Fuel gauge series 1

[ocarros]

When I first got hold of my car (2000 series 1) the fuel gauge wasn't working. Got a new sender unit and the fuel gauge now works. Kind of. When tank is full, the gauge shows full. The gauge comes down to empty in the normal course of events and will show as empty when there's half a tank remaining. Does this mean the gauge itself is faulty? Can this be replaced by itself or is it a full dash replacement? Or is there some resistance somewhere that needs adjusting? Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[redrover]

When I first got hold of my car (2000 series 1) the fuel gauge wasn't working. Got a new sender unit and the fuel gauge now works. Kind of. When tank is full, the gauge shows full. The gauge comes down to empty in the normal course of events and will show as empty when there's half a tank remaining. Does this mean the gauge itself is faulty? Can this be replaced by itself or is it a full dash replacement? Or is there some resistance somewhere that needs adjusting? Any ideas? Thanks.

The gauge is a separate unit within the instrument binnacle, so could be replaced in isolation. There is one on eBay at the moment: BT 8101/03, ROVER 536966 ROVER P6 2000 Smiths Replacement FUEL Gauge | eBay
But to me that sounds like an issue with the sender, or (as you say) some resistance that is off.

 

[ocarros]

Thanks for that. I'll take a look at that part - is it a dashboard / speedo off job to replace?

I sincerely hope it's not the sender as I got it from Wadhams - not 2nd hand

 

[ocarros]

The gauge is a separate unit within the instrument binnacle, so could be replaced in isolation. There is one on eBay at the moment: BT 8101/03, ROVER 536966 ROVER P6 2000 Smiths Replacement FUEL Gauge | eBay
But to me that sounds like an issue with the sender, or (as you say) some resistance that is off.

The part on eBay is 536966 whereas the part I'd need is 559090. Could I get away with the *966 part do you know?

 

[redrover]

The part on eBay is 536966 whereas the part I'd need is 559090. Could I get away with the *966 part do you know?

That's a good point. I assume they differed between 2000 and 3500, and may have varied in the early years of production as well. @chrisw may be able to help on this?

 

[chrisw]

I believe they're the same gauge, as the ref on the front of them is the same. It's probably just an updated part number.

 

[ocarros]

Thanks Chris. I've taken a punt and ordered that part for a fiver. There was another gauge on eBay with the other part number for £66! nothing to lose for a fiver

 

[DAK]

I had a similar problem after replacing the sender on my '68 2000TC with one of the new reproduction units. The sender is definitely the issue. I detail some of my findings in my "1968 2000 TC Restoration Project" thread, towards the end.

 

[ocarros]

I had a similar problem after replacing the sender on my '68 2000TC with one of the new reproduction units. The sender is definitely the issue. I detail some of my findings in my "1968 2000 TC Restoration Project" thread, towards the end.

That's some work you carried out on your TC DAK. Fair play to you on that. Will have a good read of the whole thread later but the issue on my fuel gauge seems to be the same as yours. Many thanks for this.

 

[j_radcliffe]

Is your temperature gauge working properly? If it is reading high then you have a gauge voltage regulator problem. Replace the voltage regulator with a solid state one.

 

[ocarros]

Temp gauge and everything else on the binnacle is working fine