My tank runs empty when indicating 1/8th remaining.
Is there any trim to zero a gauge?
Fuel Guage Trim
Moderator: Board Moderators
-
Hawaiis0
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 4154
- Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 18:39
- Model: Excel SA (No 3); Elite 504
- Colour: BRG; Dirty White
- Year: 1986
- Location: West Oxfordshire
Fuel Guage Trim
Nothing is fool proof. Fools are clever!
-
richardw
- Moderator
- Posts: 2226
- Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2013 15:06
- Model: Elite S2.2 Automatic
- Colour: Essex Blue
- Year: 1981
- Location: Worcestershire
Re: Fuel Guage Trim
Should there be a ballast resistor or voltage stabiliser in the fuel gauge circuit on your Excel? If this is not properly connected then it could cause higher than normal gauge readings. I believe on my Elite this unit limits the gauge circuit voltage to 10v rather than 12v.
Just a thought, Richard
Just a thought, Richard
-
Pete Boole
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 3722
- Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
- Model: Elite
- Colour: Monaco White
- Year: 1974
- Location: Nottingham
Re: Fuel Guage Trim
The VDO instruments don't use a voltage regulator - only the Smith's instruments. I don't know the answer though 
Pete
Pete
-
pistolpete
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 213
- Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2014 08:56
- Model: Excel SE
- Colour: Red
- Year: 1990
- Location: Oxford
Re: Fuel Guage Trim
Is that why it waves about
-
Pete Boole
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 3722
- Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
- Model: Elite
- Colour: Monaco White
- Year: 1974
- Location: Nottingham
Re: Fuel Guage Trim
I think it waves about because the voltage variations (as the petrol sloshes around) are "undamped". There are devices that damp the signal. There are threads on here somewhere about it and which device to buy.
Pete
Pete
-
rbgosling
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 1720
- Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2010 22:55
- Model: Lotus Excel SE
- Colour: Midnight Blue
- Year: 1990
- Location: Rugby
Re: Fuel Guage Trim
Sounds like something wrong - my SE with VDO instruments runs dry with the needle about 1-2 mm below the empty mark. Agreed, there is no voltage stabiliser for these instruments. But I don't know what's wrong. Maybe something as simply mechanical as a bent arm for the float on the sensor - dunno how it could get bent, but that would change your reading!
"Farmer" Richard
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
-
Alan_M
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 1138
- Joined: Sat Aug 12, 2017 01:17
- Model: Excel SE, Excel SA, Elan SE
- Colour: Red, red, white
- Location: South Wales
Re: Fuel Guage Trim
It waves about as the anti-slosh / damping relay fitted will have failed by now - they all do.
You can use one of these to sort it.
https://spiyda.com/fuel-gauge-wizard-mk3.html
-
tonypoll
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 832
- Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2005 19:27
- Model: Excel SE
- Colour: BRG
- Year: 1992
- Location: Hampshire/Surrey/Berkshire
Re: Fuel Guage Trim
I fitted a Spiyda anti-slosh damper quite a few years ago, and it works very well.
I initially fitted this in the boot and took the electrical feed off the fuel pump. This was not a great idea, since every time the fuel pump 'ticked' the fuel gauge would bounce.
I moved the anti-slosh damper to behind the instrument panel, where it works perfectly.
Tony
I initially fitted this in the boot and took the electrical feed off the fuel pump. This was not a great idea, since every time the fuel pump 'ticked' the fuel gauge would bounce.
I moved the anti-slosh damper to behind the instrument panel, where it works perfectly.
Tony
Re: Fuel Guage Trim
"It waves about as the anti-slosh / damping relay fitted will have failed by now - they all do"
Hi Alan, which relay is this on MY91 car?
Cheers,Ian
Hi Alan, which relay is this on MY91 car?
Cheers,Ian