Fuel gauge

[tinkerbell23]

Ay idea....roughly, how much it is to mend a broken fuel gauge on a car x

[SlackAlice]

Depends on the car. Are you sure it's the fuel gauge and not the sensor unit in the fuel tank?

[RATTER15]

Could it just be the fuse?

[EDDIE51]

Depends what is wrong with it and the car, it it not working at all or just stuck and not moving ? Do the other gauges work temperature etc ?

[tinkerbell23]

I really dont know guys sorry, i just was told that it isnt working!

Im not good with cars lol everything else is working xx

[Hymie]

As others have said, it could be the gauge, a fuse or the sender unit.

Eddie51 is suggesting that it is unlikely that a fuse will supply power to the fuel gauge only – and therefore if it is a blown fuse, other electrical items will be non-functioning.

My bet would be the sender unit in the tank – but a garage would have to check all these things out. If I were a garage and had to replace a sender unit (which might involve getting the tank off), I’d want £100 including the part. And if it is a marque commanding premium prices for their parts (repaired at a main-dealer) you could easily double that £100 and then some.

[tinkerbell23]

Thanks alot for that i had seriously guessed £100....thats do-able....

Thats been really helpfull thanks again xxx

[mjwman]

A fuel gauge is basically very simple. It has an electrical feed which then exits and goes to the tank sender. Out of the sender and then to earth. That is all there is. As the float rises and lowers in the tank there is created a varible resistance to earth which makes the needle go up or down on the gauge.

So it is either the gauge the sender or wiring at fault.

To tet you need to find the sensor wires and touch them together. This is like no resistance and a full tank. The needle will go to full if the gauge is working.

If it does the sender unit needs replacing. Easy job if you can get to it!

I have just gone through this on my old Triumph Spitfire. Luckily the sender is easily accessible but all cars are basically the same even new ones.

[TWR]

What car? at times the sender is beneath the rear seat base.

[TWR]

Depends what car, breakers yard! £10.00