The Lotus Grand Tourers

Has anyone found the fault and fixed it on the VDO late excel fuel gauge so it remains steady when cornering.

I didn't know it was a fault?
Just no damping in the electrical reading?

Rgds, Curt

CID wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 27, 2021 15:02

I didn't know it was a fault?
Just no damping in the electrical reading?

Rgds, Curt

well it was fine for about the first ten years then one day went nuts when cornering i am recommissioning the the car after being of the road for 15 years and i have the dash out to fix the parking on the w/screen wiper.

They all do that. It's not a fault as such.

There is an anti-slosh module you can fit. I have one on mine.

I tried a search for the link to the modification but couldn't find it.

Perhaps the mods will step-in to help?

That all sounds strange to me the fuel gauge never used to dance about when i first had the car so something is up somewhere . remember i have had this car from new and it was fine for years. So i cannot except they all do it they may when they are a few years old i shall investigate more. andy

There is a factory fitted anti slosh relay fitted - near the tank I believe. These do go faulty so you loose the damping. I don’t think these are still available, but the spiyda one will work, also allows you to calibrate your fuel gauge. My car has one of the early versions of this fitted.

https://spiyda.com/fuel-gauge-wizard-mk3.html

Thanks Alan will have to get the w/shop manual out lol.

All my VDO gauges (except the rev counter) are very fluttery - especially when I compare them to the rock solid Smiths gauges in my Esprit.

I've added a GPS HUD (driven from my phone) for when I drive longer journeys as I can never be 100% sure what my actual speed is.

Hi Andy,
Yes it is a wire wound 68 ohm resistor and would have a damping effect. Ensure the tank is well grounded and the float is not perforated.
Tom
Well this is the answer i got from my electronics guru inside the gauge is a resistor and if that fails the needle has no damping and will jump about i do not have picture hosting to post any pictures.on this site.

andy brad wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 28, 2021 19:39

Hi Andy,
i do not have picture hosting to post any pictures.on this site.

Does this help
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11571

I think there are two issues here. Having replaced my gauge with another I have noticed a difference.

Issue 1 fuel gauge spikes around (something's not right)
Issue 2 fuel gauge drift (normal)

With my original gauge the needle would noticeably jump around when cornering, if I shook the car while stationary it would move.

Different gauge fitted today and it behaves more like an old smiths gauge in that it will slowly change on cornering either showing more full or empty depending on which direction. When the car I shake the car the needle does not move.

Both would probably be fixed by the spyder gadget but now I have a reasonably damped gauge I'm happy until I can get a way of stopping it dropping so quickly.

Not competent enough in electrics to be able to test both gauges to see what the difference is, could be mechanical on that a bit of muck is in the mechanism, don't know, don't need to look into it as I now have a gauge that doesn't flick around all over the place.