fuel gauge sender needed
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- 450 SEL 6.9
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fuel gauge sender needed
Well I got the wire via amazon and like Mat said it only shows to half a tank which is OK around town as the low level light works but I will be venturing interstate next year so would like a replacement. Has any one got a fuel gauge sender for a 280TE they are willing to sell me? Preferably from an 1981 or older as apparently there are some changes made before then or so I read but now can't find the info Rather buy form members than look overseas.
Pete
Pete
1978 W123 300D Maple Yellow
1981 W123 300TD Classic White (now sold)
1983 W123 280TE Champagne
1975 W116 450SEL Silver blue
1981 W123 300TD Classic White (now sold)
1983 W123 280TE Champagne
1975 W116 450SEL Silver blue
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- Joined: Sun 08 Jun, 2014 6:03 am
- Model you own: w123
- Location: Brisbane, North side.
Re: fuel gauge sender needed
in the interum...
when the fuel tank is empty, it shows half full on the gauge
when the tank is half full, it shows 3/4 on the gauge,
when the tank is full it shoes full on the gauge.
so it is usable in that regard :)
when the fuel tank is empty, it shows half full on the gauge
when the tank is half full, it shows 3/4 on the gauge,
when the tank is full it shoes full on the gauge.
so it is usable in that regard :)
- Christo C
- Zeppelin
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- Model you own: w124
- Region: New South Wales
- Location: Sydney [Beaconsfield]
Re: fuel gauge sender needed
It depends whether you are a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty sort of guy, I suppose.
~Christo
W124.023 1986 230E M102.982 Thistle Green Saloon "Janis" 345,678+Km
Beaconsfield, SYDNEY
W124.023 1986 230E M102.982 Thistle Green Saloon "Janis" 345,678+Km
Beaconsfield, SYDNEY
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- 450 SEL 6.9
- Posts: 494
- Joined: Thu 09 Oct, 2014 4:42 pm
- Model you own: w123
- Location: Pt Augusta Sth Australia
Re: fuel gauge sender needed
Yes I see that part is good its the empty that could cause concern :Doh: But the light lets me know if I'm down to 11 litres so as long as I'm close to a town it should be ok.......or not lol. I wonder if its to do with the resistor on the sender and if changing the value would work. Not having a spare I can't really check it but can you Math?
1978 W123 300D Maple Yellow
1981 W123 300TD Classic White (now sold)
1983 W123 280TE Champagne
1975 W116 450SEL Silver blue
1981 W123 300TD Classic White (now sold)
1983 W123 280TE Champagne
1975 W116 450SEL Silver blue
- Tony From West Oz
- OZBENZ moderator
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- Location: Bedfordale WA
Re: fuel gauge sender needed
Pets, How long has the sender been faulty?
Has the instrument cluster been changed? The reason that I ask, is that there may be a difference in the fuel gauge unit itself between sedan and wagon, due to the differences in the sender between the 2 variants. You could check by trying a sender from a sedan in place of your wagon sender.
You may still be able to calibrate the gauge to read correctly.
I have never done this on a W123, but did it on my Morris Minor when I was young.
Measure the sender resistance full and empty (remove from tank, drain and then measure with float at top and bottom of travel) Then find resistors that match the full and empty values (My guess is that full is 0 ohms).
Remove the instrument panel from the dash, but plug it in to the wiring harness.
On the back of the fuel gauge there may be 1 or 2 holes for screwdriver adjustment of the gauge. By trial and error you should be able to set the full and empty readings correctly, by swapping the resistance for full and empty.
If there are no holes in the back of the temp gauge, you may need to remove that part of the cluster from the inst. panel and check if you can see an adjustment there. Possibly there will be a lever attached to the gauge spring. This will adjust the reading of the gauge.
One of these may help you get to the bottom of the issue and hopefully fix it.
Has the instrument cluster been changed? The reason that I ask, is that there may be a difference in the fuel gauge unit itself between sedan and wagon, due to the differences in the sender between the 2 variants. You could check by trying a sender from a sedan in place of your wagon sender.
You may still be able to calibrate the gauge to read correctly.
I have never done this on a W123, but did it on my Morris Minor when I was young.
Measure the sender resistance full and empty (remove from tank, drain and then measure with float at top and bottom of travel) Then find resistors that match the full and empty values (My guess is that full is 0 ohms).
Remove the instrument panel from the dash, but plug it in to the wiring harness.
On the back of the fuel gauge there may be 1 or 2 holes for screwdriver adjustment of the gauge. By trial and error you should be able to set the full and empty readings correctly, by swapping the resistance for full and empty.
