Fuel and temp gauge

[bazzog]

Hi, I've replaced the combination meter, (fuel and temp gauge) the temp gauge is working fine but the fuel needle just slowly dropped to empty and stayed there , I've filled the tank to full
Is there something else I have to do ?
TIA

[g8dhe]

The fuel meter has to be powered to work, the needle will only move whilst power is applied, it is also very heavily damped. You don't say which engine you have there is a common fault on the diesel vans where the return earth on the tank corrodes, the tank itself needs a new earth strap to be added in this situation otherwise the meter will just show empty. The normal method is to pop underneath and around the tank is a lip with suitable holes for a short length of wire to be bolted on and then run to a similar hole in the vehicle chassis nearby.

[bazzog]

Sorry it's a diesel, the previous gauge worked fine until I foolishly tried removing the needles hence the need to replace

[g8dhe]

Well if it was working directly beforehand and stopped after you changed, why not change it back if the previous one was working? What was the reason for changing in the first place ?

[bazzog]

Well if it was working directly beforehand and stopped after you changed, why not change it back if the previous one was working? What was the reason for changing in the first place ?

It was because I had removed the needles not realising they don't go back on

[g8dhe]

Well it might be worth while using a meter to check that you are getting a signal from the sensor in the tank to the back of the meter.
As I recall some of the meters have a fine wire from the screw connection to the movement itself which can be snapped if the screws on the rear cause the mounting pillar to rotate, not sure if this applies to the fuel meter however, its been a while since I played with the dashboard instruments.

[bazzog]

Well it might be worth while using a meter to check that you are getting a signal from the sensor in the tank to the back of the meter.
As I recall some of the meters have a fine wire from the screw connection to the movement itself which can be snapped if the screws on the rear cause the mounting pillar to rotate, not sure if this applies to the fuel meter however, its been a while since I played with the dashboard instruments.

Thanks