Fuel gauge Doesn't Work But Light Does - Wiring ?
Discussion
Hi guys I've bought a '94 Chim and trying to solve a few issues, one being that whilst the fuel light works the gauge doesn't it just sits on empty.
I've had a look at the wiring in the boot and the sender seems to be working (getting a large difference in voltage when I swing it)
Do the gauges tend to break or is there anything else to check before I try to get to the back of the gauge ?
Thanks
I've had a look at the wiring in the boot and the sender seems to be working (getting a large difference in voltage when I swing it)
Do the gauges tend to break or is there anything else to check before I try to get to the back of the gauge ?
Thanks
Edited by redgriff500 on Monday 14th May 21:00
redgriff500 said:
Hi guys I've bought a '94 Chim and trying to solve a few issues, one being that whilst the fuel light works the gauge doesn't it just sits on empty.
I've had a look at the wiring in the boot and the sender seems to be working (getting a large difference in voltage when I swing it)
Do the gauges tend to break or is there anything else to check before I try to get to the back of the gauge ?
Thanks
If you find this out can you please let me know cus i have exactly the same problem !! I've had a look at the wiring in the boot and the sender seems to be working (getting a large difference in voltage when I swing it)
Do the gauges tend to break or is there anything else to check before I try to get to the back of the gauge ?
Thanks
Edited by redgriff500 on Monday 14th May 21:00
AJ
redgriff500 said:
Hi guys I've bought a '94 Chim and trying to solve a few issues, one being that whilst the fuel light works the gauge doesn't it just sits on empty.
I've had a look at the wiring in the boot and the sender seems to be working (getting a large difference in voltage when I swing it)
Do the gauges tend to break or is there anything else to check before I try to get to the back of the gauge ?
Thanks
Mine used to do that......I've had a look at the wiring in the boot and the sender seems to be working (getting a large difference in voltage when I swing it)
Do the gauges tend to break or is there anything else to check before I try to get to the back of the gauge ?
Thanks
Edited by redgriff500 on Monday 14th May 21:00
Check/wiggle/clean the contacts on the various block connectors under the carpet flap just behind the passenger door. It worked for me.
redgriff500 said:
Hi guys I've bought a '94 Chim and trying to solve a few issues, one being that whilst the fuel light works the gauge doesn't it just sits on empty.
I've had a look at the wiring in the boot and the sender seems to be working (getting a large difference in voltage when I swing it)
Do the gauges tend to break or is there anything else to check before I try to get to the back of the gauge ?
Thanks
What light ? not seen one on my my car !I've had a look at the wiring in the boot and the sender seems to be working (getting a large difference in voltage when I swing it)
Do the gauges tend to break or is there anything else to check before I try to get to the back of the gauge ?
Thanks
Edited by redgriff500 on Monday 14th May 21:00
redgriff500 said:
Hi guys I've bought a '94 Chim and trying to solve a few issues, one being that whilst the fuel light works the gauge doesn't it just sits on empty.
I've had a look at the wiring in the boot and the sender seems to be working (getting a large difference in voltage when I swing it)
Do the gauges tend to break or is there anything else to check before I try to get to the back of the gauge ?
Thanks
Didn't think Chims had a low fuel warning light - thats what I had always been told!I've had a look at the wiring in the boot and the sender seems to be working (getting a large difference in voltage when I swing it)
Do the gauges tend to break or is there anything else to check before I try to get to the back of the gauge ?
Thanks
Edited by redgriff500 on Monday 14th May 21:00
redgriff500 said:
I'd do that... if the odometer worked.
I've googled and will send it off to have a new battery fitted but I want to carry on using the car at the minute.
Haha, brilliant. Good old TVR's. The dials (minus fuel guage) are one of the few things on mine that are in tact and working. I've googled and will send it off to have a new battery fitted but I want to carry on using the car at the minute.
Darren, i think it was just the older one's that had the reserve light which doesn't really make sense to me but there we are.
Where are these said wires and connections to play with? Passengers side inspection hole ?
AJ
[quote=AJV8]Fab, to be honest, i've jut got used to filling up when it hits the red light and i know i get roughly 150 to a tank on my normal drives around, maybe a bit more on a long motorway haul. Still annoying though and if it's an easy fix i'd be intruged to hear how.
Cheers,
Blimey mate thats 12.5 mpg. Obviously your 'normal' drives are undertaken with right foot planted firmly in the carpet!!
Cheers,
Blimey mate thats 12.5 mpg. Obviously your 'normal' drives are undertaken with right foot planted firmly in the carpet!!
Blimey mate thats 12.5 mpg. Obviously your 'normal' drives are undertaken with right foot planted firmly in the carpet!!
[/quote]
Well there's that and it doesn't really help that my journey into work is only 3.5 miles in traffic so it just drinks!! Never really gets warm. Does anyone know the fuel capacity by the way ? I have no idea what it is but i've never had to put more than £50 in mine. That could, however, be due to the fact that my fuel guage doesn't work and i have no idea how much i've got left when the reserve light comes on so i just fill up straight away!