If there are no holes in the back of the temp gauge, you may need to remove that part of the cluster from the inst. panel and check if you can see an adjustment there. Possibly there will be a lever attached to the gauge spring. This will adjust the reading of the gauge.
One of these may help you get to the bottom of the issue and hopefully fix it.
Life is a journey, with problems to solve, lessons to learn, but most of all, experiences to enjoy.
'83 W123 300D 325000km (Wife's car Josephine - sold).
'84 W123 300D replaced good OM617 912 with OM617 952 and enjoyed having good acceleration for the first time since first driving a 300D in 2002
'86 W124 300D sold
'85 W123 300CD, 275 000km (Fatmobile) rebuilt turbodiesel transplanted into 280CE (SOLD)
'99 W202 C250 Turbodiesel
'98 W202 C250 Turbodiesel
'06 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 2WD Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
'00 Ford Courier Crew Cab 2.5TD
'06 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 4WD Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
'04 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 4WD Tray back Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
'83 W123 300D 325000km (Wife's car Josephine - sold).
'84 W123 300D replaced good OM617 912 with OM617 952 and enjoyed having good acceleration for the first time since first driving a 300D in 2002
'86 W124 300D sold
'85 W123 300CD, 275 000km (Fatmobile) rebuilt turbodiesel transplanted into 280CE (SOLD)
'99 W202 C250 Turbodiesel
'98 W202 C250 Turbodiesel
'06 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 2WD Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
'00 Ford Courier Crew Cab 2.5TD
'06 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 4WD Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
'04 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 4WD Tray back Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
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- 300 SLR
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Re: fuel gauge sender needed
Good thinking but can verify the gauges interchange happily.Tony From West Oz wrote: ↑Fri 15 Dec, 2017 3:57 pm The reason that I ask, is that there may be a difference in the fuel gauge unit itself between sedan and wagon, due to the differences in the sender between the 2 variants. You could check by trying a sender from a sedan in place of your wagon sender.
W123 1981 300TD - Family Kid mover
W202 1998 C250D Factory OM605A Turbo - Partner's daily driver
W123 1982 300CD Retro fitted OM617A Turbo - Mine
W123 1984 300TD English 5 Speed Manual
W123 1982 300TD Factory OM617A Turbo (Hans) - Project
W123 1982 300D - OM617 NA (Hektor) - Son's
W123 1985 230TE - Brother's
W123 1985 300D - Sister in Law's
1962 S-Series Valiant (Tho Daimler & Chrysler divorced, still part of the extended family)
Past benzes
W114 1969 250CE - PO put in an M110 transplant and nearly sent me around the bend
W123 1981 300TD - "Matilda" - RIP hit front side & rear but left my brother + niece A-OK
Current Projects
Coupe restoration, Turbo Wagon freshen up
W202 1998 C250D Factory OM605A Turbo - Partner's daily driver
W123 1982 300CD Retro fitted OM617A Turbo - Mine
W123 1984 300TD English 5 Speed Manual
W123 1982 300TD Factory OM617A Turbo (Hans) - Project
W123 1982 300D - OM617 NA (Hektor) - Son's
W123 1985 230TE - Brother's
W123 1985 300D - Sister in Law's
1962 S-Series Valiant (Tho Daimler & Chrysler divorced, still part of the extended family)
Past benzes
W114 1969 250CE - PO put in an M110 transplant and nearly sent me around the bend
W123 1981 300TD - "Matilda" - RIP hit front side & rear but left my brother + niece A-OK
Current Projects
Coupe restoration, Turbo Wagon freshen up
- Tony From West Oz
- OZBENZ moderator
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Re: fuel gauge sender needed
By Interchange happily, do you mean that the fault is present with both sender units? If so, the gauge itself is faulty.tsharkey wrote: ↑Fri 15 Dec, 2017 10:30 pmGood thinking but can verify the gauges interchange happily.Tony From West Oz wrote: ↑Fri 15 Dec, 2017 3:57 pm The reason that I ask, is that there may be a difference in the fuel gauge unit itself between sedan and wagon, due to the differences in the sender between the 2 variants. You could check by trying a sender from a sedan in place of your wagon sender.
If you mean that the gauges for sedan and wagon are interchangeable then we still need to check the sender unit against a known good one from either body style.
Life is a journey, with problems to solve, lessons to learn, but most of all, experiences to enjoy.
'83 W123 300D 325000km (Wife's car Josephine - sold).
'84 W123 300D replaced good OM617 912 with OM617 952 and enjoyed having good acceleration for the first time since first driving a 300D in 2002
'86 W124 300D sold
'85 W123 300CD, 275 000km (Fatmobile) rebuilt turbodiesel transplanted into 280CE (SOLD)
'99 W202 C250 Turbodiesel
'98 W202 C250 Turbodiesel
'06 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 2WD Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
'00 Ford Courier Crew Cab 2.5TD
'06 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 4WD Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
'04 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 4WD Tray back Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
'83 W123 300D 325000km (Wife's car Josephine - sold).
