Mk2 Escort fuel sender

[EskyLife]

Hi guys,

I just picked up my first old ford, a 1979 Mk 2 Escort, Rally Pack... 2L, 4spd.

The car is in great condition, no rust, only minor little dents and chips in the paint... It was taken off the road and put in a garage when the original owner lost his sight, and pulled back out in the early 2000's. So it's only got 54,000km on it.

The only issue I have apart from a a slop in the steering is that the fuel gauge doesn't work. So i'm on the hunt for a fuel sender.

Does anyone have one they're willing to part with? Or know of any aftermarket ones that will work with no/minimal modification?

[39ClevoUte]

Are you sure it's sender?
At that age with little use it could be a bad earth to the sender.
What test have you done so far?

[EskyLife]

Originally Posted by 39ClevoUte

Are you sure it's sender?
At that age with little use it could be a bad earth to the sender.
What test have you done so far?

So far i've done no tests... But the car came from my uncle and he's told me it's the sender. Given he's restored a few old fords now i've got no reason to doubt him.

That said i'm happy to do some tests myself and learn. What do you recommend?

[39ClevoUte]

Ok heres some quick checks if you are capable:
1) take the sender wire off the sender and turn on the ignition. Observe the fuel gauge it probably should move a little after a minute or so. Turn off Ign.
2) Find a good earth and earth the sender wire (still off the sender). Turn on the Ign. Observe the gauge, it should move to full. Turn off ign. Go to 3) or 7).
3) If it worked ok you could try attaching a temp earth to an unpainted part of the the body of the sender and reattach the sender wire. Turn on the ign (assuming you have an idea of how much fuel is in it) does it move? Turn off ign. If it moved fix earth problem.
4) If not remove the sender. Make the tank safe. Check the sender for any physical damage or broken wires. Does the float move up and down freely. Is the float empty of fuel, is there any holes in it.
5) If you have an ohm meter and know how to use it, check for varying resistance as you move the float up and down. If you can see this and the above test were all ok then you probably (still) have a bad connection on the sender wire or the earth.
5a) If you don't have an ohm meter connect the sender wire and a good earth, turn on the ignition and slowly move the float up and down. If the gauge moves and the above test were all ok then you probably (still) have a bad connection on the sender wire or the earth.
6) If you get to here and still no joy, then the sender is probably crook, assuming test 2) worked.
7) If 2) didn't work and you did see a little movement at 1) then the sender wire is probably faulty between tank and gauge.
8) Hopefully by here you have found something....

[Rallye Sport]

Wow the car looks really good, great find.

Good advice there 39ClevoUte.

If it does turn out to be the sender the only realistic option nowadays is having it repaired. Its not cheap but going by the pics of the car would be well worth it.

There is another option. From what I've heard these fit and work with a little tweaking to the pickup pipe and float arm.

https://www.rarespares.net.au/raresp...-standard-tank

https://www.ebay.com/itm/31038735346...mis&media=COPY

Yours being a two litre it should have a second pipe for the fuel return line so these would need another pipe added to make them suitable.

[EskyLife]

Thanks for the breakdown, that's really helpful... I'll have a crack at this and see how I go.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by 39ClevoUte

Ok heres some quick checks if you are capable:
1) take the sender wire off the sender and turn on the ignition. Observe the fuel gauge it probably should move a little after a minute or so. Turn off Ign.
2) Find a good earth and earth the sender wire (still off the sender). Turn on the Ign. Observe the gauge, it should move to full. Turn off ign. Go to 3) or 7).
3) If it worked ok you could try attaching a temp earth to an unpainted part of the the body of the sender and reattach the sender wire. Turn on the ign (assuming you have an idea of how much fuel is in it) does it move? Turn off ign. If it moved fix earth problem.
4) If not remove the sender. Make the tank safe. Check the sender for any physical damage or broken wires. Does the float move up and down freely. Is the float empty of fuel, is there any holes in it.
5) If you have an ohm meter and know how to use it, check for varying resistance as you move the float up and down. If you can see this and the above test were all ok then you probably (still) have a bad connection on the sender wire or the earth.
5a) If you don't have an ohm meter connect the sender wire and a good earth, turn on the ignition and slowly move the float up and down. If the gauge moves and the above test were all ok then you probably (still) have a bad connection on the sender wire or the earth.
6) If you get to here and still no joy, then the sender is probably crook, assuming test 2) worked.
7) If 2) didn't work and you did see a little movement at 1) then the sender wire is probably faulty between tank and gauge.
8) Hopefully by here you have found something....

[GTLEGEND]

These guys are great for parts..

https://www.yesterford.com