01-04-2019, 12:14 PM
(01-04-2019, 09:37 AM)Ruairidh Dunford Wrote: I only have one Seven with a working [sic] fuel gauge - this car alone has run out of fuel on me twice, all the others not!
I am completely OCD when it comes to things not working. When I first had FG 8659, the petrol gauge didn't work, so , when I had the tank down to get it cleaned out and sealed, I took the tank sender out. What I had on the bench bore more resemblance to something found on an archeological dig than a piece of a running motor car. Someone had obviously had trouble before, because there was a cork shoved in the end of the colander-like remains of the float, which crumbled into a pile of rusty flakes as I withdrew the cork.
I soaked the unit in electrical cleaner, freed off the arm and checked it for electrical continuity. Amazingly, it was electrically intact, so I removed the remains of the float drilled a small hole in the cork and fitted it to the end of the arm.
The gauge wont read below 1/4 of a tank but I know that, when it does, I have about a gallon left and it is time to find a petrol station.
I have a further check. Having done about 1600 miles in the car since I have had it in October, and now that it has a decent distributor fitted, I have worked out that it does on average 36 mpg round here, so, between the odometer and the gauge, so far I have had no problem.