TiggerToo
Well-Known Member
Tigger's fuel gauge has suddenly developed a fault: its needle points to way past the top of the scale. Is it likely to be the gauge dispaly or the actual fuel measuring component?How do I find out what is wrong?
fuel gauge
- Thread starter TiggerToo
- Start date
alan
Well-Known Member
Depends on the make and the type of sensor that is fitted. VDO have a sensor which is essentially a potentiometer and you can put a variable resistor in place pf the pot. and see if the gauge is working or not. In my (limited) experience it is usually the sensor which packs up. I have managed to fix a couple of potentiometer type units by resoldering broken connections/resistance wiring.
If it is of a "capacitance" type then it may not be repairable.
You really need to have a look at the manufacturers electrical drawings e.t.c. In the case of VDO these can be found on their web site.
Alan.
If it is of a "capacitance" type then it may not be repairable.
You really need to have a look at the manufacturers electrical drawings e.t.c. In the case of VDO these can be found on their web site.
Alan.
G
Guest
Guest
Depending on the item - especially if "named" item - could be cheaper and quicker to just replace withan item of Ebay or similar ! My boat tank has all fittings from the truck gauge original ... except the guage head ...
was cheaper and easier to bin the float assembly and replace with an Ebay set-up ... about 25 quid if I remember rightly ...
But of course it may still be alright - just a glitch in the gubbins ...
Most work on the variable resistance form ... so I would be inclined to take out float / tank assembly and move it around while a multi-meter si attached to see if anything happens ...
was cheaper and easier to bin the float assembly and replace with an Ebay set-up ... about 25 quid if I remember rightly ...
But of course it may still be alright - just a glitch in the gubbins ...
Most work on the variable resistance form ... so I would be inclined to take out float / tank assembly and move it around while a multi-meter si attached to see if anything happens ...
johnalison
Well-Known Member
The best fuel gauge I ever had was just a transparent tube alongside the tank which I marked in gallons.
rob2
Well-Known Member
My boat has a glassfibre tank, glassed in under the cockpit sole - so no room to fiddle around with senders and such! It had a sight glass arrangement consisting of 10mm bends top and bottom with a plastic tube between (just like Kermudjon suggests). Of course, the insurers didn't like this as a fire risk. I removed the tube, capped the top bend and put a bend, tap and copper pipe on the bottom one to a unit from BES intended for a domestic fuel oil tank. This cuts down to length very easily and has a press to use valve at the bottom. The extra tap next to the tank was fitted for two reasons - a heating plumber advised me that the press valves can become unreliable and I found a tap in B&Q that reduced from 10mm to 8mm (£5) - £15 in the swindleries!