fuel sender help

[schnell944]

My fuel gauge has not been working properly, and I have ruled out a grounding problem. I removed the fuel sender today. The float seems to move freely, and things don't seem to be corroded. In the process of removing the cannister that surrounds the float, however, the thin wire the attached to the float was detached. Where does it attach to the float and how? The wire is about 2 times as long at the length of the pole it is on. I am wondering if this is correct.

What should I look for on the sender unit that might be wrong. It doesn't look terribly complicated, and I am scratching my head as to what might be the problem. TIA

Ryan

[bmw02rally]

I had the same problem on mine!!!

The thin wire is special low resistance and is really hard to find separately.

It is supposed to be soldered to the two pickups on the base and then connected around the bar at the top of the pole. The Thin wire then threads through the float on both sides so the wire is always touching the little metal tabs. Complicated to explain but you can see diagrams if you search on the net. I just bought a new Sender from a trader in the UK, you can get them much cheaper from a specialist rather than BMW. The make is VDO and the type is 'Dip Tube sender'. I can't remember the length you need though measure your old one.

Hope this Helps

Regards

Mark

[schnell944]

thanks. got it soldered up. I havent been able to find a diagram yet, but I'm guessing that the wire sort of threads between the two metal prongs on the float.

[bmw02rally]

Correct!

Be really careful though that wire breaks easily.

[schnell944]

well, fixed up the sender and got everything back in. The fuel gauge seems to work now, but it is kind of erratic. it jumps around the way others have described it when there is a bad ground. i've checked all the grounds and added an extra one to the back of the gauge. it seems to get better when I fill the tank all the way up. It gets really jumpy when there is a change in RPMs, not really when the blinker is being used. Could it be something internal to the gauge? any thoughts? TIA

Ryan