fuel guage died

[TOPTON]

The other day the gauge needle decided to bounce up and down a bit and then stay down as if empty. I know there is fuel in, had just put £20 15 minutes earlier. I have done a search and it seems a common fault to be either the gauge or the sender unit. Any bright sparks out there no how to check which is broken?
There is power to the gauge, the earth is ok and continuity to the sender. The earth on the sender seems ok. So all the wires work but the gauge doesn't.

Any helpfull hints for checking the gauge or sender?

Thanks... T

[adam quantrill]

Mine died on the way back from BBWF - almost gave me a heart attack - I was giving it a bit large on the way back but didn't expect the fuel consumption to be _that_ bad. Anyhow I stuck in about a tenner and brimmed the tank, and the guage came back to full.

After that I ran the car normally and it happened a couple more times then has been flawless since.

I blame some corrosion on the sender which has been wiped off by the float going up and down.

[TOPTON]

Tried your method of fixing fuel gauge, fill it to the brim. Guess what--fuel gauge works again. Maybe the float got stuck with gunge, as you say or maybe just another folly of owning a TIV.