unreliable fuel gauge

B

Brains

New Member

Posts

5

Location

Plymouth

• Dec 2, 2010

• #1

Hi all,

Any thoughts on this one please:

My fuel gauge seems to have a mind of its own. I can put fuel in and the needle goes to minus, switch off and leave for a while, turn back on and it will give me a reading (for a while) then drop off, back up again and the minus.

thank you

 

jwaldron

New Member

Posts

284

Location

YNYS MON (North Wales)

• Dec 2, 2010

• #2

sender unit or gauge itself... some of the other (more knowledgeable) guys should be able to direct you here... don't know if you can voltage test the signal from the sender to see what's going on.

I do know that they are a 'guide' at the best of times... but that does sound a bit excessive... keeps you on your toes tows I bet..

 

wammers

No longer with us, RIP

Donater

Posts

58,170

Location

Preston Lancs.

• Dec 2, 2010

• #3

Brains said:

Hi all,

Any thoughts on this one please:

My fuel gauge seems to have a mind of its own. I can put fuel in and the needle goes to minus, switch off and leave for a while, turn back on and it will give me a reading (for a while) then drop off, back up again and the minus.

thank you

Click to expand...

Almost certainly sender unit is worn out. The wiper is losing contact with the coil.

 

B

Brains

New Member

Posts

5

Location

Plymouth

• Dec 2, 2010

• #4

is it a diy job to change sender?

 

wammers

No longer with us, RIP

Donater

Posts

58,170

Location

Preston Lancs.

• Dec 2, 2010

• #5

Brains said:

is it a diy job to change sender?

Click to expand...

That would depend on how good you are at DIY. The sender is attached to the in tank pump. On some petrol models it can be replaced seperatly without replacing pump. But they are silly money for what they are. Most would just change pump and sender. It means either dropping tank out or cutting a hole in floor to get at it.

 

S

sandyt

Well-Known Member

Posts

1,615

Location

Wraysbury Nr Heathrow

• Dec 2, 2010

• #6

not that this will help you but my missus car has a guage problem every time I get in her car it goes immediately to minus f knows how she gets it to run think she might be related to Harry Potter - does it do it at all levels ie full half etc

 

R

ROBV8

New Member

Posts

48

Location

Tring hertfordshire

• Dec 2, 2010

• #7

Assuming it's a p38 then tank removal is easy mate. I had my tank out and back in again on saturday in less than a hour. I do admit i had car on a pit! But have done it on floor before and not alot longer to be honest.