Jump to content

Welcome to Autoworld Forum !

Sign In or Register to gain full access to our forums. By registering with us, you'll be able to discuss, share and private message with other members of our community.

Close
Photo

240 SE Fuel indicator


  • Please log in to reply

#1
hello01

Posted 17 February 2005 - 09:06 AM

hello01

    Driver

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 39 posts
Dear all,
Need some feedback on the fuel indicator on the 240 SE that is always
stuck at 1/2 tank indication even with fuel full. Some trouble shooting
done including checking and changing the resistors. Still no help.
Mechanic suspect the float and it cost RM 600 for a new one. Potong RM200
Anyone can help? By the way how does the float work in principle? Any
idea? Is there low fuel warning light at the dashboard indicator for SE
model.Many thanks.

#2
scenic

Posted 17 February 2005 - 09:50 AM

scenic

    Tokyo Drifter

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,156 posts
Did you contact the workshop that you asked for it ?

#3
hello01

Posted 17 February 2005 - 11:20 AM

hello01

    Driver

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 39 posts
Scenic,
Yes I did contact them on my problem ding-dong at back. Many thanks. The
above is my father in law's car. He is in Seremban. Pity old man car
stopped in middle of road not realizing the fuel indicator not working and
no fuel in car. Less then a month ownership Mean while my father in law is
selling away his Toyota SEG away. Anyone interested. Mint condition and no
repair needed.

#4
scenic

Posted 17 February 2005 - 11:31 AM

scenic

    Tokyo Drifter

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,156 posts
Whom did you speak to ? Why selling away the Corrolla ?

#5
hello01

Posted 17 February 2005 - 12:07 PM

hello01

    Driver

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 39 posts
Scenic,
Spoke to Mr. Lim. I have not visited him yet.
Selling because the house garage is full a Mini, a Toyota, a Volvo and
previously a 4-wheel drive. Wah looks like a second hand car dealer
house. Luckily he is not reading this.
Any feedback for me on the meter. please, please....


#6
scenic

Posted 17 February 2005 - 12:16 PM

scenic

    Tokyo Drifter

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,156 posts
You should go and see him, he will sought it out for you.

#7
vol940

Posted 17 February 2005 - 02:44 PM

vol940

    Taxi Driver

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 372 posts
hello01,

Fuel Gauge Working Principle :

There are two types: the thermostatic type and the balancing coil type.
The thermostatic type is made of a standing unit, located in the fuel
tank, and the gauge itself (registering unit), which is located on the
instrument panel. The fuel gauge used in some cars is of the electrically
operated balanced coil type. These have a dash unit and a tank unit. The
dash unit has two coils, spaced about 90 degrees apart, with an armature
and integral pointer at the intersections of the coil axis. The dial has
a scale in fractions between "Empty" and "Full". The tank unit has a
housing, which encloses a rheostat, and a sliding brush which contacts
the rheostat. The brush is actuated by the float arm. The movement of the
float arm is controlled by the height of the fuel in the supply tank. The
height of the fuel (called variations in resistance) changes the value of
the dash unit coil so that the pointer indicates the amount of fuel
available. A calibrated friction brake is included in the tank unit to
prevent the wave motions of the fuel from fluctuating the pointer on the
dash unit. Current from the battery passes through the limiting coil to
the common connection between the two coils, which is the lower terminal
on the dash unit. The current is then offered two paths, one through the
operating coil of the dash unit and the other over the wire to the tank
unit. When the tank is low or empty, the sliding brush cuts out all
resistance in the tank unit. Most of the current will pass through the
tank unit circuit because of the low resistance and only a small portion
through the operating coil to the dash unit. As a result, this coil is
not magnetized enough to move the dash unit pointer, which is then held
at the "Empty" position by the limiting coil.
If the tank is partly full or full, the float rises on the surface of the
fuel and moves the sliding brush over the rheostat, putting resistance in
the tank unit circuit. More current will then pass through the operating
coil to give a magnetic pull on the pointer, which overcomes some of the
pull of the limiting coil. When the tank is full, the tank unit circuit
contains the maximum resistance to the flow of the current. The operating
coil will then receive its maximum current and exert pull of the pointer
to give a "Full" reading. As the tank empties, the operating coil loses
some of its magnetic pull and the limiting coil will still have about the
same pull so that the pointer is pulled toward the lower reading.
Variations in battery voltage will not cause an error in the gauge
reading because its operation only depends on the difference in magnetic
effect between the two coils.

Ask to your mechanic to check the sending unit first using TEST RESISTOR :

Volvo 1984 to 1992 : Tubular Type Fuel Gauge
- Empty Tank = 0 Ohms
- LED Low Fuel = 10 to 18 Ohms
- Full Tank = 280 Ohms

Volvo 1993 + : Non-Tubular Type Fuel Gauge
- Empty Tank = 131 Ohms
- LED Low Fuel = 113 Ohms
- Full Tank = 2 Ohms

IF Failed, THEN change the sending Unit, probably integrated with the
float.

IF OK, and

a. IF Fuel Pointer indicates Empty when engine switch-off, THEN go to
check the instrument cluster, especially check the connectivity of the
three screws to the PC board (flexible PC Board). Some had idea to make a
solder the three screws to the flexible PC board (the most is Yazaki),
but do very carefully not to melt the flexible circuit board.

b. If Pointer indicates other than empty when engine switch-off, THEN
your coil and magnet which rotate the pointer (needle) Not Function
Properly, may be damage. So you have to change the fuel meter. Before
changing check the connection of the coil to the pins at PC board thet
hold pointer (there are 4 connections).


#8
dans

Posted 18 February 2005 - 07:40 AM

dans

    Member

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 14 posts
sorry to kacau this thread..
i have a problem where fuel indicator shows more than F when full and temp
indicator shows more than half during normal running.
there is no problem with the engine.
i understand that there is some kind of resistor behind the instrument
panel that has gone kaput. anybody has any idea how to replace this??
thanks.. dans

#9
mlkulwk

Posted 18 February 2005 - 11:38 AM

mlkulwk

    Taxi Driver

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 450 posts
Wah....VOL940 vely elaborate explanation. wonder how is it been explain by
most local mechanic...think if were to quote and unquote, the guy would
probably stare at me in blank.Big Smile

#10
vol940

Posted 18 February 2005 - 02:24 PM

vol940

    Taxi Driver

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 372 posts
Just to avoid unwanted replacement parts ... hehehehe ...Tongue