Searching a fuel sender that actually works

Hi,

I am struggling with my 1986 Petrol fuel gauge sender and finding a replacement part that actually works as it should. The vehicle has been off the road for 15 years or so and this is the last hurdle to getting back on the road reliably.

I have tested the fuel gauge. 12v across the terminals and the gauge shows full.
I have tested the low fuel light by earthing the slate/ white wire at the sender. The warning lamp works.
I Earth the black/green wire at the sender and the gauge shows full.
I have tried two new BritPart sender units and get the same result on the bench and in the vehicle. The fuel gauge works but only shows full to half full and the low fuel light is always on.
My helpful parts supplier in Devon suggested this is a wiring problem but did replace the part. The results are the same on the bench with test wires on the second sender unit.

I have read a thread on another forum suggesting this issue could be that a 24v sender is being used in a 12v vehicle but besides the part number I have no way to tell.

Is is a second faulty part? A common fault? Is there an alternative supplier that has better reliability? My Devon supplier said not... Petrol senders aren't even available through the scrap and recycling route.

Any helpful suggestions appreciated. This vehicle has been rescued and deserves to be back on the road reliable and not running out of fuel.

Cheers

I recall reading somewhere that the Britpart sender may have had an issue with wire incorrectly connected within the sender unit itself.

I fitted a Bearmach sender recently and had to swop the terminals around to make it work correctly, certainly wasn't the same as the original one but it all works ok now.

Birdbrain said:

I recall reading somewhere that the Britpart sender may have had an issue with wire incorrectly connected within the sender unit itself.

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Thanks for your experience with this. I'll return the second BritPart one and continue my quest.

Litch said:

I fitted a Bearmach sender recently and had to swop the terminals around to make it work correctly, certainly wasn't the same as the original one but it all works ok now.

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I'll try to find a Bearmach one. Where did you source one?
When you say swap the terminals around do you mean swap the wires around as Earth, sender and low fuel are in a different sequence to your previous one?

Thanks!

Yes, that is correct.
The sender looked identical to the original one so I assumed that the connections would be the same but it was not to be. Can't remember which pair I had to swop but it worked straight away after that (level & low fuel light).
Never heard of any issue with BP senders, only brought Bearmach as it was the best price at the time (early this year).