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Fuel gauge over reading

PostPosted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:20 pm
by jimj
My fuel gauge has suddenly begun over reading, for example reading three quarters full when there`s probably only 3 gallons left. Is there an obvious cause?
Jim

Re: Fuel gauge over reading

PostPosted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 12:29 am
by neilsjuke
gauge voltage regulator
Neil

Re: Fuel gauge over reading

PostPosted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:19 am
by john.p.clegg
Jim

I would concur,the gauges are dampened,(fuel,water,oil) and if your Vreg is past its best as you increase revs you might notice movement on the first two gauges,and also,hopefully ,movement on the third...

John :wink:

Re: Fuel gauge over reading

PostPosted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:56 am
by Roy Gillett
I Agree, Voltage stabiliser.

I had the same thing earlier in the summer that this forum helped me sort out. My water temperature gauge also used to rise and fall irrationally.

Roy

Re: Fuel gauge over reading

PostPosted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 4:19 pm
by elansprint
Jim it will be the voltage regulator if you use a meter input to earth should be battery voltage of 12v & output to earth should be 10v even with engine running you will find the output is more or less the same as the input if it is faulty. There is someone on ebay selling a solid state version in the same case a lot more reliable
Ian

Re: Fuel gauge over reading

PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 10:39 am
by jimj
Are we talking about the didgeridoo that should be mounted on the back of the speedo? If so, mine isn`t and despite limboing with torch and mirrors I can`t find it anywhere. I`ve had the ash tray out and radio blanking plate off expecting it to be screwed to the back of the dash, but where?
Jim

Re: Fuel gauge over reading

PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 11:00 am
by paddy
Mine is just loose, hanging off the clump of wiring beind the dash. I don't know whether or not they were mounted anywhere originally.

Paddy

___________
1963 Elan S1

Re: Fuel gauge over reading

PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 1:30 pm
by types26/36
paddy wrote:Mine is just loose, hanging off the clump of wiring beind the dash.___________1963 Elan S1


Paddy, S1 and S2's did not have a gauge stabilizer so some one probally just fitted one to your car and left it loose.

Re: Fuel gauge over reading

PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 1:41 pm
by types26/36
jimj wrote: I`ve had the ash tray out and radio blanking plate off expecting it to be screwed to the back of the dash, but where?
Jim


Jim, I dont know which Elan you have but if its a S1/2 they were not fitted.
I had trouble with my S2 over reading, when I took out the tank unit the windings had broken where the finger slides over them, they had then attached to other windings and I would get a reading of a 1/4 tank then it would jump up to 3/4 or just mess around.
If you do replace the tank unit be sure to get the correct one for your car as 1/2 and S3/4 are different.

Re: Fuel gauge over reading

PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 3:59 pm
by jimj
Yes, I should have said, it`s a `67 S3,
Jim

Re: Fuel gauge over reading

PostPosted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 6:25 pm
by elansprint71
jimj wrote:My fuel gauge has suddenly begun over reading, for example reading three quarters full when there`s probably only 3 gallons left. Is there an obvious cause?
Jim


Someone cut three inches off the end of your stick? :twisted:

Actually mine used to work fine until I fitted an ally tank; since then it has over-read across the top three-quarters of the scale (and beyond) but the bottom quarter seems to be accurate. Can't see how that would be the regulator but can't think what it might be. :(

Cheers,
Pete.