Fuel Gauge

Wingnut · Post by **Wingnut** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:20

One small issue on my newly aquired '90 SE is that the fuel gauge needle jumps around alot making it V.hard to tell the level accurately.

Any idea how I can tell if it is the gauge or the sender that is to blame, or is it definately going to be one or the other. Instinct tells me it is the sender but I don't want to go and way out >£60 only to find its the other end

In anticipation of it being the sender does the tank come out esily to get to the top of it and replace the sender unit?

Thanks in advance.

W.Nut.

robertverhey · Post by **robertverhey** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:29

Dare I suggest, they all do that sir.....

I've learned to live with it, and am guided more by miles since last full tank, and whether the low fuel light stays on even in both left and right hand corners......

Has anyone sorted (really sorted) this Excel quirk?

Robert

RobB · Post by **RobB** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:39

Like Robert says: that's not a fault.. that's a feature - TADTS!

I think there's a thread on here somewhere regarding a possible way of dampening the reading, but I too have learnt to live with it over the last 10 years... but look on the bright side, it can always be used as a 'hard cornering' indicator!

Ho hum, Happy motoring!

Wingnut · Post by **Wingnut** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:48

Thanks for the replies. Rather than swaying up or down (as would with an undamped sender when going round corners) it is flicking about like there is a short. Is the flicking a case of TADTS?

Cheers.

RobB · Post by **RobB** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 08:56

Seriously though, the fuel does have a tendancy to slosh about quite a bit in the tank (especially at lower levels), and the gauge needle immediately responds to any level changes (at least on mine it does this). Are you seeing it jump about when you're stationary? What's it like with the ignition switched on but the engine not running? If it's jumping about at all times then there's probably a problem worth investigating.

Cheers,
Rob.

Wingnut · Post by **Wingnut** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 09:09

Jumps around constantly.

robertverhey · Post by **robertverhey** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 09:13

Hmmm, mine also do this, but gauges all seem to "jump" in unison when a relay kicks in or out. Is it just your fuel gauge? Or others as well?

I've scoured the workshop manual but it appears that these gauges run on a full, undamped 12 volts. wonder if others have this experience as well?

Robert

Wingnut · Post by **Wingnut** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:18

All other gauges are working perfectly. The flickering doesn't appear to be related to any other electircal activity such as a relay kicking in or out

Maybe it is a dodgy connection somewhere.

Ozzy_UK · Post by **Ozzy_UK** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:07

i like to try to get the tank to less than 0 when cornering with a 1/4 full tank

i call it negative g.... (where the g stands for gas)

anyhow... was seriously looking at getting a replacement for all my guages, anyone replaced all the guages? if so, with what, i would quite like to color match with the bodywork (white) and wheels (white)...

also looking at a replacement sender if i was going to replace the guage anyway...

would demon-tweaks be the place to do this?

Oz.