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Re: [Mgs] Testing and repairing the fuel gauge

To: Charles Hill <chillmog@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [Mgs] Testing and repairing the fuel gauge
From: William Killeffer <wkilleffer@comcast.net>
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:55:22 -0400
Hello Charles,
Not sure how I forgot about him. Between his site and the Chicagoland  
tech tips, you *almost* don't need a manual lol.

Here's what I've found so far:
When I ground the wire that plugs into the sending unit with the  
engine running, the fuel gauge will go from its lowest point all the  
way past the F. Unground, and it goes back down.

I used a small handheld multi-tester to check the resistance of the  
sending unit. Its scale is kind of small and hard to read below 100  
ohms. But when connected and grounded, looks like the reading is  
between 70 and 80 ohms. The fuel tank is nearly full. The leads on the  
tester are too short to stay connected if I try shaking the car. My  
digital tester has longer leads, but seemed confused when I tried this.

Guess this means that the gauge and stabilizer are both good and that  
the problem lies either with the sending unit or some connection  
between the sending unit and the gauge.

Thank you,
-Bill

On Jun 13, 2009, at 11:32 AM, Charles Hill wrote:

> Bill,
> Have you checked Barney Gaylord's web site (www.*mgaguru*.com)?  He  
> has a lot of good info there.  It is one of the first places I look  
> when I have a problem with LBCs - not just MGs.
>
> Charles Hill
>
> William Killeffer wrote:
>> Hey everyone,
>>
>> The fuel gauge on my 1974 MGB has not been working for awhile.  
>> After  starting the car, the needle will rise up to a point between  
>> the two  lowest markings on the gauge and stay there. Initially, I  
>> thought the  float on the sending unit might have failed, but on a  
>> really hot day  recently, the gauge came to life and gave a reading  
>> that seemed more  or less accurate based on the mileage since the  
>> last fill-up. But it  didn't last too long and went back to its  
>> dormant state after about 20  minutes.
>>
>> It did it again last weekend. It was a hot day that day as well.  
>> Once  again, the reading seemed to be as accurate as those gauges  
>> ever are.  Something I've noticed both times is that it seems a  
>> little balky when  it does this. The needle's movement isn't  
>> smooth, whereas the temp  gauge needle always moves smoothly. It's  
>> like a connection's bad or  the gauge is having problems.
>>
>> The temp gauge works just fine. Both gauges are plugged into a  
>> voltage  stabilizer that might be original to the car.
>>
>> I've seen a method that's used to test the operation of the gauge  
>> that  involves some kind of connection to the wire that plugs into  
>> the  sending unit.
>>
>> Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>>
>> Thank you,
>> -Bill
>> William Killeffer
>> wkilleffer@comcast.net
>> http://williamkillefferphoto.wordpress.com
>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamk1974/
>> Made with a Mac
>>
>

William Killeffer
wkilleffer@comcast.net
http://williamkillefferphoto.wordpress.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamk1974/
Made with a Mac
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