Fuel gauge reads 3/4 when tank full
04-07-2004, 06:16 PM
#1
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Fuel gauge reads 3/4 when tank full
Has anyone fixed the problem with their fuel gauge showing a too low value?
I have read throgh old discussions about lots of people having this issue. Some have cleaned their fuel lever sender but without result.
Is it the fuel lever grounding that has to be cleaned? Where is that?
Anyone that has fixed this?
Thanks
Dave
951 -89
I have read throgh old discussions about lots of people having this issue. Some have cleaned their fuel lever sender but without result.
Is it the fuel lever grounding that has to be cleaned? Where is that?
Anyone that has fixed this?
Thanks
Dave
951 -89
04-07-2004, 06:18 PM
#2
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Mine does that. I have yet to own a german car that has 100% accurate gauges. I just live with it.
04-07-2004, 06:22 PM
#5
Three Wheelin'
Hi, Open up your hatch and pull the carpet out. On the passenger side of the car there should be a white or silver cloth square, under that is the sending unit, just unscrew the black plastic ring and that is all you need to do to remove the sending unit. The float may be stuck internally. Check it out.
04-07-2004, 06:24 PM
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Go into the hatch area, remove the carpeting (the one that snaps off, you shouldn't have to remove the side pieces). Under it you'll find a rubber pad, lift up and you'll see a fiber, fire-resistant pad that's glued to the bottom of the hatch area (to the metal). CAREFULLY peel this away and you'll be looking right at the fuel level sending unit - I think 8 6mm hex head fasteners, 3 wires - forget which one is which, but one is ground, one is for the idiot light, and one is for the level (gauge). Test it and if necessary replace it ($70 from Pelican). Be careful if you take the sending unit out or gas will go all over the place, you're looking straight down into the tank itself at that point.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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04-07-2004, 06:55 PM
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I have read that some have done that cleaning without positive result!
The problem may be in the sender grounding point somewhere inside of the firewall on the driver's side. But i dont really know where and what to do?
Seems like no one have really fixed it.
The problem may be in the sender grounding point somewhere inside of the firewall on the driver's side. But i dont really know where and what to do?
Seems like no one have really fixed it.
04-07-2004, 07:10 PM
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i beleive the reserve is somewhere near 3 gal, but i wouldnt test it. iirc, the early cars have a total of 15 gal for fuel, the late ones have 21 or so.
the wacky fuel guage readings can be fixed by cleaning the contact at the GUAGE or at the sender. i found the problem in our 85.5 to be in the guage contact.
-Mike-
the wacky fuel guage readings can be fixed by cleaning the contact at the GUAGE or at the sender. i found the problem in our 85.5 to be in the guage contact.
-Mike-
04-07-2004, 07:12 PM
#11
Race Car
the problem is not with the sender, it's with the calibration of the gauge itself. cleaning the sender won't help.
when i installed my white face gauges, i removed the needle from the fuel level gauge, and when reinstalling, i rotated the needle counterclockwise just enough so that the limit of travel of the needle is on the "empty" mark - it does not travel any lower. (you'll notice that currently, your needle will travel below the empty mark before the light comes on, and may stay there for a while, and when full, it will only read 3/4). my fix was to readjust the actual needle, so that now it truly reads empty. the problem is that now it takes over 100 miles for it to show that i've used any gas after a fillup. oh well.....
when i installed my white face gauges, i removed the needle from the fuel level gauge, and when reinstalling, i rotated the needle counterclockwise just enough so that the limit of travel of the needle is on the "empty" mark - it does not travel any lower. (you'll notice that currently, your needle will travel below the empty mark before the light comes on, and may stay there for a while, and when full, it will only read 3/4). my fix was to readjust the actual needle, so that now it truly reads empty. the problem is that now it takes over 100 miles for it to show that i've used any gas after a fillup. oh well.....
04-08-2004, 08:49 AM
#14
I found the low fuel warning lamp to be pretty accurate.
Also, I use the trip odometer as a secondary indicator of how far I've gone since the last fillup, which helps as well.
Also, I use the trip odometer as a secondary indicator of how far I've gone since the last fillup, which helps as well.
04-08-2004, 09:09 AM
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The cauge is responding to a voltage signal from the sender.
The 1/4 off is famous, there is a write up somewhere on the web, seen it some time ago but lost the link.
Cause is most probably grounds and or corroded contacts on the sender. The sender itself seems to last.
To check get the good old Fluke and measure voltage over the (disconnected) wires at the sender and compair that with the reading between positive wire and a solid ground.
TakeCare
The 1/4 off is famous, there is a write up somewhere on the web, seen it some time ago but lost the link.
Cause is most probably grounds and or corroded contacts on the sender. The sender itself seems to last.
To check get the good old Fluke and measure voltage over the (disconnected) wires at the sender and compair that with the reading between positive wire and a solid ground.
TakeCare