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Author Topic: Fuel gauge wonky  (Read 2575 times)

MechaJubei

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  • Posts: 21
    • 1991 Base Capri
Fuel gauge wonky
« on: November 04, 2020, 12:48:59 PM »

My fuel gauge acts wonky once it hits about halfway down.  It's fine when I fill it up, then about 80 miles in and the needle is getting closer to the halfway mark, the needles drops down way past the Empty mark.  If I fill it back up, the needles goes back to the normal Full mark.  Is this just a faulty fuel sensor?  Are those hard to come by?
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Rocketman

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    • 91 BPT AWD Capri & 1991 XR2
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Re: Fuel gauge wonky
« Reply #1 on: November 04, 2020, 06:37:52 PM »

It's part of the fuel pump hangar assembly, and as far as I am aware it is not available new. I don't think it can be had for a similar mazda platform, ie a 323 or mercury tracer.
Used may be your best bet, if you can locate one in the junkyard.

I do recall seeing a 323 GTX guy having similar issues, unable to secure a replacement, he rebuilt his. The mechanism is a wire-wound potentiometer, the wire had worn thru where the wiper makes contact. He measured the wire gauge, found exact wire replacement and re-wound it to bring it back into operating order.

I think that was on the clubprotege forums. You might still be able to find it there, or I may have posted a link on teamcapri here in the past. Who knows with the photobucket debacle if the pictures are still available
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1.8L Turbo All Wheel Drive Capri... the "GTXR2"


Rocketman

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Re: Fuel gauge wonky
« Reply #2 on: November 04, 2020, 06:46:03 PM »

Found it pretty easily, pictures are gone though :(

Would need to verify the wire gauge before proceeding in case it is different.

Here's the link: http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?57674-how-too-fix-your-fuel-lever-senders-and-for-only-5!!!
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1.8L Turbo All Wheel Drive Capri... the "GTXR2"


MechaJubei

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    • 1991 Base Capri
Re: Fuel gauge wonky
« Reply #3 on: November 04, 2020, 07:19:09 PM »

Found it pretty easily, pictures are gone though :(

Would need to verify the wire gauge before proceeding in case it is different.

Here's the link: http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?57674-how-too-fix-your-fuel-lever-senders-and-for-only-5!!!

Thank you!  I'm in talks with a couple people over at the Capri FB page getting some other random parts, I'll see if maybe they have one too.  :)
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greywolf27030

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    • 1991 XR2, 1992 XR2, 1993 XR2
Re: Fuel gauge wonky
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2020, 09:34:20 AM »

I found a company that rebuild senders, but don't have the info, I'm in Daytona.
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Jack Byrd

redsteve

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  • Posts: 65
    • 1991 Capri, the rest are red or appliances...
Re: Fuel gauge wonky
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2020, 09:40:52 PM »

I don't know if the "universal" fuel sending units available would work in our Capri's, but Auto Meter and Dorman make such, among others probably. On Jeg's for example, see below. Perhaps this is an option as they have a wide range of adjustments for different applications.

Good luck,

Steve

https://www.jegs.com/i/Auto-Meter/105/3262/10002/-1
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greywolf27030

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    • 1991 XR2, 1992 XR2, 1993 XR2
Re: Fuel gauge wonky
« Reply #6 on: November 07, 2020, 06:07:25 PM »

The resistance on these is usually for a Chevrolet and doesn't quite match up with our gauges.
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Jack Byrd

redsteve

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  • Posts: 65
    • 1991 Capri, the rest are red or appliances...
Re: Fuel gauge wonky
« Reply #7 on: November 08, 2020, 10:36:54 AM »

I wondered about that, even as I was typing. I was going to dig out my factory manual to see if that spec was in there...still haven't done that (trees and a chainsaw diverted my attention).

Thanks, Jack.

Steve
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JimmyGermany

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    • 1993 Capri non-turbo
Re: Fuel gauge wonky
« Reply #8 on: January 17, 2021, 01:28:51 PM »

Gentlemen!

I just got my hands on this pump/filter/sender assembly:

https://ibb.co/gjMdV8y

I was testing the potentiometer, which does indeed change resistance with the position of the float.
I measured the range from about 2 Ohm at empty, to 107 Ohm at full. The change is linear with position.
Anybody know if this is the correct range?

Cheers
James
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greywolf27030

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    • 1991 XR2, 1992 XR2, 1993 XR2
Re: Fuel gauge
« Reply #9 on: January 18, 2021, 10:32:36 AM »

That sounds like the correct range, the best I can remember.  Of course I have old timers disease.
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Jack Byrd

MechaJubei

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    • 1991 Base Capri
Re: Fuel gauge wonky
« Reply #10 on: January 23, 2021, 10:57:12 PM »

Thank you everyone for the help on this.  I will keep this posted if I get to a final solution.  :)
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Aus Capri

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    • 1989 Capri Turbo
Re: Fuel gauge wonky
« Reply #11 on: February 16, 2021, 09:39:14 AM »

I have the same problem, I swapped out my sender with a second hand unit with a new pump installed and its still faulty, sometimes works and other times its all over the place. Keep us posted!
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greywolf27030

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    • 1991 XR2, 1992 XR2, 1993 XR2
Re: Fuel gauge wonky
« Reply #12 on: February 17, 2021, 08:50:04 AM »

On mine it seems the actual gauge is faulty.
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Jack Byrd

Rocketman

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    • 91 BPT AWD Capri & 1991 XR2
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Re: Fuel gauge wonky
« Reply #13 on: February 17, 2021, 10:49:04 PM »

On my first Capri my fuel gauge itself had bad solder joints on the back of the gauge. I cannot recall if I re-soldered it or swapped it, but the gauge was the problem.
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1.8L Turbo All Wheel Drive Capri... the "GTXR2"


greywolf27030

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    • 1991 XR2, 1992 XR2, 1993 XR2
Re: Fuel gauge wonky
« Reply #14 on: February 18, 2021, 10:30:54 AM »

On my first Capri my fuel gauge itself had bad solder joints on the back of the gauge. I cannot recall if I re-soldered it or swapped it, but the gauge was the problem.

This one occasionally will change position and worked the same with the original sender that was on the car.
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Jack Byrd