'84 W123 300D replaced good OM617 912 with OM617 952 and enjoyed having good acceleration for the first time since first driving a 300D in 2002
'86 W124 300D sold
'85 W123 300CD, 275 000km (Fatmobile) rebuilt turbodiesel transplanted into 280CE (SOLD)
'99 W202 C250 Turbodiesel
'98 W202 C250 Turbodiesel
'06 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 2WD Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
'00 Ford Courier Crew Cab 2.5TD
'06 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 4WD Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
'04 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 4WD Tray back Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
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- Große
- Posts: 1005
- Joined: Sun 08 Jun, 2014 6:03 am
- Model you own: w123
- Location: Brisbane, North side.
Re: fuel gauge sender needed
sedan and wagon fuel senders are not interchangable
they are not physically the same, sedan is twice as long.
hence the wire length is twice the length in the sedan which makes twice the resistance value. the cluster fuel gauge is the same across all w123s ive seen, coupe, sedan and wagon, petroleum and diesel.
i remember the wagon had a 320 or 330 ohm resistor in parallel with the wire. in parallel it lowers resistance so the wagon wire is difference.
also, the reserve light will light up in your case when the tank is low and the needle reads half full. This is because the needle and light run independent of each other, only link is the fuel level float. So in the short term you are ok.
I would find out what half the cross sectional area of awg 37 would be and find nichrome 80/20 in that size. or find the resistance of the wire in there now and find other wire of equal length with twice the resistance.
they are not physically the same, sedan is twice as long.
hence the wire length is twice the length in the sedan which makes twice the resistance value. the cluster fuel gauge is the same across all w123s ive seen, coupe, sedan and wagon, petroleum and diesel.
i remember the wagon had a 320 or 330 ohm resistor in parallel with the wire. in parallel it lowers resistance so the wagon wire is difference.
also, the reserve light will light up in your case when the tank is low and the needle reads half full. This is because the needle and light run independent of each other, only link is the fuel level float. So in the short term you are ok.
I would find out what half the cross sectional area of awg 37 would be and find nichrome 80/20 in that size. or find the resistance of the wire in there now and find other wire of equal length with twice the resistance.
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- 450 SEL 6.9
- Posts: 494
- Joined: Thu 09 Oct, 2014 4:42 pm
- Model you own: w123
- Location: Pt Augusta Sth Australia
Re: fuel gauge sender needed
Tony the sender was fine until a few weeks ago. The cause was the nut on the bottom of the sender unit came off and with the fuel sloshing around the tube cut the wire. As the wire was too short to fix it I had to order some from Amazon (US) and when repaired it reads wrong due to the incorrect resistance I think. As I am not in the electronics field I was hoping someone here may be able to advise me on what resistance it may need.
1978 W123 300D Maple Yellow
1981 W123 300TD Classic White (now sold)
1983 W123 280TE Champagne
1975 W116 450SEL Silver blue
1981 W123 300TD Classic White (now sold)
1983 W123 280TE Champagne
1975 W116 450SEL Silver blue
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- Große
- Posts: 1005
- Joined: Sun 08 Jun, 2014 6:03 am
- Model you own: w123
- Location: Brisbane, North side.
Re: fuel gauge sender needed
I'm doing Electrical Engineering at uni, so this is kinda my area.Pete49 wrote: ↑Sat 16 Dec, 2017 2:18 pm Tony the sender was fine until a few weeks ago. The cause was the nut on the bottom of the sender unit came off and with the fuel sloshing around the tube cut the wire. As the wire was too short to fix it I had to order some from Amazon (US) and when repaired it reads wrong due to the incorrect resistance I think. As I am not in the electronics field I was hoping someone here may be able to advise me on what resistance it may need.
If you still got some of the wire i linked you to, the sedan wire. Measure how much resistance that gives over 1 metre.
then write that value down.
then search for wire that has 2x that resistance per metre. Example: if i remember right it should be somewhere around the 100 Ohms per metre resistance, so you would need 200 Ohm per metre wire. ( measure 10 centimetres of the original wire ( no need to cut it, just place probes 10cm apart ) it should be somewhere around the 20 Ohm value of resistance to confirm my theory. )
Just a question. do you still have the original wire ?
