aftermarket fuel guage problems

[J0RD0]

Ok ditched all my stocko guages for some autometer guages and having some problems with my fuel guage. Im pretty sure its down to the sender not being compatible to the guage, have been on the autometer website and they only have 1 sender listed that I can find, has anyone else come across this problem and could possibly point me in the right direction?? any help would be appreciated

[allencr]

What car, year, make, model, whatever?????
What was replaced???? The gauge(the thing that you look at on your dash with an E&F), the sending unit/sensor(the thing with the float inside the gas tank), any wiring, or all the above???

Most fuel gauges operate pretty simple - one wire with power & one wire to the sender is all they need. When the wire going to the sender is an open circuit - not connected or grounded - the guage reads "E", and when the wire is grounded the gauge will be pegged on "F". That'll prove if the gauge is working. Hooking up the sender & doing it manually
checks the sender. The Toyota gauge type IS VERY slow to respond! [B}Hint. Gasoline fumes & electrics CAN BE DANGEROUS![/B]

[Sigmeister]

Did you match the resistance of the guages. If you gauge does not match to the sender, it wont work. You origional one should be something like 90 Ohms full, 0 Ohms empty, or perhaps it is the reverse.

Either way, you should also check the resistance of the sender at empty and full to make sure it chages and is working properly. Use a multimeter for this.

[J0RD0]

thanks for the info guys, the car is a ra23 celica. Factory fuel guage was working perfectly when removed so it couldnt be the sender in the tank. I have wired ignition/ground and 1 wire to the sender. its reading full all the time, I put a vdo fuel guage in the other day (same wiring) and it read 1/4 tank and I just put $40 worth of fuel in. I didnt match the resistance of the guages, didnt know I had to do that I though you just plug in the guage and away you go, will track down a multimeter and do a little test

+ rep

[Sigmeister]

Just as an Example, the below are all Autometer Carbon Fibre gauges all 2 5/8 size, but have different Resistances for their levels.

4714 - 0Ωs Empty / 90Ωs Full
4715 - 73Ωs Empty / 10Ωs Full
4716 - 240Ωs Empty / 33Ωs Ful

[J0RD0]

not a real braniac here, might be a stupid question but if the resistance is wrong can the guage still be used or can I correct it for proper use if so how? I hate electrics

[DQIKST]

im sure you can get them re calibrated to suit your car,

i did this once with my speedo autometer ultralite series,

[TA-022]

jordan i had the same thing with a Pricol guage.

Turns out im pretty sure 0ohms at Full and about 100ohms at empty.

But the guage wanted the reverse ... 0 at full.

You'll need to buy the right sender to suit. I tried modify the celica one but they are very very sensitive and bounce everywhere when mucked with I found.

[J0RD0]

any idea where i can get a hold of the right sender?

[TA-022]

any1 who sells your gugae should be able too. I had Peps Auto in Wetherill Park order it in ... and they are just ya average parts place.

tell em ya guage part number and they can order the right 1 in. Or if you can get the specs for your gugae (what Ohms it wants) ya can run round at pickies measure different cars senders.

Pricol 1 was $50 to give you a price indication. And the units are fully adjustable. Ya just set its height to match ya std one and bend the rod into the same shape as std.

[leso]

jordon... when you order your autometer gauge you have to order the one to suit your sender...maybe you can pull your sender out and bend the float arm and try and put it back in upside down..!!!

[J0RD0]

any1 who sells your gugae should be able too. .

some how i dont think ebay will come to the rescue on this one, thanks leso and tao22 will start ringin around tommorow. +rep