23 replies to this topic

[RichMPiBlue]

Is this simple to do? I believe my float is either stuck or broke? I have a full tank of fuel, but it tells me I'm empty on the dial.

 

[cal844]

Best to change the sender, they're cheap anyway

[DomCr250]

You should be able to see it from the neck of the tank - LED torch and it will shine inside, at the very least you will see the arm the floats attached too.

[Rapidmini59]

I suggest you bridge the sender connection first.
Turn your ignition on and see if the gauge goes up.
If it dont then its not the fuel sender it will be the gauge itself.

If it does go up then it will be the sender instead.

Edited by Rapidmini59, 25 May 2017 - 04:55 PM.

[AndyR]

It is very easy to do.  Just tap the fixing ring to "screw" it off its location.  Then remove and replace - best to do the seal at the same time.  Just a note, make sure you empty the tank to below the sender or you will fill your boot with fuel!

 

Andy

 

PS. And if you do do it, please be very careful with an open fuel tank!

[CityEPete]

You should be able to see it from the neck of the tank - LED torch and it will shine inside, at the very least you will see the arm the floats attached too.

You can't really see into the later tanks because of the unleaded fuel nozzle restrictor, of course it might not be an mpi and the user name is a red herring, I haven't got a CityE, lol.

[russo]

A long piece of wire with a hook on it, drop it down the neck of the fuel tank and you'll be able to grab the sender unit float arm. Turn the key on and lift the wire up and down while watching fuel guage through back window.

[CityEPete]

Again, unlikely if it's an mpi or spi tank.

[RichMPiBlue]

All sorted now. The fuel had seeped into the float causing it to sink. Therefore, I fitted a new fuel sender unit. 

 

Thanks everyone for the comments regarding my question, they really helped. 

[CityEPete]

Has it got a rubber ring on the new one? I fitted one and within a week the rubber ring had swollen up and made the float sink! I took the ring off and it's fine again now without it.

[RichMPiBlue]

Has it got a rubber ring on the new one? I fitted one and within a week the rubber ring had swollen up and made the float sink! I took the ring off and it's fine again now without it.

 

It did! It had a new rubber ring round the float and I instantly thought, "that shouldn't be there as it would potentially make it sink", lol! However, going from your message above I'm now glad I removed it prior to fitting!!

 

The bonuses of Mini forums, hey! 

Edited by RichMPiBlue, 28 May 2017 - 02:23 PM.

[CityEPete]

Good work! Mine was fine for a bit then it was only reading half a tank when full, that ring had swollen up, wriggled off and was hanging over the arm!


I actually filled my car up earlier and thought about this thread, there's no way you can see into the later tanks as I thought.

Edited by CityEPete, 28 May 2017 - 06:32 PM.

[tiger99]

I assume that this rubber ring is to stop the float banging against the top or bottom of the tank and making you wonder what mechanical malady is about to happen? I can't say that I have seen one of these, and my Minis all let me know when they were nearly full or nearly empty.

I am guessing that this is yet another case of poor quality rubber or incompatible modern fuel. I am thinking that most types of heatshrink sleeping are likely to be compatible with petrol so maybe a ring of heatshrink around the float would do the job.

You would want to take the unit well away from the open tank, and leave it out in the sun afornd fresh air for a while for residual fuel to evaporate, before going hear it with a heat gun!

[CityEPete]

It's fine without it, the arm doesn't have enough rotation to hit the top and bottom of the tank.

[RichMPiBlue]

It's fine without it, the arm doesn't have enough rotation to hit the top and bottom of the tank.

 

That's good!