Mutley Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 So last month put a new fuel tank on the 90 300tdi ........Have just run out of diesel and yet it's showing 1/4 of a tank on the gauge!?! Was all good before new tank fitted any ideas why it's reading wrong all of a sudden??? Cheers Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete3000 Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 Caught up on a baffle or scraping the tank on the way down, is it the 2 wire sender with no low fuel wire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted September 24, 2016 Author Share Posted September 24, 2016 Yep that's the one......Was thinking of taking the locking ring off and turning it to see if it was resting on a lip/edge as i know the bottom of the tank isn't flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco-Ron Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 Float will be stuck on the baffle around the fuel pick up........ quite common .... keep meaning to bend the float wire a bit on mine..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted September 25, 2016 Author Share Posted September 25, 2016 Think it's sorted? Took the locking ring off and noticed the rim on the tank had x2 locating slots, so turned the float to make sure the lugs on the underneath of the top were seated correctly, reconnect x2 wires, switch ignition on and low and behold the gauge is reading EMPTY!!!....Like I didn't know!!! Just put £30 of diesel in it so just have to see if the gauge drops as it should, would like to think so? The funny thing was no more than 45 SECONDS before it ran out off fuel, I was thinking how well the furl was lasting since I fitted the new tank, as the old tank was leaking as quick as I filled it! Then 100yds down the road round the roundabout another 100yds. cough splutter, instantly knew the problem! Only upside was, being a 300Tdi not having the issue of bleeding the engine in the dark when her ladyship turned up with the can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted September 25, 2016 Share Posted September 25, 2016 I had a 110 with a fuel gauge that could be 'misleading' - only ever ran out twice though. Once as I pulled into the yard at work, so I put a gallon of red in there to get me to the fuel station. And then once it started spluttering 100yds before a fuel station, so I dove in and coasted onto the forecourt. Luck was on my side! It was a similar problem with the float if I recall correctly. Glad to see you're sorted anyhow. Good excuse for a Sunday drive out to test it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwhacker Posted September 25, 2016 Share Posted September 25, 2016 I was having problems with my fuel sender not showing fuel on the gauge even just after filling. Well I removed the sender from the tank when the fuel level went down, I opened the small metal box thing and noticed the arm was not making contact with wire sensor thing. I was able to see the gauge move when I tensioned the arm on the sensor thing. I hope this is of help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted September 25, 2016 Author Share Posted September 25, 2016 Any info is of help Bushwacker thanks. Can you verify the where abouts the metal box incase i need to check at some stage? Thanks Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwhacker Posted September 25, 2016 Share Posted September 25, 2016 It's inside the tank with the fuel pickup pipe and the float mechanism. Mine was a side entry tank. As someone else has mentioned make sure the float and arm are not fouling on the baffles I think you need to turn it slightly as it's coming out and going back in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montyjn Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 I had exactly the same issue halfway down the M4 on Sunday. Not popular with my mates, but the RAC were very helpful! Does the arm need to be bent in a certain way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted September 26, 2016 Author Share Posted September 26, 2016 Not sure may need bending as i went out today and if i went round a left hand bend/corner it stuck at 1/4 of a tank and would not settle till i through it round a right hander?.....Back home took the float out to make sure no grit or cack was causing it to stick, so will have another drive tomorrow and see what happens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montyjn Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 I wonder if I should just bite the bullet and buy the LR part for £80 and see if it works.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted September 27, 2016 Author Share Posted September 27, 2016 Had a drive and it's still playing up!....So took the float out and shon a torch in to have a look and can't see what it could be catching on? The area is free of obstacles so gave the top area a good blast with WD40 and bent the float arm in a tadge, will report back agter another drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete3000 Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 might need a better new sender assembly, I bought one for the 110 a while back that had an incomplete weld/brazed pickup pipe so it would have leaked from the flange from new had i fitted it. It came in a blue box...... nuff said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted September 27, 2016 Author Share Posted September 27, 2016 Just checked the price of new 20 odd quid so do-able?.......just annoying that it worked fine before i put it in the new tank!?!......and all it is, is a bent wire with a hollow plastic ball one end and a gauge with printed metal scale the other, all moves freely, floats not catching so can't figure what the problem is???..... for something so simple it's frustrating to say the least! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montyjn Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 Mine is the low fuel light version for a v8 - £20 for Britpart or £80 for genuine LR. Sad times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete3000 Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 inside the case is most likely a wirewound resistor and a wiper, if the assembly has a flaw (when it's been pressed together/riveted) it could be intermittent. you could test it out of the tank with a multimeter set to 200ohm range, and see how the readings progress. However in reality it's probably less faff to get a decent new one, bearmach etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwhacker Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 That's the culprit. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 Ok so last ditch chance to sort this........ When on level ground with ignition on the fuel gauge reads 1/4 tank which is correct...... but within a few seconds of starting the engine and driving the fuel gauge rises to half way between 1/4 and half tank and stays there???.....If I throw it round a corner it does drop or rise slightly but then goes back? I have had the float out checked for any obstruction to cause it to stick? NONE.....Whilst out connected the wires and moved the float up and down manually, and the fuel gauge reads as it should on these occasions!?! Not keen on getting a new one as I am not convinced this one is fried and don't want same issue with new which is what I feel may happen?..... is there any way of checking if this one IS dud? again it has only been swapped from old tank to new tank and was working ok before so why not now??? Would like to be sure before a new float is ordered thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 a thought occurs, if the subject sender has 2 wires -- 1 for signal to fuel gauge & 1 to earth, is that wire intact/unbroken ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 Funny you should mention that Ralph. I have just checked the x2 wires this morning as when fitting the new tank i zip tied them to the return pipi bend to keep them out the way a bit. Think i might have pinched them a bit too much as they do feel well creased through the cover sleeve? So i think i might cut the wire at this point and reconnect then use shrink tubing over the top and see if that results in anything better??? Great minds and all that? Well yours anyway, mine not so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 before cutting the existing wires, would be worth running 2 new slave wires first to see if the gauge/sender still reacts in the same way . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Or just get. Multimeter out and test, don't guess! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 And should read 12V correct yes??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangerous doug Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 You want to test the sender using ohms and the loom in volts. As you move the sender arm resistance should increase and decrease Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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