V8S Fuel Tank Sender Unit
Discussion
I received THIS today and it’s got me puzzled.
It looks the same size to my existing one but the design of the back plate is different. This is mine.

By the look of it, the Defender one has been designed for a vertical fitting. I’m assuming the higher resistance will be when the sender is registering “Empty” and the lower when “Full”. See photos.
"Empty" position.

"Full" position

If that’s the case then with the unit fitted horizontally in the middle of the side of the tank, and the float wire straightened, surely the gauge is going to read “Full” until the tank is half empty and then start going down to “Empty” from there. Some of you have fitted this unit so how have you got around this?
Incidentally, although the advert says you need to order a lock ring and seal, the unit does come with these. Or least mine did – so now I’ve got spares.
Thanks in advance.
It looks the same size to my existing one but the design of the back plate is different. This is mine.

By the look of it, the Defender one has been designed for a vertical fitting. I’m assuming the higher resistance will be when the sender is registering “Empty” and the lower when “Full”. See photos.
"Empty" position.

"Full" position

If that’s the case then with the unit fitted horizontally in the middle of the side of the tank, and the float wire straightened, surely the gauge is going to read “Full” until the tank is half empty and then start going down to “Empty” from there. Some of you have fitted this unit so how have you got around this?
Incidentally, although the advert says you need to order a lock ring and seal, the unit does come with these. Or least mine did – so now I’ve got spares.
Thanks in advance.
phillpot said:
Wire it up temporary (out of the tank) to the gauge and see what it does?
Bu
phillpot said:
.....Is there an "issue" with the seal being too thin? Thicker one available from Adrian @ (Exactly TVR)?
Don't know yet. I've leaving this job until near the end of September so if I can't get it to seal I've got the winter to sort it out. For the time being I'm just trying to work out how it will go together.Edited by v8s4me on Wednesday 24th July 21:33
Don't forget to make sure you cover the hole in the tank so you don't get sparks in!
Cos if you don't, you know what'll 'appen...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGVawEBpjMA
this advice is brought to you by www.pointlesssafetyadvice.org.uk, an agency committed to stating the completely feckin obvious
Cos if you don't, you know what'll 'appen...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGVawEBpjMA
this advice is brought to you by www.pointlesssafetyadvice.org.uk, an agency committed to stating the completely feckin obvious
Joe, just seen your comment on the glovebox key topic.
If the sender works, and it fits, do you need to swap it for the plastic one. With the metal one, other people told me that the wire needs bending to get the float in the right place and this may be justification enough to get a plastic one.
As I said my plastic one was from a different supplier on Ebay. I am surprised that there are two parts, so different, with the same land rover part number. It was just pure chance that my wife ordered a fuel sender from a different supplier and got a plastic one for me. Until I got the old one out, and would never have known the old one was plastic as it had so much waxoil on it.
On my car the sender only works with the ignition on, so that would tie in with you finding neither wire live with the ignition off.
Other people seem to have had success fitting the metal one you have pictured as far as I can tell. Can anyone else confirm this.
If the sender works, and it fits, do you need to swap it for the plastic one. With the metal one, other people told me that the wire needs bending to get the float in the right place and this may be justification enough to get a plastic one.
As I said my plastic one was from a different supplier on Ebay. I am surprised that there are two parts, so different, with the same land rover part number. It was just pure chance that my wife ordered a fuel sender from a different supplier and got a plastic one for me. Until I got the old one out, and would never have known the old one was plastic as it had so much waxoil on it.
On my car the sender only works with the ignition on, so that would tie in with you finding neither wire live with the ignition off.
Other people seem to have had success fitting the metal one you have pictured as far as I can tell. Can anyone else confirm this.
Here’s the latest update on this. The replacement unit arrived this morning; it’s plastic and it judging from the shape of the back plate and terminal block is the same as the one which is in there.
This is the arm in the “Full” position.


And this is in the “Empty” position.


If you compare this to the unit pictured above you’ll notice there is a greater arc of movement with this plastic one. Hopefully this means that once I’ve altered the bend in the wire the unit will register across the full depth range of the tank and not just from half full to empty.
I’m going to do this job next month and will let you know what happens. Wish me luck – tally ho chaps
This is the arm in the “Full” position.


And this is in the “Empty” position.


If you compare this to the unit pictured above you’ll notice there is a greater arc of movement with this plastic one. Hopefully this means that once I’ve altered the bend in the wire the unit will register across the full depth range of the tank and not just from half full to empty.
I’m going to do this job next month and will let you know what happens. Wish me luck – tally ho chaps
Hi V8s4me. I'm having trouble sourcing a new sender unit and the plastic one in your piccys is the same as mine , 92 Griff 400.
Could you let me know if this unit worked and where you bought it or what vehicle it was originally destined for.
I would like to get this sorted as dropping my homemade dipstick into the tank every time I go out is getting a little tiresome!!!!
Ta everso.
Could you let me know if this unit worked and where you bought it or what vehicle it was originally destined for.
I would like to get this sorted as dropping my homemade dipstick into the tank every time I go out is getting a little tiresome!!!!
Ta everso.
Edited by Griffo400 on Wednesday 19th February 19:47
Edited by Griffo400 on Wednesday 19th February 19:49
Edited by Griffo400 on Wednesday 19th February 19:51
Hopefully this will answer your questions
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
If not let me know - good luck
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
If not let me know - good luck

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