Howdy all, my fuel gauge has been rooted for a while now but recently it has been all over the place. It never goes below half way way and always changes up and down.

What I want to know is if its the sender unit or the guage so i can replace either.

Cheers

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Howard: "You don't need a pen to be a writer Vince"
Vince: "I think you do"

more then likely a sender unit, but if it bobs around alot it may be a gauge cause the needle

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oil leak?..what oil leak..that puddle under the car is just sweat from all that horsepower

It is usually the sender. Easy to check. Pull the sender out (make sure the fuel level is low!) and check for a resistance change with a multimeter when you move the float up and down.

I repaired the one in my van (van senders are more exxy than sedan ones). The wire that connects the coil to the terminal is the same wire that is used in the coil! Real thin, about the thickness of a hair! I just soldered a bit of copper wire (took the insulating off) between the end of the coil and the terminal. Works a threat now!

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Yeah, take the sender out and put a multimeter accross the terminals.

As you move the float up and down, you should see the resistance gradually move from 19 Ohms to a 245 ish maximum.

It rarely does many Ohms this precisely, but if it only makes it half way, then you will get a 50 percent error on your gauge. Real easy stuff to diagnose.

If you're there, and it is busted, then unfold the little tabs on the sender cover, carefully lift it off and take to the wound wire in there with a fine piece of wet and dry. You don't need to do much, just give it a nice shine. Same with the metal wiper. If it continues after this, then some of the wires may be shorted out. Have a look for obvious damage.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.