Fuel Gauge

[RobMoore]

Put my voltmeter on the voltage stabiliser terminal that feeds the fuel gauge and was getting a fluctuating reading between 1.7v and 10v my meter was all over the place lol.

when you say fues ends I assume you mean the bulkhead under bonnet, so thats my next check then, will clean the terminals there tomorrow.

[PSL184]

voltage regulator is working correctly from those meter readings

[Alec]

Hello PSL,

"voltage regulator is working correctly from those meter readings"

I don't think so?
I know it's a very basic regulator but that doesn't sound as though it's working?

Alec

[PSL184]

those are the kind of readings I get off mine and it is working fine. it's just a bi metallic strip that opens and closes fairly quickly

[RobMoore]

So if thats working correctly I wonder what my problem is being caused by.

[Alec]

Hello Rob,

what sort of meter are you using and was the sender connected? I'd be interested in a reading with the sender disconnected?

Alec

[Pikey]

Im thinking youve perhaps got a high resistance in the green/black wire that goes between the gauge and the tank sendor, temporarily remove the existing green/black wire and bypass the old one with a new wire from the back of the fuel gauge to the tank, and then retry your test. Perhaps youve had some welding done recently and the wires been burnt?

Regards

Steve B

[RobMoore]

@ Alec yes the sender wire was still connected and I am using a digital multi meter.
Will take another reading tonight after work with sender disconnected

@ pikey will also try your suggestion later.

[Alec]

Hello Rob,

you really have exhausted all the other possibilities, sender, sender cable and gauge, it must lie with the voltage regulator or it's supply. Maybe the frequency of the output confuses a digital meter?
Would you short the sender terminal of the gauge to earth (so putting most load on the regulator) and check both terminals, i.e input which should be battery voltage and out put which is a pulsed D.C. output . I would have thought that averaged out it should be closer to 10v if the regulator is serviceable.

Alec

[MarkyB]

See if you can borrow a meter with a needle.
It should act more like the gauge, and should show 10 volts more or less.

[RobMoore]

Tested both gauges with and without the sender wire still connected both gauages ready 3/4.
Ran a wire from sender to gauge and no change.

anyone got a spare stabiliser lol

[DaisyMayFozz]

just buy a used black speedo with a stabiliser on it. swap stabilisers and put the old stabiliser on the speedo that you have just bought. then just keep it as a spare (or sell it).speedos go cheap on ebay and i belive there was some at the national rally for £5
heres one:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Morris-minor-spee ... 1e5e172a5f
although make sure you ask the seller before you buy whether it actually has a stabiliser!
hope this helps
chris