Dodgy fuel sender...

or something else?

My fuel gauge was all over the place, used ok as a general guide to the fuel level but generally fluctuated between 1/4 and 3/4 irrespective of tank contents. OK it usually hovered around the upper level when full and the lower level when empty, but seriously inaccurate. The only accurate thing was the "nearly empty" light.

Got a replacement britpart one off of Pad's and fitted it today. Now the "nearly empty" light works fine but the gauge only works in the low area when the light's on. As soon as the tank gets to a level where the light's out, the needle goes to zero and it stops working altogether.

With the old unit out and ignition (but not engine) on it seems relatively reliable (but not tested for too long) but as soon as its back in the tank and i'm on the move, so is it, all over the place!

Anyone know which of these is the case:

1. Paddocks sent the wrong unit
2. Paddocks sent a duff unit
3. Wiring is whacky on my landy (which is why the needle might have been all over the joint)
4. Anything else?

It's a defender 90 doozle with veg but was the same before i started putting the veg in. (1990)

Ta and HNY 2 all
OD
PS Anyone got any comments on paddocks £36 steering guards? Are they bacofoil?

well here goes for the bacofoil steering guard... will let you know...

Sounds like a dodgy earth (Black wire) to me.

Steel is steel is steel (Sort of) as long as it's 6mm thick it'll survive all but the worse abuse. Whether the holes will line up or how long it'll last before the tin worm gets it is anybodies guess though.

Thanks - now ordered so will let you know!

If it was the earth would it either work or not work? The old unit (which i have now reinstalled) is partly working although inaccurate (except the fuel light which works perfectly) - so the current is getting through i think! When i completely disconnect the black wire it stops altogether.

Also the paddocks one seems to be faulty or the wrong one, but the symptoms seemm strange - ie it works but only in the quarter where the fuel light is on, then above that nothing! Landy gremlin? Should have stuck with my refill-every-200-miles policy, that was working OK!

it's made of 5 and 10mm galvy reinforced behind - yer gits wot yer pays fer so we'll see! Havin just expended huge and labotious time and money replacing the vulnerable steering bits, anything has to be better than nothing! If all else fails i can always use it on next year's turkey! (and use the turkey strapped to the underside of the steering to protect it, if it's anything like this years it'll do a good job!)