I've done something really stupid (fuel gauge related)

[meehaja]

For reasons best left not discussed, I put a newly charged battery in backwards, and despite the sparks and smell of burning I continued to wire it in.

I have accepted that this was ridiculously stupid and now have big + and - painted on and have had the p**s taken by my family quite a lot! Now, to the problem.. everything starts and runs fine, all electricals seem to be fine (nothing is live until the key is turned) except the fuel gauge. For some reason since the last MOT the fuel gauge is "reading" all the time. When I had my backwards battery issue there was a lot of smoke from the fuel tank area (I know, I know, I shouldn't be allowed a van any more, and if I carry on with that kind of stupidity I wont!) and the fuel gauge is completely dead, no needle visible at all.

Now, it would appear I have short circuited the gauge! What do i do now? I have a spare dash pod with fuel gauge, so thats that area sorted, I'm guessing the tank end will be ruined?

From searches on here it sounds like I'm going to have to drop the tank, so I'm going to need to do some research on that, is there any easy way to, for example, wire in a new fuel gauge? (as an extra gauge, bypassing the current set up?)

Thanks, and please be gentle, I know I'm an idiot! (and lucky i didn't blow myself up!)

[kevtherev]

No need to research
dropping the tank is in the haynes under "fuel tank removal"

get the new sender first

[langb20]

and make sure you empty the fuel tank as much as possible first, store the can of fuel you just drained away from the van
disconnect the battery before doing any electrics, and just to be sure I put a rag or other insulator type thing over the contact ends and secure them away somewhere as they sometimes have a nasty habit of springing over to where they normally live (the battery contacts) when you least expect it (cue frizz bomb hair)
good luck

[jamesc76]

disconnect the battery before doing any electrics, and just to be sure I put a rag or other insulator type thing over the contact ends and secure them away somewhere as they sometimes have a nasty habit of springing over to where they normally live (the battery contacts) when you least expect it (cue frizz bomb hair)
good luck

yo only need to disconnect the neg /earth lead from the battery which as its on a braided strap shouldnt spring back!