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Did I break something?
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=66292		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  minimanda [ Wed Oct 13, 2010 3:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Did I break something?
I put petrol in yesterday. $25 worth :D filled all the way to the top. Any ways
I got in the car ... turned her over and the fuel needle is on 1/2 way.. I'm confuzzled. Did I break something ? Not that I did anything to break it. Cept give her fuel :(
Author:  bnicho [ Wed Oct 13, 2010 3:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
Smiths + Lucas = gauges that at best are approximate in Minis.

It's normal for Mini fuel gauges to be dodgy. :(
Author:  minimanda [ Wed Oct 13, 2010 3:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
So how do I reset it ? Or um ... Fix the issue at hand?
Author:  ryan [ Wed Oct 13, 2010 3:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
It could be a few things.

First of all, was it working before this? I'm guessing yes.

Check the wires coming off the fuel tank.

Another common problem is the float on the inside of the tank crack and fill with fuel and no longer float.

Ryan
Author:  minimanda [ Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
It was working before this. The thing about the float sounds like it could be the go. How do I go about checking this. ?
Author:  subwayseth [ Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:10 pm ]
Post subject: 
take out sender unit from tank & inspect float for cracks. good idea to remove fuel before commencing this procedure :lol:
Author:  minimanda [ Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
Ok. Sounds like fun. I might do this tomorrow.
Author:  Lillee [ Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
Consider disconnecting your battery. I have a kill switch so it's a very simple task to do. Anytime dealing with petrol, always work outdoors or in a well ventilated place.

Open the boot and you will see a 2 wires coming out of the fuel tank out of a round plate.

Run your petrol down well below this hole. The round "plate" which holds the entire sender, arm and float twists off the fuel tank I think in an anti clockwise direction from memory. Then the whole thing can come out. If the float is filled with petrol, you can try to repair it with glue or just buy a new/good s/h one.

You may want to consider buying this before attempting this procedure:
http://www.minis.com.au/minis/catalog/p ... cts_id=729
Author:  phillb [ Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
If your tank is fairly full you should be able to see the float through the filler spout (hopefully floating) You might need a torch or have the car out in the daylight.

The float should be at the back of the tank pretty close to the spout. Usually it's a cream colour about the size of a cotton reel on the end of a wire arm.
Author:  minimanda [ Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:48 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks. Will keep all that in mind when I look it over tomorrow. Just worried that somethings broken .. I don't want to go back to my skyline days where I was driving around with a 5L geri of petty cause the guage doesn't work :(
Author:  VulcanBB18 [ Wed Oct 13, 2010 5:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
Could be a bad voltage stabiliser as well, do you have a small rectangular looking box on the back of the speedo? One side of the fuel gauge should be connected to it.

The original voltage stabilisers are mechanical in operation, one of the new solid-state replacement units you can get are MUCH better.

cheers

Jacob
Author:  superSeven [ Wed Oct 13, 2010 5:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
minimanda wrote:
Thanks. Will keep all that in mind when I look it over tomorrow. Just worried that somethings broken .. I don't want to go back to my skyline days where I was driving around with a 5L geri of petty cause the guage doesn't work :(


hah! I like to think my fuel gauge is fairly accurate.. it is at least the most accurate of any mini I have owned. When full, it reads full, when half full it reads ~half full, and when empty, well.. I've ran out of fuel before...

minis (and a lot of older cars) are not known for their accurate fuel gauges. And Empty on a mini is a lot less fuel than Empty in a modern car...

So it's not a bad idea to run around with a 5L gerry can, I do!
Author:  GT mowog [ Wed Oct 13, 2010 5:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
Do a simple quick test first - then you'll know which way to look.

Open the boot, look on the side of yr fuel tank. You'll see a black and a green wire attached to the side of it.

Disconnect the Green wire and short it to earth, make sure it's a good connection and do it with the key ON. Watch the gauge, it should go up fairly quickly to FULL.

If it does then the problem is the sender, if it does not, the the problem is the gauge and / or voltage regulator.
Author:  phillb [ Wed Oct 13, 2010 5:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
minimanda wrote:
Thanks. Will keep all that in mind when I look it over tomorrow. Just worried that somethings broken .. I don't want to go back to my skyline days where I was driving around with a 5L geri of petty cause the guage doesn't work :(


So just to confirm you have filled the car up that much before and the guage has read full?

I ask because on my car the gauge won't read full unless I fill it literally right up to the spout.(which I rarely do or it spills out the cap)

If I fill until the nozzle clicks off the the gauge usually only shows just over half.

The voltage regulator is definately worth replacing anyway. Wombat on the forum makes up and sells an electronic one. My fuel and temp gauges are now super consistant since fitting one.

Wombat on this forum makes an excellent electronic replacement
Author:  Wombat [ Wed Oct 13, 2010 5:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
phillb wrote:
Wombat on this forum makes an excellent electronic replacement


Ahhh shucks :oops:





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