Funny fuel gauge

[Leigh]

Here's a bizar one. Whenever I put my foot on the brake pedal the needle on my fuel gauge goes up, even if I'm parked up.

Could this be a bad earth or is it common on Defenders?

Cheers

[Bush Tucker Man]

Do the contents increase in volume as well? :lol:

[Leigh]

Do the contents increase in volume as well? :lol:

I wish  :lol:

[hobbit]

Wonder if the brake light is on the same fuse as the sender, although it could be an earth problem at the back, either on the lamps or sender

See if any other lights are playing up, indicators/brake/tail etc.

[Leigh]

Everything is working fine so think it must be a bad earth but not really sure how to check or repair  :oops:

[hobbit]

Find the sender unit on the tank, and one of the wires should be connected to earth, try to clean the connector up

Also have a look around for an earth cable round the lights, might be worth removing the bulbs and checking the contacts for corrosion

[tiltboy]

I have got exactly the same problem!! - But on my temp gauge!!  :shock:

If I put the brakes or any of the lights (including indicators - giving a "bounce" to the gauge) or the heater blower, the temp gauge climbs sky high! Now, I have got a brake light out and I think that this is a bad earth in the rear light/tow socket wiring.

Obviously interference from somewhere, but after well over an hour with the multimeter I still can't find it.

First noticed when towing, I pressume the extra lamp draw increases the effect.  :roll:

Glad to see this post though, gives me hope!

[Leigh]

Thanks for that, presume I have to remove the tank to get to the sender in which case I'll wait until the tank is near empty before trying to lower it  :lol:

At Rockingham Landrovers yesterday talking about it and they mentioned someones Landy doing the same thing with their temp gauge

Cheers

[mark.yellow.series.3]

just a thought, but change the brake light bulbs.
sounds daft but on my frontera when i pressed the brake the side lights came on, the reason was the filiment in the brakelight had touched the side light filiment inside the bulb. also in my scenic, press the brake and the tyre pressure warning light came on, on the dash. that was cured by new bulbs.

[Leigh]

I have a couple of new spare bulbs in the garage so I'll give it a try.
Cheers Mark

[hobbit]

Thanks for that, presume I have to remove the tank to get to the sender in which case I'll wait until the tank is near empty before trying to lower it  :lol:

At Rockingham Landrovers yesterday talking about it and they mentioned someones Landy doing the same thing with their temp gauge

Cheers

Not knowing the layout of a defender, but if the tank is under the tub, could you not cut a plate out of the tub floor, do the job then screw another plate back down

[tiltboy]

Leigh,

Is yours affected by any other electrical load or just the brake lights?

Mine is affected by indicators, side/headlights and heater blower.

Hope you sort it out soon, I'll have another look at mine this afternoon and let you know how I get on.

Cheers,

Jez.

[Leigh]

Know my luck I'd cut straight through the fuel tank  :lol:  Wouldn't want to risk it.

Jez, it's just the brake lights that does it, nothing else affects it

Cheers

[Bush Tucker Man]

Thanks for that, presume I have to remove the tank to get to the sender in which case I'll wait until the tank is near empty before trying to lower it  :lol:
Cheers

Isn't the Tdi tank sender in the top-edge of the side??

I know the tank had to come out of my Td5 for a new sender/pump