Lets just say my driving style isn't exactly to conserve petrol ;-)
AJ
[/quote]
Well there's that and it doesn't really help that my journey into work is only 3.5 miles in traffic so it just drinks!! Never really gets warm. Does anyone know the fuel capacity by the way ? I have no idea what it is but i've never had to put more than £50 in mine. That could, however, be due to the fact that my fuel guage doesn't work and i have no idea how much i've got left when the reserve light comes on so i just fill up straight away!
Lets just say my driving style isn't exactly to conserve petrol ;-)
AJ
I get over 30mpg on a run !50 60 and up to 70mph, Would like a 6 speed box or a higher ratio diff ,think i have a low geared GKN older diff.
Think the secret is to get the RPM down on cruise ,these cars should not be revving this high with all that engine torque.
Think the secret is to get the RPM down on cruise ,these cars should not be revving this high with all that engine torque.
Edited by SILICONEKID340HP on Tuesday 15th May 17:02
SILICONEKID340HP said:
I get over 30mpg on a run !50 60 and up to 70mph, Would like a 6 speed box or a higher ratio diff ,think i have a low geared GKN older diff.
Think the secret is to get the RPM down on cruise ,these cars should not be revving this high with all that engine torque.
Oh yea i totally agree. On the motorway i got a lot better than that but i've never done a full tank on the motorway. My trips are usually from high wycombe into London so even then i get a bit of a blast on the motorway at good MPG's but then back into london traffic. As long as i get a tank a week i don't really care ! Think the secret is to get the RPM down on cruise ,these cars should not be revving this high with all that engine torque.
Edited by SILICONEKID340HP on Tuesday 15th May 17:02
Don't think i can force myself to drive her slow all the time though for the sake of a few extra mpg's
redgriff500 said:
Mine does - one of the few things that work !
+1 - My fuel gauge registers empty when I fill it up, registers nearly full when there's about 1/4 tank gone and then the fuel light comes on at 47 litres gone. 
redgriff500 said:
I'd do that... if the odometer worked.
I've googled and will send it off to have a new battery fitted but I want to carry on using the car at the minute.
Yeah - mine does that too - I've been telling myself to get it sorted for the last two years!I've googled and will send it off to have a new battery fitted but I want to carry on using the car at the minute.
Mine also has the problem that when the bulbs that illuminate the speedo are on they warm up the workings enough that the LCD that shows the odometer goes blank anyway.
Phil
AJV8 said:
Well there's that and it doesn't really help that my journey into work is only 3.5 miles in traffic so it just drinks!! Never really gets warm. Does anyone know the fuel capacity by the way ? I have no idea what it is but i've never had to put more than £50 in mine. That could, however, be due to the fact that my fuel guage doesn't work and i have no idea how much i've got left when the reserve light comes on so i just fill up straight away!
Lets just say my driving style isn't exactly to conserve petrol ;-)
AJ
Mine's 1.5 miles to work, 2 back (due to one way system)...Lets just say my driving style isn't exactly to conserve petrol ;-)
AJ
Tank is *SUPPOSED* to be 54 litres IIRC ... if I fill up when my fuel light comes on I get 47 litres in. Sounds like yours is even more "conservative" than mine as I was always told that when the fuel light came on on these that you may as well give up as you had only a couple of miles left but that doesn't seem to be the case.
Phil
Mine doesn't work either. It shows up as almost full all the time. In fact, it just seems to use the top quarter to indicate fule level, so after filling up it shows full and at nearly empty it shows as just over 3/4...
If I disconnect the sender in the boot then the guage drops right down to empty.
Sound like a knackered sender?
FYI, I get around 250 miles out of a tank and mine seems to hold about 55 litres.
If I disconnect the sender in the boot then the guage drops right down to empty.
Sound like a knackered sender?
FYI, I get around 250 miles out of a tank and mine seems to hold about 55 litres.
Hi,
I had a similiar problem, my 93 Chimaera had the gauge with the warning light fitted to the dial face, the warning light worked fine but the gauge always read empty. I changed the sender unit but it didn't make any difference. I also had problems with the oil pressure gauge, changed the sender unit on that and that didn't make any difference either. Sometimes these gauges do go wrong. In the end I had all the gauges changed apart from the speedometer and the rev counter and everything now works as it should.
Ron McC L627 YAY & BOF 246T
I had a similiar problem, my 93 Chimaera had the gauge with the warning light fitted to the dial face, the warning light worked fine but the gauge always read empty. I changed the sender unit but it didn't make any difference. I also had problems with the oil pressure gauge, changed the sender unit on that and that didn't make any difference either. Sometimes these gauges do go wrong. In the end I had all the gauges changed apart from the speedometer and the rev counter and everything now works as it should.
Ron McC L627 YAY & BOF 246T
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