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Petrol Gauge Not Working

drftr32

By drftr32,
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drftr32 Contributor

drftr32

Posted
Posted (edited)

bought my car about a week ago and it was about a 3rd full. filled full tank then drove 200 klms n gauge didnt move filled full tank again and only drove it 50 klms so far but gauge doesnt seem to move. took to my mechanic and he said it looks like it has moved a bit but wont be able to tell 4 sure coz so much petrol still left. is this a common problem n how do i fix it. Probably shud add ive got a 93 r33 gtst.

Edited by drftr32
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uneek Enthusiast

uneek

Posted
Posted
yeah wen i picked it up it was about 1 third left n wen i test drove it it was almost empty. how wud i fix it if it is the float.

Im wondering if I have a similar problem. When I test drove my R33 it was EMPTY, literally felt it chug and went straight for the nearest servo. Bought it a few days later and filled it up. I've done 100kms and it hasn't moved from FULL.

Let me know how you go. I've seen other cars do this sort of thing but then head towards empty really fast.

adam-__- Grand Master

adam-__-

Posted
Posted

Try taking out the fuel sender from the fuel tank. Check if everything is functioning right. Get a multimeter out and check the resistance at each position the floater can go in to see if the resistance is increasing/decreasing at a constant rate. Where the floater would be when full tank of fuel, the resistance should be at its least, higher when floater gets to its low fuel area.

Hope that helped or even made any sense.

drftr32 Contributor

drftr32

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only had the car 4 like 290klms. wen i first drove it i thought petrol was awesome gauge goin nower den i did 210klms den thought dis is f*kd so full tanked it again n used exactly 30liters. so roughly 15l p 100 kays. i did give it a few hrd goes in dat time but does dis sound right and does any1 hav any idea da actual size of da tank coz if i cant get it fixed ill have to guess like my sis does in her sprinter.

uneek Enthusiast

uneek

Posted
Posted
Try taking out the fuel sender from the fuel tank. Check if everything is functioning right. Get a multimeter out and check the resistance at each position the floater can go in to see if the resistance is increasing/decreasing at a constant rate. Where the floater would be when full tank of fuel, the resistance should be at its least, higher when floater gets to its low fuel area.

Hope that helped or even made any sense.

Hey, how do you take the fuel sender out?

hojak Proficient

hojak

Posted
Posted
Hey, how do you take the fuel sender out?

In your boot, under carpet, should be like a aluminium cover and wiring harness going into this, take cover off, remove harness plug, there's the fuel sender. It's either held in by many 10 or so mm bolts or one big plastic/steel nut that holds the whole fuel sender unit down. Haven't taken one out of a skyline yet, sometimes takes abit of manuvering to actually get the sender unit out, careful not to bend the float arm. (take note how/where it sits before u remove it, making it sit differently when refitting may affect sender unit's float sensor (baffle plate may obstruct it from moving fully down, etc)). Final point, try not to enjoy the fumes too much, haha. :laughing-smiley-014:

adam-__- Grand Master

adam-__-

Posted
Posted
In your boot, under carpet, should be like a aluminium cover and wiring harness going into this, take cover off, remove harness plug, there's the fuel sender. It's either held in by many 10 or so mm bolts or one big plastic/steel nut that holds the whole fuel sender unit down. Haven't taken one out of a skyline yet, sometimes takes abit of manuvering to actually get the sender unit out, careful not to bend the float arm. (take note how/where it sits before u remove it, making it sit differently when refitting may affect sender unit's float sensor (baffle plate may obstruct it from moving fully down, etc)). Final point, try not to enjoy the fumes too much, haha. :laughing-smiley-014:

Yeah, it should be something along the lines of that. I haven't actually taken one out of a skyline yet before either. Only in my corolla.

If you're getting inaccurate readings, there could be some rust on the contacts. Clean them off gently and it should all go well.

adam-__- Grand Master

adam-__-

Posted
Posted
sounds like too much for me to handle. ill just get my mechanic to sort it out lol.

It's seriously not all that hard mate. Not worth the money you'll be paying. Just take out the sender and see if you can find anything wrong with it. See if the floater has fuel in it (not supposed to) or if any rust as built up. If you can't find what's wrong with it, then bring the car to the mech.

inthisglass Grand Master

inthisglass

Posted
Posted
I think my guage is faulty as well, it seems to fall too quickly. According to the gauge, I need to fill up every week, and last friday I used half a tank in one night!! That can't be right...

your not serious are you? baha a tank a week is pretty darn good, i get 500 km to one tank (55l in an r33 not 65)

and if your thrashing it around half a tank in a night is very easy.

i think drive your car for a while before you decide things are broken.. when i fill up my gauge will say on full till about 150 kms then suddenly drop to 3/4 full. same with my cousins and a few other people i have spoken to.

uneek Enthusiast

uneek

Posted
Posted
your not serious are you? baha a tank a week is pretty darn good, i get 500 km to one tank (55l in an r33 not 65)

and if your thrashing it around half a tank in a night is very easy.

i think drive your car for a while before you decide things are broken.. when i fill up my gauge will say on full till about 150 kms then suddenly drop to 3/4 full. same with my cousins and a few other people i have spoken to.

Im no skyline expert, but Im pretty sure you'll find it is 65L, not 55.

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