Fuel gauge not working

[Dave_F]

I have removed the rear cover over the tank, and tested the current from the front. I'm getting current although it is fluctuating up and down. Is this normal? I have also noticed that on the fuel gauge up front, the needle is bouncing at the bottom (empty).

Question is...DO you think that the sender unit in the tank is bad, or perhaps the gauge itself?

Any ideas?

[red90]

Sorry, what vehicle?? Most vehicles use a simple resistor for the sender. Defender units (and I suspect Discos/RR) use high resistance at empty and low at full. So a bad connection shows a fluctuation to the empty end. It can also be a worn sender as the same thing happens.

[Dave_F]

The vehicle in question is a 83 SIII 109 exMOD.

[Roverworks]

Check the voltage stabilizer behind the dash. It will have a double green and a single green wire going to it. Your meter is probably reading the bi-metallic strip in it as a V fluctuation. Also, check it is a 12V stabilizer not a 24V. When you ground the wire at the sender your needle should swing to full if it doesn’t pull the sender from the tank and check its operation.

Alan
Rover Works B.C. ltd

[Dave_F]

Thanks Alan,

I'll give it a shot and let you know how I make out.

Cheers,

DAve