13 replies to this topic

[DannyTip]

My fuel gauge is only showing just over half full when the take is full. The sender unit is new.

Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this?

[Big_Adam]

short the sender wires on the body (only use the one I belive) then go look at the gauge. If it's shot up then the gauge is fine and it's somthing else. If not then the gauge is bugged.

....how are you filling the car tho. As with the nozzel pushed all the way in you won't get a proper full tank.

[DannyTip]

Nozzle in till it cuts off then pull it out a bit and stick another quid or two in.

Will try that trick cheers.

[JoeBodge]

could be the voltage stabliliser

[DannyTip]

Wheres that?

[JoeBodge]

depends what year it is - on mine '82 - its a rectangle little box thing on the back of the speedo cluster. mines gone atm - as it never shows the right temperture.

[Big_Adam]

[attachment=26639:that_thing.jpg]

there it be!

[taffy1967]

[attachment=26639:that_thing.jpg]

there it be!

That's the rear of Clubman/1275GT style clocks, but if the Minis a post 1985 model fitted with Nippon Seiki gauges then don't be surprised to not have a voltage stabiliser fitted to the rear.

[Sammy D]

The float on the sender unit in the tank has probably split and is full of petrol. Buy a new sender, about 15 quid from MSC

Sam

[dklawson]

Sam, I had the same thought as you, but in the very first post he says that the sender is new. The float could still be cracked, but....

If it's the stabilizer acting up causing the fuel gauge to read low, the temperature gauge will also indicate that your car appears to be running cold(er) all the time.

In addition to the stabilizer and the float, it could also be a bad ground causing increased resistance. A quick check would be to run a jumper wire from the ground lug on the sending unit (where the black wire connects) over to the battery earth connection.

[Gizzum]

Adam mate, you want to get someone to have a look at that...


It's not normal to have a speedo cluster growing out of your nose!!!

Edited by Gizzum, 01 February 2007 - 03:36 PM.

[mkw]

Just check all the wires on the sender before you start taking the dials out, much easier and more likely to be the problem.

[taffy1967]

If it's the stabilizer acting up causing the fuel gauge to read low, the temperature gauge will also indicate that your car appears to be running cold(er) all the time.

Not always because they seem to work independantly of each other. My temperature gauge hasn't worked since my coil packed in some 5 years ago and yet my fuel gauge is fine.

[*Raz*]

I know the feeling! Mine does that! well my fuel gauge is just ALL OVER THE PLACE!!

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