( i have done the below, so it is possible )
if so, have you thought about rejoining it. ? takes a bit of skill and good steady hands. get a friend with tweezers on each end to hold the two broken ends together as you put a drop of solder on it to join it.
if there's a small gap, perhaps use a tiny bit of the 37 AWG wire to act as the joining piece, sure your value will be slightly out, by about 5%-10% but you would have full spread of the working gauge of the dash.
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- Joined: Sun 08 Jun, 2014 6:03 am
- Model you own: w123
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Re: fuel gauge sender needed
trucking finally found it.
https://www.amazon.com/Kbees-250-Nichro ... e+40+gauge
this 40 AWG wire Nichel and chrome ( 80% Nickel 20% Chromium )
being half the cross sectional area ( approx 45%) of the 37 AWG sedan standard size, it should work out doubling the resistance as every other characteristic is the same
Sorry it's late,
this is the formula to use if you wish to check the numbers.
this should give you a pretty accurate gauge again :)
https://www.amazon.com/Kbees-250-Nichro ... e+40+gauge
this 40 AWG wire Nichel and chrome ( 80% Nickel 20% Chromium )
being half the cross sectional area ( approx 45%) of the 37 AWG sedan standard size, it should work out doubling the resistance as every other characteristic is the same
Sorry it's late,
this is the formula to use if you wish to check the numbers.
this should give you a pretty accurate gauge again :)
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
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- 450 SEL 6.9
- Posts: 494
- Joined: Thu 09 Oct, 2014 4:42 pm
- Model you own: w123
- Location: Pt Augusta Sth Australia
Re: fuel gauge sender needed
Mathuisella I just checked the wire as suggested and on the 200 ohm scale it reads 10.5 ohms. That's the 37 AWG but I think it is 21 ohms as I used the wrong setting I think. I'll double check later. I can't find the original wire to check that reading. I think the shop elves used it for Xmas decorations or rewiring their house. g Will changing the resistor get me around that? Oh I'm having trouble trying the formula you showed in the post as I can't work out what the p L & A represent. Yeh I know just a dumb old kraut but I try.mathuisella wrote: ↑Sun 17 Dec, 2017 12:48 am trucking finally found it.
https://www.amazon.com/Kbees-250-Nichro ... e+40+gauge
this 40 AWG wire Nichel and chrome ( 80% Nickel 20% Chromium )
being half the cross sectional area ( approx 45%) of the 37 AWG sedan standard size, it should work out doubling the resistance as every other characteristic is the same ohms
resistance is futile.JPG
Sorry it's late,
this is the formula to use if you wish to check the numbers.
this should give you a pretty accurate gauge again :)
Peter
1978 W123 300D Maple Yellow
1981 W123 300TD Classic White (now sold)
1983 W123 280TE Champagne
1975 W116 450SEL Silver blue
1981 W123 300TD Classic White (now sold)
1983 W123 280TE Champagne
1975 W116 450SEL Silver blue
- Tony From West Oz
- OZBENZ moderator
- Posts: 3252
- Joined: Mon 20 Jun, 2005 9:04 pm
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- Location: Bedfordale WA
Re: fuel gauge sender needed
Formula Ώ=ƥ L/A
where ƥ is the coefficient of resistance of the conductor,
L is the length of wire that you are calculating the resistance of and
A is the cross sectional area of the conductor.
where ƥ is the coefficient of resistance of the conductor,
L is the length of wire that you are calculating the resistance of and
A is the cross sectional area of the conductor.
Life is a journey, with problems to solve, lessons to learn, but most of all, experiences to enjoy.
'83 W123 300D 325000km (Wife's car Josephine - sold).
'84 W123 300D replaced good OM617 912 with OM617 952 and enjoyed having good acceleration for the first time since first driving a 300D in 2002
'86 W124 300D sold
'85 W123 300CD, 275 000km (Fatmobile) rebuilt turbodiesel transplanted into 280CE (SOLD)
'99 W202 C250 Turbodiesel
'98 W202 C250 Turbodiesel
'06 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 2WD Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
'00 Ford Courier Crew Cab 2.5TD
'06 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 4WD Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
'04 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 4WD Tray back Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
'83 W123 300D 325000km (Wife's car Josephine - sold).
'84 W123 300D replaced good OM617 912 with OM617 952 and enjoyed having good acceleration for the first time since first driving a 300D in 2002
'86 W124 300D sold
'85 W123 300CD, 275 000km (Fatmobile) rebuilt turbodiesel transplanted into 280CE (SOLD)
'99 W202 C250 Turbodiesel
'98 W202 C250 Turbodiesel
'06 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 2WD Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
'00 Ford Courier Crew Cab 2.5TD
'06 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 4WD Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)
'04 Ssanyong Musso Crew Cab 4WD Tray back Ute (OM662 diesel and Auto Transmission)