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MG TD TF 1500 - how to check the fule indication system

how to check the fuel indication system?
Since a couple of month I have trouble with my fuel indication system. On one trip I run empty without warning. I don’t like that and I believe you can imagine why.
What I did in the past: I remove the indicator unit from the tank. Making sure that all the elements right in place and working perfect. I checking the unit connecting to the dash lamp and to ground and it works also perfect.

I installed the unit to the tank again and make sure that the unit is connected properly to the ground. Filling up the gas tank and driving and driving but no light comes on. I checked today with a wooden stick and found there is still gas in the tank, may be 2 inch from the ground of the tank. Not to much and I don’t like to break down on a Highway some ware.

My question now, how can I check the fuel indication system if it will work properly?
Any suggestion?
Thank you,
Guenter
Guenter

Guenter, with the car statically grounded you could slowly drain fuel from the tank drain into a fuel safe container. regards, tom
tom peterson

Guenter, the only real test is as tom said, drain the tank and see if the light comes on. It is critical for the sending unit to be grounded, normally through the fuel line. Any chance that you have a filter in your fuel line? Bud
Bud Krueger

" It is critical for the sending unit to be grounded, normally through the fuel line."

It is better to run a ground line to one of the sender mounting screws. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Sorry to point out the obvious, but it could be no more than a blown bulb.

Remove the connector from the top of the sender and touch the wire to ground. This should cause the blue light to come on.

If it doesn't come on, then either the wiring is at fault or the bulb has blown.

If the blue light does work, then the fault lies at the sender unit. Note the previous post - the sender unit must be earthed.
B T Jones

Thank you guys for your comments but please read my description on the start of the thread:

What I did in the past: I remove the indicator unit from the tank. Making sure that all the elements right in place and working perfect. I checking the unit connecting to the dash lamp and to ground and it works also perfect. I installed the unit to the tank again and make sure that the unit is connected properly to the ground.

Now, my solution is as follow: I drive the car up to the end. If the tank becomes empty before the light comes on ( my light is green by the way) I them know the sender or the harness doesn’t work. But if I happy enough and the green light comes on, then I know it works reliable.

For the first possibility I carry a small filled gas tank with me, just in case.
Guenter
Guenter

Guenter,

Another method to check the working of you low fuel light is to disconnect the hose from the fuel pump and rear carb, at the carb end and put the open end into a container. switch the ignition on and the pump will empty the tank into the container. If your light comes on at one point, you know that it works. From that point you can measure how much fuel remains in the tank, this will give you some idea on how far you can drive before running out.

Two warnings if you do this:
1/ do it outside and have a fire extinguisher at hand.
2/ don't run the pump for too long at one time, has it may overheat.

I use this method to drain my tank.

John
J Scragg

This thread was discussed between 21/07/2012 and 24/07/2012

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