Fuel gauge issues

[Ben_BAXR6]

Lads,

 

Just seeing if anyone had any input, did some searching, found a couple of people with the same/similar issue, but never resolved and the threads were a few years old. Im pretty certain the fuel level sender is dead, but wondering if there's another issue.

 

 

BA MKII XR6 turbo, gauge reads empty, even though tank is full. Consequently, DTE also reads 0.

 

Happened monday night, Car sat for 2 weeks prior with 3/4 of a tank still in it, fixed a few issues and did an end to end service, on way to cruise meet, buzzer chimed, lights came on, gauge shows tank empty/DTE 0. Went to petrol station just in case, took 20 litres or so, but still empty/DTE 0

 

Remove fueses 27 and 29 to reset the instruments, gauge works again, but drops back to empty and DTE to 0 with in 30 seconds or so. SCT X3 shows no error codes etc.

 

Ill purchase a new fuel level sender, but probably wont be here for a bit due to christmas/new year etc.

 

Just seeing if there's another issue, or I've missed something/havent thought or looked at something etc, or if the sender has simply shat itself, and I just need to replace it.

 

 

Cheers

Ben

Edited 30/12/16 12:23 AM by Ben_BAXR6

[k31th]

you're definitely on the right path; the fuel level sender will be dead.

[Ben_BAXR6]

I suspected as much. They're not expensive to replace, so Ill go ahead and order one and get that underway.

 

I only asked as there was the exact same issue as this, he replaced the sender, issue was still there, was told to reset the fuses and that was the last post.

[Ben_BAXR6]

OK, so I was given another sender unit to try first, installed it yesterday, and it read 1/4 tank. Tank had about 40l in it, after I drained 20 or so out (tank was full)

 

Filled the tank again and it didn't move at all. Stuck on 1/4 tank

 

Reset instruments both times.

 

 

 

So, this morning, I drained the tank..... again, and installed the old sender unit. Tank now reads full the whole time. DTE is at max. Tank is only half full.

 

Reset instruments every time I make a change.

 

 

 

Any ideas what could be happening now? Both sender units Cactus? But old sender unit is now reading full the whole time?

 

 

I don't want to buy an aftermarket new one, or bite the bullet and buy a genuine ford one, if its not actually the sender unit.

 

 

 

Driving me a but nuts TBH...

[Ben_BAXR6]

and the original sender just started reading zero again, so swapped in the one I got given, and now that's stuck at HALF. not 1/4 like before.

 

Should have used the 20 litres to burn it instead.  

[Daikorian]

Just wondering if you ever resolved this issue. I'm having the same thing happen on mine. Already changed the fuel pump and sender, but no change. 

[brock.uee]

Any updates?

Mines constantly reading full, I think the fuel level float might just be stuck after sitting for a few months with a full tank? 
bit daunting because it’s on E85 now and I don’t know how much fuel I have lol 😬

[Nik Trathen]

sorry to bump such an old post but wanted to share my success..

 

My 2003 BA Fairlane just had manifold and injectors replaced, but when I got it back the fuel gauge and light indicated it's empty.. with 1/4 of a tank it still sat on empty.

 

Removed fuses 27 and 29 for instruments (the two red 10's second and forth in from top right) - they were not blown... reinserted them both and turned key - JOY! - fixed.

 

I guess when power fitted back after prior work, the gauge glitched.. fuse remove reset it.

 

Thanks @Ben_BAXR6 - your detailed post inspired me to go try resetting it with the two fuses you named! (after confirming it on my diagram of course heheh).

Edited 28/02/25 11:13 AM by Nik Trathen

[slipshot]

Just wanted to add.  So purchased accident damaged XR6T to rebuild.  Gauge said zero and no fuel so stuck in 10 litres.  No movement do did it twice again.   So after 30 litres, knew it was not the fuel itself.  Fuse made no difference.  Guessed it to be the sender unit so ordered a new one, fitted it and tested.  Still the same.  Then tested the old one and it is fine.  So had an auto electrician come and look - and he was a gun.   After 3.5 hours later we checked everything and it turns out (as you will know) that it is all about resistance.   And the resistance was coming from the plug socket (not the plug) inside the top of the fuel pump.  Once we bypassed that, the gauge moved.

 

So I bought a new turbo fuel pump (Goss GE168), fitted it, turned ignition key and how nice to see gauge move to just over 1/3 full.   DTE started working too.   Then put the fuel I had drained when tank was very full back in and gauge shot to 2/3rd full.   Took a while and we got there but this may help others in the future.