Discussion
I was glorying in the fact that my Chimaera 500 was showing 270 miles on the trip meter and the fuel gauge was still showing quarter full - then the car stopped! Just by a fuel station fortunately.
Anyone had the same problem? Is there a cure for sticking gauges? It's only happened once, but I am not likely to be that lucky again.
Is Gauge or sender unit responsible?
I have had near misses, just wish I could get 270 miles out of it though !
I find that if you have switched off the car when it still merrily told you you had quarter of a tank, that when you come back and switch on, you can sometimes be just off empty. I have just put this down to presure (or something) in the tank when the engine/pump is on causing a false reading.
I was told to think about filling up whenever I get to quarter full - not a bad rule if you are not confident on the level. In reallity, I tend to work on a combination of the level and the milage. anything above 200 and I start thinking seriously about filling up again.
When I had a Chim I had the same problem. Here's how to fix it.
My fuel gauge showed empty when there were about 8 gallons in the tank. If the tank was full, it showed 3/4 only. Here is my solution, but be aware that it is an awkward and dangerous procedure:
1. Open the boot. Loosen the trim on the right upper side of the tank. Unscrew the fuel sender and take it out. Close the open hole with something! Re-connect the cables and turn the ignition on. Move the white float up and down and look at the fuel gauge.
2. If the needle goes from empty to full then you have to adjust the sender by bending the wire up or down. Hold the sender outside the tank in the same level that it is buit in and arrange the wire so that the float is in its lowest position about 2-3 inches above the lower edge of the tank. You must be sure that you only bend it up or down, not in another direction, to avoid the float rubbing on the front ofr back wall of the tank. In most cases that's it and you will have enough petrol for 20 miles when the warning light goes on.
3. If the needle does not reach "empty" or "full" by this procedure, then it's a little bit tricky. You must remove the fuel gauge from the dashboard and open it. Remove the black or chrome ring and remove the screws at the back. Inside, the pointer is connected to a small coil, which moves in a cage. You can turn this cage to adjust the position of the pointer on the scale. Turn it so that the needle reaches "zero" if the float is completely down and "full" if it is in the highest position. Secure the position of the cage with a drop of glue and repeat No. 2.
It only take 1hr to do + time removing the dash (2hr+). It worth doing for the peace of mind.
I hope this helps
Duncan
I seem to have a different problem with the fuel gauge. I fill up and the gauge is off to the right somewhere - well past the full label.
Once I have motored abou 100 mls the gauge hits full and then takes about another 80 mls or so to get to half full.
Is there any way to re-calibrate the gauge/sender or am I stuck with working out how much fuel I have by the mileage travelled - with no trip meter ?
94L Chimaers (pre-facelift with black rimmed dials)
Bob the Planner
Once I have motored abou 100 mls the gauge hits full and then takes about another 80 mls or so to get to half full.
Is there any way to re-calibrate the gauge/sender or am I stuck with working out how much fuel I have by the mileage travelled - with no trip meter ?
94L Chimaers (pre-facelift with black rimmed dials)
Bob the Planner
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