Fuel Sender and Fuel Gauge problem

[wannaberacer]

I have a secondary Long Range fuel tank that I'm installing in my Surf. The tank is home made and was previously installed in an MQ Patrol. The sender looks like it has been modified to suit the tank.

I have a secondary VDO fuel gauge that I was going to hook it up to.

Now when I have it all apart on the bench seeing how well everything works....well that's where things fall apart.

With it all connected (in the way I think it goes), with the sender in the empty position the gauge reads 1/2 full. With the sender in the full position it reads empty.

My first question is: does the sender have to be matched to the fuel gauge?

If not, what may be wrong?

I can post pics of the bits if necessary.

Cheers

Craig

[murcod]

The sender would need to be matched and like most things automotive they probably aren't interchangeable between gauges. All they usually are is a variable resistor, the resistance varies depending on the float level.

I don't know for sure, but you may something wired incorrectly to get the reverse readings?

[wannaberacer]

I took it to an auto electrician and he said in it's current configuration it will never work.

He told me of a place to go that could modify it to work.

So off I trundle to a place called Photo Electrics in Toowoomba. He tells me he can rewire the resistor to make it work for around $50. Or the other option is get another gauge that will match the resistance of the sender. I go for option B, and with a clean up of the sender the price will be $60.

So there you go...I've learnt something.

Now I have a spare VDO gauge...anyone wanna buy it?