Fuel gauge

48pop · Jul 18th, 2007, 20:53

Hi Folks,

My fuel gauge has developed "st. vitus dance" its jumping back and forth at a machine gun rate !

It used to wallow around and give a rough estimate of fuel left now its bouncing off of the end stop !

ANy thoughts???

Cheers
Gerry

austingipsy · Jul 18th, 2007, 22:34

They are prone to doing that, There's no damping on the wee lever arm so any sloshing about in the tank is registered almost instantly. It's just a rheostat with a long arm and a float so theres nothing in the set up to compensate for fuel swilling around.
Mine bounced right of the scale and killed itself which was a bit unfortunate, had to buy a new one which was bloody expensive but on removal I think maybe it was serviceable with a clean up and a bit of tinkering.

48pop · Jul 19th, 2007, 09:25

Well, last night I unloaded 5 Fiat 500 wheels and tyres from the boot, lifted out the sodden carpet and my gauge is back to normal.....

Now need to fix the leak ! (another post)

Cheers
gerry

austingipsy · Jul 19th, 2007, 10:14

Ah well, there you go. Obviously making the old girl nervous. I'm sure your only allowed to carry volvo wheels in the back, says so in the handbook !............which I still haven't found yet, so sick of opening cardboard boxes to find nowt but junk. Hate to think what i might have chucked out.
Anyhow, have you got the little round cover that sits atop the fuel gauge sender, maybe it's gone awol or just getting squashed onto the contacts. I guess a big puddle would find it's way down onto the contacts, they like doing that. Is it a dodgey boot seal do you think or rust in the boot floor, and aquatic driving ?

48pop · Jul 19th, 2007, 10:48

Think its a dodgy seal......I still have original paint in my tyrewell !

The wee metal cover is there but its lying loose. I don't see how its supposed to connect

I was on hols for 2 wks and the car was sitting in my neighbours driveway. Apparently its been raining solidly since I went away. This is the norm for the "Glasgow Fair Holiday" ....

Cheers
GERRY

austingipsy · Jul 19th, 2007, 11:44

Aye to be fair to the venerable old volvo, only a pressurised hull would have kept out that deluge !

48pop · Jul 19th, 2007, 20:43

Arrrrggggg....Its jumping again!

48pop · Jul 20th, 2007, 23:17

OK, heres whats happening....

Car not moving, ignition on, gauge goes up to the level....As soon as I move off, the gauge goes crazy, bouncing off the stop !!

I'm assuming its the sender and dodgy connection inside. The fuel moving around making and breaking the connection. Soon as I stop and let things settle down, the guage stops bouncing.....

Anyone have a spare sender to sell??

Cheers
Gerry

Andrew (UK) · Jul 24th, 2007, 21:49

It could also be a dodgy wire. But the sender is more likely. You may just want to run a temporary wire just to check it though.

Andrew

48pop · Jul 25th, 2007, 00:13

well....I thought nothing to loose, so I took out the sender, got it on the bench and took it apart. Seemed to be a loose blob of solder on the reostat wire, so i resoldered and stuck it back together........It worked !

Don't know for how long though, think I may have sourced a spare..

Cheers
Gerry

Jul 18th, 2007, 20:53	#1
48pop Senior Member Last Online: Feb 13th, 2019 21:41 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Near Glasgow	Fuel gauge Hi Folks, My fuel gauge has developed "st. vitus dance" its jumping back and forth at a machine gun rate ! It used to wallow around and give a rough estimate of fuel left now its bouncing off of the end stop ! ANy thoughts??? Cheers Gerry __________________ ________________________________________ Gerry (nr Glasgow)

Jul 19th, 2007, 09:25	#3
48pop Senior Member Last Online: Feb 13th, 2019 21:41 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Near Glasgow	Well, last night I unloaded 5 Fiat 500 wheels and tyres from the boot, lifted out the sodden carpet and my gauge is back to normal..... Now need to fix the leak ! (another post) Cheers gerry __________________ ________________________________________ Gerry (nr Glasgow)

Jul 19th, 2007, 10:48	#5
48pop Senior Member Last Online: Feb 13th, 2019 21:41 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Near Glasgow	Think its a dodgy seal......I still have original paint in my tyrewell ! The wee metal cover is there but its lying loose. I don't see how its supposed to connect I was on hols for 2 wks and the car was sitting in my neighbours driveway. Apparently its been raining solidly since I went away. This is the norm for the "Glasgow Fair Holiday" .... Cheers GERRY __________________ ________________________________________ Gerry (nr Glasgow)

Jul 19th, 2007, 20:43	#7
48pop Senior Member Last Online: Feb 13th, 2019 21:41 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Near Glasgow	Arrrrggggg....Its jumping again! __________________ ________________________________________ Gerry (nr Glasgow)

Jul 20th, 2007, 23:17	#8
48pop Senior Member Last Online: Feb 13th, 2019 21:41 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Near Glasgow	OK, heres whats happening.... Car not moving, ignition on, gauge goes up to the level....As soon as I move off, the gauge goes crazy, bouncing off the stop !! I'm assuming its the sender and dodgy connection inside. The fuel moving around making and breaking the connection. Soon as I stop and let things settle down, the guage stops bouncing..... Anyone have a spare sender to sell?? Cheers Gerry __________________ ________________________________________ Gerry (nr Glasgow)

Jul 18th, 2007, 22:34	#2
austingipsy Senior Member Last Online: Mar 13th, 2019 22:59 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Invergowrie	They are prone to doing that, There's no damping on the wee lever arm so any sloshing about in the tank is registered almost instantly. It's just a rheostat with a long arm and a float so theres nothing in the set up to compensate for fuel swilling around. Mine bounced right of the scale and killed itself which was a bit unfortunate, had to buy a new one which was bloody expensive but on removal I think maybe it was serviceable with a clean up and a bit of tinkering.

Jul 19th, 2007, 10:14	#4
austingipsy Senior Member Last Online: Mar 13th, 2019 22:59 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Invergowrie	Ah well, there you go. Obviously making the old girl nervous. I'm sure your only allowed to carry volvo wheels in the back, says so in the handbook !............which I still haven't found yet, so sick of opening cardboard boxes to find nowt but junk. Hate to think what i might have chucked out. Anyhow, have you got the little round cover that sits atop the fuel gauge sender, maybe it's gone awol or just getting squashed onto the contacts. I guess a big puddle would find it's way down onto the contacts, they like doing that. Is it a dodgey boot seal do you think or rust in the boot floor, and aquatic driving ?

Jul 19th, 2007, 11:44	#6
austingipsy Senior Member Last Online: Mar 13th, 2019 22:59 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Invergowrie	Aye to be fair to the venerable old volvo, only a pressurised hull would have kept out that deluge !

Jul 24th, 2007, 21:49	#9
Andrew (UK) VOC Member Last Online: Dec 3rd, 2021 08:39 Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: Sutton, near Ely	It could also be a dodgy wire. But the sender is more likely. You may just want to run a temporary wire just to check it though. Andrew

Jul 25th, 2007, 00:13	#10
48pop Senior Member Last Online: Feb 13th, 2019 21:41 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Near Glasgow	well....I thought nothing to loose, so I took out the sender, got it on the bench and took it apart. Seemed to be a loose blob of solder on the reostat wire, so i resoldered and stuck it back together........It worked ! Don't know for how long though, think I may have sourced a spare.. Cheers Gerry __________________ ________________________________________ Gerry (nr Glasgow)

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