonuses

Hey all,

I have no fuel gauge reading, or at least the pointer is right down below empty despite the tank being more than half full. I have tested wiring at the back of the gauge and I am getting full voltage from both connections. Does that mean that the gauge is faulty?

If it's not the gauge then I'm thinking that the fuel tank needs to be dropped to get access to the sender unit?

As a side note, my dash power points work and I happen to have some speaker style plugs that fit beautifully. I think I'll wire up a cigarette lighter style power plug so I can charge my phone. The luxury!

Also, some kind soul has put in the wiring for a courtesy light above the rear view mirror and a switch on the rhs of the instrument panel. They have even gone to the bother of routing it through the headlamp switch so it will only operate when the lights are on. At least that reduces the likelihood of it being left on. There is no light there at the mo so I've bought a small classic mini light to go up there.

Good clean simple fun these landies!

Al.

You can just take the drivers seat base out and there is an inspection hatch under it, this gives you access to the top of the fuel tank.

If you contact the colourd wire [green I think] on the sender direct to earth,the gauge will go to full if ok.This means sender is at fault.

If you have the same voltage on both gauge terminals then it won't read anything! Check connectors to sender in the tank and the earth return.

Thanks all. As I understand it there is essentially a live passing through the gauge and then through the level sender and on to earth. The sender acts like a resistor and so changes the amount of current flowing through the loop. If I earth the right terminal on the gauge shouldn't it show full, I.e. Max current?

Electrics never were my strong point. Will run a few more tests tomorrow.

Al.

[QUOTE="Flat 6, post: 3890984, member: If I earth the right terminal on the gauge shouldn't it show full,

That is correct.

i ditched the original gauge

OK, thought I had this fixed but the setup was still flaky so I bought a new fuel level sender. Turned out the one I had was for a Defender.
So, fitted easily and gauge responded immediately but I have filled the tank half-full today (22 litres) and the gauge shows 1/4.
Should I be doing something to calibrate the fuel sender to the amount of fuel I have in the tank?
Al.

This may help:
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/fuel-gauge-not-reading-correctly.306805/

OK, ta. I'll install a new earth and report.

Al.

Bend the rod.
Works for a ballcock.