Fuel gauge sender - Early B14

[Attack2001]

I need a fuel gauge sender for an early b14. Its the all metal one as apposed to the plastic ones used on the later models. Is it the same as a mk1 343/345? I need one please, mine reads empty from 3/4 of a tank Thomas..............

[macplaxton]

How early are we talking? MY please.

In the meantime. Keep a book.

My very first car, a Citroen Dyane 6, came with a book (as the gauge didn't work). In it were fill-up quantities and mileages. Without fail the car would do 8 miles on a litre, so providing you stuck to that formula, you never ran out of petrol (I ran out three times in the two months/4k I had the car ) Although on every occasion I went past the next fill-up mileage on the clock.

Also, you can then reminisce about how 4* cost 42p a litre.

Now to your problem Thomas...

The sender unit can be repaired if you cannot find one. They do however do turn up from time to time, so keep 'em peeled. MCHUDD had my one that I bought in as a spare. He had exactly the same problem. There is a contact arm that wipes across a nickel chrome resistance wire. Over the years it just wears the wire out and it will break.




What is needed is the correct gauge/resistance/material of special wire, then it can be rewound exactly as before. (This doesn't apply to later units which have a plastic/carbon resistive track set-up)

I thought I'd posted these before, but I don't think I have. It's just that I had the annotated pics ready to hand.

[Attack2001]

Its a MY84, early mk2 but has the 340 badges, dash and mirrors (not the 343 stuff)

Its got that exact problem. The majority of the strands have broken. A replacement one would be nice, or if someone can tell me how to fix it?

I wonder if just changing the whole fuel tank would be a better option, that way in the future if it breaks again parts are easily available. Are the tanks all the same do we know? Thomas....................

[macplaxton]

The sender really needs to match the dash gauge fitted to read properly. I'm not sure if there is any difference / major / minor between Smiths clocks and VDO ones.

Well I have told you how to fix it, but I'll maybe do it for you if/when I get a big roll of the right wire. Be forewarned, I'm rather SLOW at getting round to doing things!

[volvomania]

Its a MY84, early mk2 but has the 340 badges, dash and mirrors (not the 343 stuff)

That is not early..... , it is even a lot younger than my youngest 300 .

Good luck with your search, it should be fairly easy finding one of those compared to one for a MY78.

[Attack2001]

I've got a VDO gauges in it at the moment i doubt that helps lol, although i spose it would mean i could use a later tank? I'd call it an early 340, i thought they were still being called 343/5's up until about 82/83? Thomas.................

P.S What is this wire called, and where can i get it? I might give it a shot myself, best way to learn this stuff, if i bugger it up, then i can still send it to you haha

[macplaxton]

I've got a VDO gauges in it at the moment i doubt that helps lol[/url]
It's bad enough trying to find the right bits for the relevant model year never mind buggering about and swapping everything!

I'd call it an early 340

I'd call it what it is: a 1984 MY 300 series.

i thought they were still being called 343/5's up until about 82/83?

Yes. 82MY was the last of the 3/5s

[Attack2001]

I've got a VDO gauges in it at the moment i doubt that helps lol[/url]
It's bad enough trying to find the right bits for the relevant model year never mind buggering about and swapping everything!

I'd call it an early 340

I'd call it what it is: a PIMPTASTIC 1984 MY 300 series.

i thought they were still being called 343/5's up until about 82/83?

Yes. 82MY was the last of the 3/5s

Adjusted that for you

[Attack2001]

Bump! I've just bought a brand spanking new sender for a 343, in hope that it would work, it sort of does, but i dont think its quite right, so if anyones got an old, but working early 340 sender, i will quite happily swap for a brand new 343 sender? Thomas....................

[macplaxton]

but i dont think its quite right

What makes you think that?

[Attack2001]

It doesnt seem to go all the way down? plus its got three terminals and my mk2 sender only has 2 terminals. I've got VDO gauges in it with a rev counter, and i first thought the sender would work as mk2's have smiths gauges, as do the mk1's? then i realised i'd changed them to the VDO ones, so im not entirely happy

Thomas....................

[MCHUDD]

Hi Thomas.
I have a spare smiths fuel gauge if you get in trouble. It is the same size and
shape as the latter VDO ones.
Cheers Mark.

[Attack2001]

Hi Thomas.
I have a spare smiths fuel gauge if you get in trouble. It is the same size and
shape as the latter VDO ones.
Cheers Mark.

Is this a smiths mk2 sender with the 2 terminals?

Thomas..........

[MCHUDD]

Hi Thomas.
Its the gauge clock that i have.
Cheers Mark.

[macplaxton]

Forget about mark numbers and thinking things might work.

Mark numbers are meaningless enough when it comes to getting the rights parts. Model Year isn't perfect either as some changes were made mid-year. It gets even worse when a car isn't original and is a collection of parts from various MYs.

Firstly, a Smiths set of clocks from MY79-82 has a three terminal sender unit. One for the earth, one for the gauge needle and one for the warning light.

Volvo dash 5 by macplaxton, on Flickr
*Now even these come in a variety of flavours depending on MY.


Then there are the Smiths clocks from MY83-85 that looks like the MY86 on VDO, but the low fuel / temp warning lamps are rectangular rather than round. Also the font is different. And tachos go to 8K. These use a two terminal sender. One for the earth, one for the gauge needle. The low fuel warning lamp is controlled at the clocks end, rather than the sender unit.

DSCF2139 by macplaxton, on Flickr

P62 in the Wiring Diagram Green Book PDF will tell you that

So in conclusion you started out with a MY84, changed the clocks for a MY86 onwards set, and so you need a tank sender from a MY86 onwards car - a VDO one.

I'll give you a ten spot for the now second-hand 343 sender unit...