Forum:
I have just got a 96/P Sportrak elxi every thing works fine except the fuel guage has a mind of its own, it reads every thing from empty to 3/4 on a full tank when driving. When stationary with just electrics on, the guage rises slowly but only to 3/4 full. I guessing the fault is either the guage itself or the fuel sender unit. Is there any way to test either, do you have to drop the tank to get to the sender unit? Any advise would be greatly apreciated.
Many thanks
A check
Hi Johnnyboy,
We always did a simple check years ago to check the guage all we did was switch on and pull the earth wire off and put to earth the guage should rise to max if working which I suspect it is,but I dont know if its accessable on the sporty.
Its most likely to be the sender sticking you normally can get access through the floor pan but again I'm not sure with a sporty,have you not got a manual on CD, if not they sell them on site.
If the Sporty is the same as
If the Sporty is the same as a 4track (and I suspect it is)then I am afraid you will have to drop the tank to get to the sender unit. On the 4track the sender unit is screwed into the top of the tank...I know this cause I had to drop the tank to fix a leak.
Dropping the tank on the track was fairly straight forward (I had the benefit of a manual..so I knew which bits to undo first etc).
The sender unit is a simple float affair..as you fill up the float rises causing a resistance on a 'sliding'contact..which gives you your reading..your unit could be experiencing an intermitent earth problem which may be affecting the reading...follow Alfies tip..although if anything like the 4track getting at the earth could prove difficult as its tucked up above the tank at the rear end..you should be able to see the small connector..you might have to get a torch on it to see it.
Thanks for advice
Fuel guage is now reading fine. The problem was that the sliding contact in the sender unit was only making some contact. Thanks for help
Sender unit
Hi Johnnyboy,
I just happen to be browsing through my manual and according to it you do have to drop the tank to get to sender unit good luck.
Alfie.