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Author Topic: Fried fuel level sending unit  (Read 1504 times)

Offline DC Concours

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Fried fuel level sending unit
« on: November 20, 2023, 01:12:42 PM »
Is it possible to fry one of these by shorting the battery through the tank?

While tightening my new battery's positive terminal I accidentally touched my little wrench on the edge of the tank. I got a few loud sparks. I subsequently noticed that my sending unit is stuck in low even after filling up the tank.

Has anyone seen this? Anything else I may have f'ed up?

Electrical gremlins are a bitch to trace. So any advice is appreciated.

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Offline Boomer

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Re: Fried fuel level sending unit
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2023, 02:50:34 AM »
If the tank was screwed down, then those screws should have carried the current.
If it was not screwed down, then the current will have gone through the tank, through the sender and to earth via the senders wiring. It probably burnt out the earth wire (Black/yellow). However, it could have fried the resistor in the sender or even gauge itself.
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George "Boomer" Garratt
Wickford, UK

Offline DC Concours

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Re: Fried fuel level sending unit
« Reply #2 on: November 21, 2023, 12:31:55 PM »
Damn!

I have to look at the tank screws. I know I had some issues with those tank screw grommets and tried to change things down there. Off to looking for a new sending unit. Stupid me. :banghead: :banghead:
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Offline Big Red

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Re: Fried fuel level sending unit
« Reply #3 on: November 21, 2023, 02:11:14 PM »
That blows. At least they're cheap enough on eBay.
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Offline Nosmo

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Re: Fried fuel level sending unit
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2023, 01:59:31 PM »
Just a hint:  When installing the battery cable screws, always attach the positive one first, and the negative (ground) screw last.  That way, if your wrench hits a metal (ground plane) part, it won't arc. When removng the screws, remove the ground cable first, same reason. 
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Offline DC Concours

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Re: Fried fuel level sending unit
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2023, 02:03:27 PM »
Literally Blew!  :D


Quote from: Big Red on November 21, 2023, 02:11:14 PM
That blows. At least they're cheap enough on eBay.
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Offline DC Concours

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Re: Fried fuel level sending unit
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2023, 02:07:38 PM »
Thank you. I knew there is a sequence but never really followed it. But this arcing being with the fuel tank itself I really should be very careful!! Thinking about it now... I MUST follow your sequence from now on.

Fuel and fire are too close to each other here.



Quote from: Nosmo on November 24, 2023, 01:59:31 PM
Just a hint:  When installing the battery cable screws, always attach the positive one first, and the negative (ground) screw last.  That way, if your wrench hits a metal (ground plane) part, it won't arc. When removng the screws, remove the ground cable first, same reason.
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