CtrMint Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 Hi All,Having got my car on the road I've finally had the chance to brim the fuel tank and found it doesn't read further than between the red and 1/4 full. It sweeps full when you switch the ignition with the key so the dial looks fine. Is there anything I can do or is this a CC issue. Given the tank and level are pre-fitted I'm assuming there's not much I can do but thought I'd ask.Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted March 31, 2019 Member Share Posted March 31, 2019 It's common to not get full scale or a linear response, but yours sounds much worse than most.You can adjust the display with some extra electronic bits.But there's a pretty full description by John Vine of improving this by fettling the float in the tank: start here. (That thread also includes the electronic approach.)Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 I'm changing mine for a VDO dip tube type Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 Given that your car is brand new with a full warranty, I'd take it up with CC or your supplying dealer first. While you can probably improve the gauge accuracy simply by adjusting the sender float arm (see link in post #2, or here for the full guide), you don't want to run the risk of voiding your warranty.JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR400D Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 I’d be inclined to run it low and then refill and see if it goes up then, before I did anything too involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share Posted March 31, 2019 Worth siphoning the fuel off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share Posted March 31, 2019 Worth siphoning the fuel off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 IME, most gauge errors (Duratec and Sigma, and possibly 160) are due to the design of the tank, which prevents the float on the sensor arm from reaching the bottom of the tank. In the case of the 1/4-sweep gauge (like my 2008 one), this results in a reading of around 3/4 when the tank is, in fact, full, and a reading right off the bottom of the scale at "empty". I don't know whether the same happens with the later 3/4-sweep gauges, but I suspect the symptoms are similar.The best way I've found to re-calibrate the gauge is to (1) bend the float arm downwards, (2) drain the tank, and (3) refill it one litre at a time, noting the gauge reading. That's a malodorous and messy procedure, but does produce results. But your gauge seems so far out that I wouldn't start by doing this because there may well be some other factor at work, other than the float position. Rather, I'd report the issue to CC/dealer and see what they say.JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share Posted April 18, 2019 Looks like I've resolved the issues with my fuel gauge.I had to lift the sender from the tank and rotate it around 1/8th clockwise. This seems to have sorted the problem which I suspect was the float against the tank. Getting to the tank was a nightmare mind as CC had riveted my ali boot floor down where a cradle clip holds a fuel hose. It took some time to spot that. Also had some fun getting the tank gasket/seal back in place.Shout out to Petethediesel for his guidance on this. With a bit of luck that should be the last of my build issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 Glad to hear that. Do you happen to have any photos ot the "before" and "after" positions of the top of the pump/sender unit? Failing that, can you recall the orientation of the float arm and/or fuel hose inlet before and after?JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share Posted April 18, 2019 JV i do, detailed in my blog post, it's basically the offset of the blue marks which were originally aligned in the factory.https://www.caterham7diaries.com/420r/fuel-gauge-sorted-the-tank-sender-needed-rotating Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CtrMint Posted April 20, 2019 Author Share Posted April 20, 2019 Brimmed the tank yesterday and it went to full on the gauge, so that’s fantastic. I also drove about 70 miles and it went to about 3/4 full afterwards. Looks like reasonable accuracy to me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted April 21, 2019 Share Posted April 21, 2019 Thanks for the blog pointers -- very interesting.I'm guessing that the orientation of the float arm and float, as supplied, was something like this:If so, it would certainly explain why the gauge didn't register properly! JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petethediesel Posted April 21, 2019 Share Posted April 21, 2019 Actually the float goes in the opposite direction, but yes, it strikes the front of the tank if wrongly positioned. The fuel outlet fitting must be parallel to the F and R tank sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 Actually the float goes in the opposite direction...Ah, I'd assumed it was like this:rather than like this (the pre-2015 Duratec pump):Or have I got that all wrong?JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petethediesel Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 It is the latest type with the black float but both mine and CTR Mint's pump assy have the float extending in the opposite direction. I doubt there would be enough clearance if the float was pointing to the nearside tank wall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 Ah, I see.Can the top plate be turned 180 deg in relation to the pump body? If so, perhaps CC do that to give the clearance needed? Or is my first pic above the wrong pump?JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted April 25, 2019 Share Posted April 25, 2019 Mark,YHBM (private message).JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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