Fuel Guage. Replace or Not

[rabbids]

Hi all, I know there are many posts about fuel gauges not working and I searched as best I can for an answer, but here goes. My fuel gauge stopped working, after being intermitant, a couple of months back. I tried the fill the tank and drive for set miles and re-fill, only to find the fuel tank was leaking doing this.

I have now removed the tank and in a state of cleaning, protecting and replacing all the rubbers. I have checked the wiring, the sender and the regulator, which is out putting at about 10 volts just under. So I have finally come to the conclusion that it is the gauge itself.

My question is, does any one know where to get hold of a replacement guage, or even have one knocking about to sell. I've tried several companies to no avail. She is an '89 2.1 with both the fuel and temp in the bottom of the rev counter. Is it worth getting a new sender and seperate vdo gauge, or can i get a seperate gauge that will work with the original sender?

Thanks.

[CovKid]

May not be guage - could be a poor connection on the multiplug or the voltage stabiliser on the back of the dash clocks.

[T25Convert]

^^^ - WHS!

With the ignition on and some fuel in your tank, crank your head under the dash and find the big white multiplug that connects to it (by your right knee on a RHD).

Give this a gentle wiggle and see if this solves your problem (if only breifly while you hold the plug in position!)

Cheers,

Alex

[kevtherev]

Agreed the voltage stabiliser.

[CovKid]

There you go. I've never known a gauge actually fail, neither has anyone else I suspect, hence the replies. Known plenty not work but it always seems due to a faulty dash connection, corroded/damaged connections on PCB foil itself or the stabiliser component which can be bought cheap. Most likely multiplug though. Start there. Well, unless you've completely hardwired dash clocks like I have, in which case, ignore our musings

[rabbids]

Cheers guys. I have checked the stabiliser and it seems ok. Temp gauge is working fine, voltages are getting to the back of the gauge too. I've actually taken the gauge out and applied an external 10 volts to it and passed it through a 100 ohm resistor to simulate the tank sender, but no movement. This all leads me to think that I'm one of those rare cases where the gauge has packed up.