Fuel gauge problems

[pereirac]

HI,
If the fuel sender goes open circuit does the fuel gauge read empty or full? Mine stopped working on Saturday and the needle fluctuates between below empty to ¼ full! I am hoping it's the voltage stabiliser behind the rev counter and not the sender as this is easier to change?

I noticed there are two fuel senders available, one for a Series 1-3 and one for S4's and Sprints, just wondered what the difference was?

There is a company called Automotive Sporting Heritage adverting fuel senders for the Elan for a lot less than some of the usual suspects, does anybody have experience of buying from them?

Thanks in advance.

Carl

[alan.barker]

Bonjour Carl,
I would check if the Earth to the Voltage Stabiliser bracket is good.
Alan

[elanner]

viewtopic.php?f=40&t=37908

[Craven]

S1-3 use a different gauge & sender to the later cars. Your car, if the sender is open circuit will read empty if short circuit read full.

[pereirac]

S1-3 use a different gauge & sender to the later cars. Your car, if the sender is open circuit will read empty if short circuit read full.

So reading ½, ¼ and sometimes empty sounds like dodgy earth or voltage stabiliser ..

Here's hoping, I really don't want to drain my fuel tank!

[alan.barker]

Carl,
try a test wire from body of Voltage Stabiliser direct to Engine (good earth).
Good luck
Alan

[mbell]

Are you sure it an electrical issue? Maybe the in tank float has split and no longer floats correctly. I believe the float is plastic so quite possible for it to fail with age in a tank of modern fuel.

[alanr]

I would agree..probably the float.
On my +2 the gauge fluctuated around the 1/4 mark and didn't increase regardless of how much fuel I put in the tank.
I discovered the plastic float on the sender unit had sprung a leak and was half full of fuel. I just replaced the float and the gauge then read perfectly.

Alan

[alan.barker]

Carl,
You must get this fixed for le Coupe Florio or use a Dip Stick like on the Lotus Sevens.
Alan