FJ55 Fuel Sender Problems with Long Range Tank

[cml25]

I had the long range tank boiled and cleaned up and finally got the piggie running last weekend but the fuel gauge isn't working. How do you go about fixing one of these? I thought it worked before the tank was boiled but can't remember for sure (only drove it once before cleaning the tank) Could it have something to do with sealing off the gas vent line? Thanks.

 

[laguna80]

Do you have power all along the circuit?

 

[cruiser_guy]

I would pull the sender, you don't need to drop the tank as there is a floor access hole. See if there is a variable resistance depending on where the float is. My '60 series manual shows approx. 17 ohm full, 40 ohm 1/2 full and 120 ohm empty.

On the long range tank the sender should have an extended arm. If it doesn't and the tank is not more than 1/2 full it's going to show empty all the time.

 

[cml25]

Thanks guys, I guess I'm off to pick up a multimeter. Can you still purchase extended arm senders?
Do they have them down by you Chuck?

 

[cruiser_guy]

Thanks guys, I guess I'm off to pick up a multimeter. Can you still purchase extended arm senders?
Do they have them down by you Chuck?

Clip the float off at about mid-point along the wire and solder in an extension. There are no "extended arm senders" available that I know of.

 

[cml25]

Well I tested the sender unit and it looks like it was working. I didn't know what the hell to touch on the sender unit with the multimeter to get readings but they did change from full to empty.. I cleaned up the metal with some steel wool and put it back in. The radiator shop that boiled the tank may of put it back in wrong and it was catching on something. The other possibility is that the gas gauge is working and I just don't know whats the normal readings. My gauge is about an 1/8" lower than the quarter tank mark. Where does the needle stop when empty? down past the E or even with? I have about 25 gals in right now so I figured I'd be around half a tank. How do you test the wire that hooks into the fuel sender?

 

[silverduc68]

i have a 50 gal. tank and reads only 1/2 when full

 

[cml25]

i have a 50 gal. tank and reads only 1/2 when full

Does it go down past the E when it's empty? The fuel sender arm looks like it's long enough. Which direction is your arm facing in the tank? Mine was sticking on something when it was facing back (towards the bumper) I ended up turning it towards the passenger side. Thanks.

 

[cruiser_guy]

Mine reads roughly correctly, it is after all reading ALOT of volume on a small scale. You test the body of the sender to the little stak-on tab for resistance.

You may need to bend the arm to get it in the right position (bottom of tank when empty and top when full).

The shop manual gives a testing procedure with a light bulb for testing the gauge. I'm sure if you perform that test from the wire at the tank you'll have covered all your bases. You put a 3.4w bulb on the sender wire and then ground the other side. With the ignition on the bulb is supposed to flash and the gauge needle is supposed to vibrate. I have not done this test but that's the manual's procedure for testing.

 

[cml25]

Thanks Charles, I'll give it a try.