1984 Spree Sending Unit only goes to 1/2 tank

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Christophertemple
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1984 Spree Sending Unit only goes to 1/2 tank

Post by Christophertemple »

I have a 1984, when I short the wires out to the gauge it goes to full. But when I have the sending unit out of the tank and hold it all the way up it only goes to half of a tank. Is there a way to fix the sending unit without replacing it?
mousewheels
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Re: 1984 Spree Sending Unit only goes to 1/2 tank

Post by mousewheels »

Is there a way to fix the sending unit without replacing it?
You can take the cover off the sending unit and inspect/clean. On an 84-85 Spree, the sender is just a coil of resistance wire, with a wiper attached to the float wire. Make sure all electrical paths are clean - the wiper/resistance wire. Another moving electrical contact is between the pivot of the float wire and spring.

-- One more idea --
The original 2 wire sender may have been replaced with a 3 wire 86/87 Spree sender (with one lead left open). The newer sender also causes a low gauge reading when full. So double check your sender is 2 wire before taking it apart.

3 Wire sender wire colors
Green
Blue/White stripe
Yellow/White stripe

2 Wire sender wire colors
Green
Yellow/White stripe
Christophertemple
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Re: 1984 Spree Sending Unit only goes to 1/2 tank

Post by Christophertemple »

Good info! Thanks. Yes it appears it has been replaced with a newer 3 wire unit.

So the only way to get this to work correctly is to find a 2 wire sending unit?
mousewheels
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Re: 1984 Spree Sending Unit only goes to 1/2 tank

Post by mousewheels »

...Yes it appears it has been replaced with a newer 3 wire unit.

So the only way to get this to work correctly is to find a 2 wire sending unit?
It it were me, getting a 2 wire sender is where I'd put effort.

I've been only occasionally on this board, Perhaps someone's come up with a simple
circuit to adapt a 3 wire sender to the 2 wire gauge?

-- Fuel Sender info from Service Manual
This details the resistance differences
Spree_1984_85_Fuel_Sender_Resistance.JPG
Spree_1984_85_Fuel_Sender_Resistance.JPG (46.95 KiB) Viewed 1647 times
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