Fuel sender unit

Russbus

Russbus

Active Member
Evening all,
My fuel gauge only registers to half way up to a quarter of a tank, when I got the car it did not work at all and turned out to be the thin wire from in the sender unit, I re soldered it put back together I have since removed it twice and it works OK showing all the way to full on the gauge if I connect it and move it manually.
It has at least 8 gallons in and still will not go above 8th of a tank on gauge, could it have the wrong sender unit in as when I first looked at it it had obviously been removed at some point due to silicon instead of a seal.
Could the wrong unit cause the problem?
Thanks Russ
 
If it works off the car, it should work on the car. I don't suppose you took a picture of it when it was out?

Richard
 
I'd have thought two possible issues, when in the tank it is catching on something and unable to move freely or the float has a hole in it so it's not "floating". If it's the wrong sender unit then it could cause either of the above. Have you compared it with the picture in the parts books to see if its the same one?
 
Just a quick thought, you say you've tested it: how? I am thinking that you've connected it up and moved the float up and down with your hand? If so why not test it in some liquid to see if it's actually working as it should?
 
Hobby said:
Just a quick thought, you say you've tested it: how? I am thinking that you've connected it up and moved the float up and down with your hand? If so why not test it in some liquid to see if it's actually working as it should?
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Yes I extended the wires so I could see the gauge and move the float .
I will try out of the car in liquid next , thanks for the info
 
If testing it out of the tank shows the needle going through the complete sweep, the wire to the float might have bent so that it's not displaying correctly when in the tank.
As I suggested above, they can be adjusted by bending the wire.
 
Update on the fuel gauge, gauge is only showing a small amount of fuel in the tank , it started to show less over the past few weeks so out came the sender for the 4th time and the float had filled up again .
By chance I spotted new floats on Ebay so got one on order due Wednesday so car is on ramps till then as I can't be bothered refilling and then emptying it to put new float in .
While I was under the car I noticed there's no bump stop on rear suspension, should there be one fitted
 

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Being as I had a free day I fitted front driving lamps and rear fog lights , they are used items off Ebay so cleaned and painted them to spruce them up , made some brackets and ordered some wire and switches for them .
Already got a fuse box and relays so later this week i will wire them up .
 
In answer to your previous question, yes you should have rear bump stops. Best to fit them, otherwise something that’s not designed to take it will be providing the bottom out limit on the rear suspension.
 
Float arrived today so re installed the sender unit with it's new float , filled the tank and all seems ok so I can now use car for work tomorrow.
Also put some rover badge stickers in the centre of the hub caps and fabricated a plate and sprayed it black to mount a fuse box and relays for recently fitted driving lamps
 
Hurrah, a working fuel gauge hopefully for a wile .
Stickers to finish wheel covers off .
Fogs and driving lamps fitted , located the wiring for the front lights but does anyone know if a relay is needed due to the headlights go off when fog position is used .
Rears wired via a relay and led bulbs fitted for less load on the wiring system
 

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I believe it’s ok for the MOT that the headlamps go off when the fog lamps are switched on. It’s as designed, so should pass. However a relay Or two would be sensible to reduce the electrical load on the fuse box.
 
Tom W said:
I believe it’s ok for the MOT that the headlamps go off when the fog lamps are switched on. It’s as designed, so should pass. However a relay Or two would be sensible to reduce the electrical load on the fuse box.
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Front fog lamps not part of the MOT test at the moment
 
Thanks it's Mazda colour on body and roof , it was already painted when I bought it .
It was parked in the yard at work and a wagon driver turned in today and I thought he was delivering to us but no he just wanted to look at car and take a few pictures.
A few weeks ago a Morris minor pulled in parked next to it and took photos of both then left .
 
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