dodgy fuel guage?

[mowerman]

Hi

The fuel guage has always been VERY slow to register on a fill up (like a few minutes to go up higher.... very gradually) but today I shoved £50 of diesel in the T2 and the guage has remained in the same place at a quarter full:nenau

Any ideas where to start? I did initially wonder if fual went in but the garage say no other complaints this morning and it certainly sounded like I was filling her up! I suppose I need to remove the sender unit and check it is ok, so does anyone have any advice on what/how to check it or what the problem might be?. Thanks in advance but am new to terrano's

 

[zippy656]

boot floor there a plate, remove to get access to top of tank and sender unit..

 

[rustic]

In the boating world there is a lot of talk about the diesel bug, can also be found in cars, this forms a gel and is known to block filters, reducing power, additives can be put into the tank to remove it.
More of a problem if there is water in the fuel.
That's why it is found in boats more as the fuel hangs around longer, in a damper environment.
Sounds like a sticking sender, rather than a broken wire, or bad connection.

So it might be the Bug !

Best regards,
Rustic

 

[mowerman]

Rustic.... a bit worried about the 'diesel bug' thing

I dont seem to have any loss of power or anything just the guage seems to be firmly sat on1/4 full !!! Have tried silly stuff like rocking the car and taking off the fuel cap (in case it was some sort of air lock) but no luck. ondered if it could be something as simple as a bad earth to the tank??? I have looked in the repair manual and it looks a reasonable job to get to, never done one before tho . Cant believe my luck as only had the thing a couple of months.... this is the first issue with the guage (just thought slow fuel gauge was a terrano thing?)... oh well looks like another weekend getting oily :doh

 

[rustic]

Rustic.... a bit worried about the 'diesel bug' thing

I dont seem to have any loss of power or anything just the guage seems to be firmly sat on1/4 full !!! Have tried silly stuff like rocking the car and taking off the fuel cap (in case it was some sort of air lock) but no luck. ondered if it could be something as simple as a bad earth to the tank??? I have looked in the repair manual and it looks a reasonable job to get to, never done one before tho . Cant believe my luck as only had the thing a couple of months.... this is the first issue with the guage (just thought slow fuel gauge was a terrano thing?)... oh well looks like another weekend getting oily :doh

They do take time to respond from filling up, and thinking about it can be a minute or two.
Easy to lift the rear carpet have a look, remove the plate etc check for damp connectors, wiggle it see if the gauge changes, unless of course you really have 1/4 tank as you first thought, then rocking the car will give a lot of sloshing.
Don't be too concerned about the diesel bug, look it up on the internet,
Best regards, Rustic

 

[mowerman]

Well..... drove the 30 mile trip home last night having done a bit more shaking and rocking the car etc..... guage sat rigidly on 1/4 until as I reversed to park (on a downward slope, fairly step) the blooming guage lept up to 1/2 :clap:clap:clap

Left it overnight and this morning it is happily sitting at the 3/4 mark where I would expect it to be after a fill...... So not panicking as I know the sender must have got stuck.... so if I have the time this weekend (planning to change all the drivetrain oils!!!) I will check the sender out..... Oh well looking forward to the next little gremlin that pops up :doh

 

[11redrex]

Well..... drove the 30 mile trip home last night having done a bit more shaking and rocking the car etc..... guage sat rigidly on 1/4 until as I reversed to park (on a downward slope, fairly step) the blooming guage lept up to 1/2 :clap:clap:clap

Left it overnight and this morning it is happily sitting at the 3/4 mark where I would expect it to be after a fill...... So not panicking as I know the sender must have got stuck.... so if I have the time this weekend (planning to change all the drivetrain oils!!!) I will check the sender out..... Oh well looking forward to the next little gremlin that pops up :doh

Or bug.