Fuel sending unit specs, and gauge alternatives - 86 Sedan

[GeneralDisorder]

The fuel gauge which has always been a bit jinky in this thing, has now fallen to a seemingly irrepairably "limp" state. The needle sits there about 1/4" below the E. This morning I started the thing, and the needle first went down (weird), and then sprung back up to 1/2 tank. I filled up at work and when I got to the first job site of the day, it was limp. I fill my tank each day, but sometimes do long trips to the beach and back for work so having a gauge is nice. Besides - I like to fix things even if there isn't a particularly good reason.

 

What I'm looking for are the resistance specs of the sending unit in the tank. I get 4 Ohms off it now, so I'm guessing that less resistance means more fuel. What is the max resistance value - ie: empty.

 

Anyone have sugestions on a cheap fuel gauge? Either I have a bad guage (seems likely considering what it's doing and where the needle is sitting - should not be reading 1/4" below the E - I think the gauge ate itself), or a bad wire in the loom somewhere. I can run new wire to a new gauge - that's no problem.

 

Before I get these answers - yes I've checked the connector at the sending unit. All clean there. And NO I will not just track my mileage instead.

 

GD

[GeneralDisorder]

Ttt

 

Gd

[NVBigBlue]

GD,

I agree that it's nice to have a working gauge. When I got my sons hatch, the gauge didn't work at all. I went to the local P-N-P and tore the sending unit out of another tank. I beleive it was a 4wd wagon. At any rate, not quite the same as the one in the hatch, but it works. The original had 2 wires coming off of it, one for gas level and one for the reserve light I think. The pnp one only had one wire. Drain the tank, remove the little nuts (8mm I think) around the sender and carefully pull it out. Be careful not to tear the rubber gasket. Install "new" sender and wire it up. I've reused the gasket about 10 times now cleaning that tank, and it doesn't seem like it's going to leak, just check it after you fill up.

I think using another suby sender is going to be a lot easier than trying to make an aftermarket sender and gauge work on these tanks.

Good luck,

NV

[mikeshoup]

Try replacing the sender and running new wire to the gauge before trying an aftermarket setup.

[GeneralDisorder]

Replaced sender with another from a loyale (identical looking). No change in guage.... I wonder if this is a victim of the mice?

 

GD

[fangster]

Maybe this will help GD.. from an FSM.

 

Fuel Gague Specs

[samneric]

Hi,

 

Do you know where I can buy a new sender unit or recommend a suitable alternative from another vehicle?

 

I have seen this one hear but not sure if this is what I need...

 

http://www.autopartsauthority.com/parts_catalog/buy.php?make_text=subaru&model_text=brat&ml=brt-4wd-002&year=1986&part_name=fuel_pump&brand_name=airtex&make_code=SU

 

I have an 1986 Brat with Carb.

 

I broke all the nuts taking the old sender off. I think I can restore the gasket but will need the new sender/plate.

 

I bent the neck around the hole at each bolt position so I could take out the rusted bolts. Can you buy those anywhere also??? They are threads that have a flat head on them.

 

Any help is appreciated,

 

Cheers.

 

Steve

 

Try replacing the sender and running new wire to the gauge before trying an aftermarket setup.

[GeneralDisorder]

You should probably just replace that tank - sounds like it's pretty rusty. That part listing is just the pump, and has nothing at all to do with the sending unit in the tank you removed.

 

GD