Fuel gauge not working properly

[Dracoro]

Since my last track day (where I had fuel escaping near the fuel filler area - now resolved) the fuel gauge has been working inconsistently.

Basically, it always reads completely full. When it gets under 1/4 tank it starts to read properly (i.e. after about 80/90 miles after filling up). Every now and again it'll read properly but mostly it says full.

Is there a way to 'reset' the gauge? Is the problem likely to be the dash end or the fuel tank end? Bu66er to get to the tank from above as I have to take the whole fia roll bar off to be able to remove the boot box to gain proper access.

thanks in advance.

[perksy]

Sticking sender unit  

If you earth-out the feed at the sender unit end the gauge should read full, this should rule out a gauge problem...

What gauge are you using ?

Otherwise perhaps a possible wiring fault, check all conections etc.

If you really have to you could remove the sender from the tank and operate the 'float' by hand the gauge should read to suit, but check everything else first.....

[Dracoro]

Everything 'looks' in order, nothing appears different from when the device was working. Still reads full all the time though. The needle looked like it was moving when I was filling up the other day though so something is doing something somewhere

[congorobot]

My fuel gauge does the same thing. After a bit of a thrash and some fast corners it sticks, giving a full tank reading. I think its just the sender sticking, as when I hit a hard bump it starts to work again.

80-90 miles on three quarters tank, I wish!!!

I get about 65-75 on a full tank. 1700 crossflow.

[pete g]

had same problem last year. took sender apart fitted a couple of washers to take out the play from wear . now works fine.

[Lurksalot]

sorry to interupt but how big are the fuel tanks on westies ?

[davehall]

Mine's about 15 litres.

Dave

[Lurksalot]

Cheers Dave

Is that standard ? It doesn't seem much

Kev

apologies I Don'want to hi-jack the thread

[Dracoro]

*** UPDATE ***

Did some poking about and the gauge sender reads full when earthed. Pulled out the sender/float and moved it and the gauge moved correctly. HOWEVER, now the car is reading 1/4 full but I only filled it up 30 miles ago so I would expect it to read 3/4. Any thoughts? I'm thinking that the float has gone round too far and is sitting on the opposite side to what it's supposed to. See poor diagrams below (|=sender, \=float 'needle', _=fuel) if it makes any sense.

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[Blatman]

Cheers Dave

Is that standard ? It doesn't seem much

Kev

apologies I Don'want to hi-jack the thread

He's pulling yer leg.

Standard Westfield tank is approximately 30 litres. Most people seem only to ever get 20 or so litres in because of a combination of inaccurate fuel gauges (they aren't inaccurate per se, but they are a b******* to get right 'cos it's up to you to calibrate the sender...), and paranoia about the amount of p*** taking that would occur if you run out of fuel...