Fuel gauge acting up!

[Marcus Beechcroft]

Hello, this is my first posting so please excuse ignorance. After one month's ownership my Freda' has decided to issue it's second challenge, the first being a water-pump with non-existant impellar blades! The fuel gauge has now gone on strike and has stuck at full. Looking at previous posts it seems it might be a poor earth at the gubbins at the top of the fuel tank. Unfortunately this is now hidden by a layer of wood and carpet. Hopefully the inspection plate is central-ish so that I don't have to shift the cooker,etc. Am wondering if access is possible from underneath as otherwise I will have to cut square out of floorcovering and chisel a square of ply out to access plate.
At present am using trip by resetting when filling tank and using an estimated Km. distance to tell me when tank should be refilled.Not very accurate and not very clever!

[daveblueozzie]

Apart from dropping the fuel tank , i don't think there is any other access to the sender unit apart from the hatch behind the front seats.

[wonkanoby]

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ss#p314861


afraid its just behind drivers seat

[Marcus Beechcroft]

Hello again. Thanks for the replies - its beats me why converters happily board over the hatch above the fuel tank on the assumption that you'll never need to sort the fuel guage out!
In the meantime, whilst I ponder how to dismantle the kitchen unit and carve up the floor I'm wondering about the following.
After brimming fuel tank and re-setting trip, how many km's can I safely cover before I should start looking for filling station, assuming reasonably careful driving on a 2WD diesel.
Yes I know this is a cock-a-maney system but it's the best I can think of for the time being.
Maybe I should be grateful Bongo's got a trip! Meantime I'm hoping a few big bumps might start it going again!

[daveblueozzie]

the diesel tank holds about 65litres ,about 13 gallons ( i think) the average bongo does around 25 to 30 mpg so giving an average 225 to 250 to a full tank.

[mikeonb4c]

the diesel tank holds about 65litres ,about 13 gallons ( i think) the average bongo does around 25 to 30 mpg so giving an average 225 to 250 to a full tank.

Yup. Its irritating but when you think about it its not that big a deal. Start by topping up at safe intervals and you'll soon get a feel for what is safe. Remember that mpg is a lot poorer round town, on short trips and in hilly country (or wherever it can't lock out in top gear much) so get a feel for the worst case safety limit. As insurance, you could carry a can of diesel around with you just in case things go badly pear shaped.

[mylesk]

(sorry, another newbie). I brought a freda a few weeks ago and am as happy as Larry. I have noticed the fuel gauge seems to have a life of its own though. It seems to be manual, i.e. is independent of the ignition and stays on all the time. It is also not terrible accurate but generally seems to be somewhere near the truth, but sometimes seems to be more full after driving it for a hour!
is this normal?

Many thanks

[daveblueozzie]

the diesel tank holds about 65litres ,about 13 gallons ( i think) the average bongo does around 25 to 30 mpg so giving an average 225 to 250 to a full tank.

SORRY MY ADDING UP IS WRONG
its just over 14 gallons
should read 350 to 390 to a full tank.

[mikeonb4c]

the diesel tank holds about 65litres ,about 13 gallons ( i think) the average bongo does around 25 to 30 mpg so giving an average 225 to 250 to a full tank.

SORRY MY ADDING UP IS WRONG
its just over 14 gallons
should read 350 to 390 to a full tank.

BUT I know my 2WD can struggle to do 300 miles on a tank on short urban running so I reckon your first stab is about right Dave - don't go over 250 miles without checking. Best to be safe

[Marcus Beechcroft]

Many thanks for the heplful replies! Gauge is working, as Mylesk has found out the gauge does NOT return to zero when Ignition switched off - unlike anything I seen on other cars. As I'd brimmed the tank with about 64 liters of derv it was showing max and stayed put - so I thought the needle was jammed. At the risk of putting a lot of clag into the fuel filter I let it run out when it did at precisely 578 kilometers on the trip, which I had previously zeroed. So it looks like 357 miles into 14 gallons, this looks like 25 miles per gallon - which I have to say I find a little dissappointing for a 2WD . This was mostly motorway work between 65 and 75mph. Still as someone said before if your worried about consumption you should'nt have a Bongo!