I'm beginning to think a bowling ball is a device.
I stripped my gauge down (first time I have done this) and it did not look
like the description below. The description below seems to match a fuel
gauge of 'moving-iron' whereas mine matched the description 'bi-metal'. (2
part numbers are listed for fuel gauges).
The car runs out of fuel when the gauge is reading between a quarter tank and
half tank.
Rather than bend the needle I filed a small slot in gauge body so as to
orientate the gauge face in a different position. After putting it all back
together it is slightly better and I know that when the gauge reads a quarter
tank I will run out soon.
I think I will buy a gauge from a Mini in the scrapyard at some point and see
how that reads.
For completeness the problems started when I fitted the later 7 gall tank and
had to swap from early to late sender unit (the sender was s/h). I have no
idea if the gauge is correct for the year of the car but is the one used for
both types of sender.
Daniel1312
In a message dated 17/02/00 05:26:40 GMT Standard Time, grbyrns@ucdavis.edu
writes:
<< After you have verified that the resistance of the tank sending is correct
at full and empty (fill tank, check, empty tank, check) then you can try
what I did.
(skip this paragraph if you consider a bowling ball a 'device')
If you open the gas gauge carefully you will find two little coils of wire
attached to the back of the gauge case by nuts screwed onto the posts of the
coils passing through slotted holes in the case back. Now having satisfied
your curiousity, put it back together and don't ever screw around with the
guts of a gauge you don't understand ever again.
Now, to adjust it in the car, fill the tank and loosen the nut on the coil
on the right as you look at the front of the gauge. Loosen it only enough to
allow it to slide with pressure. I used a small nut driver. Very gently,
with the tiniest movements, move the coil each way in the slot and observe
the effect on the gauge. Set it to where the gauge just reads full.
Now the fun part. Go out and drive like a teenager whose folks gave you a
gas card. When the tank is near empty, go home. Push it if you
mis-calculated. Hell, it only weighs 1300 lbs. Drain the remaining gas
into a can or two. Now repeat the adjustment technique on the other coil.
This is the nut closest to the drivers door. Loosening it only enough to
get it to slide, gently move it from one limit of the slot in the gauge back
to the other observing the effect. Set it to touch the 'E' limit post.
Tighten the nut. The adjustments required are so small that often the act
of tightening the nut will screw up the setting. Try again, and again, and
again.............
>>
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