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MG MGB Technical - Sender or Gauge Problem?

Hi All,

I'm wondering if there's a way to test whether I have a fuel gauge problem, or a tank sender problem.

The fuel gauge in my '63 B doesn't really work unless the tank is more than half full. From half-full to full, the gauge functions properly. When the tank is less than half full, the gauge tends to stick down at the "empty" side unless I tap on the glass, then the needle pops over.

Seems like a gauge problem, but can I test it?

Thanks and Cheers,
Greg
Greg Van Hook

Greg - The fact that the gauge reads properly from half full to full would indicate that the sender resistor is open part way along the resistance wire. Not knowing what the total resistance of the sending unit is, I can't tell you what size resistor to try for the lower readings. Perhaps someone else has that information. If not, contact me directly at SUfuelpumps@donobi.net and I can try to come up with some way to test the system. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Hi Greg,

Check out this link.

Herb


http://www.mgexperience.net/article/fuel-sender-adjust.html
Herb Adler

Herb

That's a very useful link but the 1963 MGB has a much more rudimentary system that I have never been able to get right on mine. I will be watching this thread closely. Ian
Ian Buckley

Oops. I just noticed last night that with the tank slightly more than half full, the needle will also bounce over to the "full" side and stay there, until I tap the glass.

Is that a clue?

Hey Dave, how's it going?

Cheers,
Greg
Greg Van Hook

Remove the connection at the sender and ground it. Turn on the ignition when the gauge should go to Full. When disconnected it should read empty. If you get these readings the sender is faulty. If not then it looks like the gauge.
Iain MacKintosh

This thread was discussed between 03/05/2011 and 06/05/2011

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