Hey guys.. It's been a while since I've posted, but I've been on frequently looking through the posts.
About a month ago I bought a new project for myself, a 86 XJ6. Not having a Series 3 here to drive has been pretty rough. I never intended to be in a place where I was just selling parts, but not actually having a chance to enjoy a driver for myself, that just kind of happened. I've enjoyed getting this car in that has issues of it's own to be sorted, and being back on that side of the table.
So the last couple of weeks I've been going through and fixing all the little stuff.. So far that's been the windscreen wipers, windows not working, cleaning out the fuel system, and today I worked on the faulty fuel gauge. I thought what I found was pretty interesting.
Normally when someone asks about a tank not reading correctly, the first thing is always the sending units. So I pulled those out, and found the RHS float full of fuel. So I swapped the float, and still got nothing.. I had decided that I probably needed a new sending unit (or two)..
The left is working intermittently, but it does spike to full when it's grounded.
But the right was doing nothing. So I figured that sending unit was completely dead and it was time for a new one. As luck would have it I was looking through my shop on the shelf with stuff I keep for myself (of all places), and found a New right side sending unit. So I figured that's great and I'll just replace it and be on my way. Prior to pulling out the old one I plugged it in and got nothing at all from it, just like what was in the car. So either the New one was defective, or the problem was elsewhere.
I remembered that the sending units also run through the fuel tank selection switch, and confirmed that looking at the S57.. So before doing anything else with the sending unit I decided to change out the switch. I had some old ugly ones on the shelf that were still testing OK, so I put one of those in the car and sure enough the fuel gauge came back to life.
The switch that came with the car was a newer aftermarket replacement. There aren't any markings on it, but it doesn't have the date stamp or Lucas badging. The one that I put back in the car doesn't look pretty, but is still getting the job done. It's date stamp is 1981...
To test for this, when the switch is out to the right side position, there should be continuity between posts 7 & 8.. The left side should have continuity between 2&3 when it's pressed...
Even though the new aftermarket was switching tanks correctly, and was reading the left tank, it wasn't getting continuity on the posts for the right tank... so no fuel readings....
I didn't go through with replacing the right side sending unit for now. I'll see how it's working when the car is on the road, and keep the RHS just in case I need it...
I'm sure I'll be back soon with questions of my own... This EverydayXJ journey is just beginning...
Cheers,
David
shop.EverydayXJ.com


Aftermarket is on the left...

 

Glad you have one of your own, and thank you for sharing! Pictures?

 

David,
Tom in Sydney Australia, the drivers side l/h/d mirror i got from you eons ago is still looking good on my XJ6 S2, good project you have there, i wish i was more local to you, been overhauling the wiper system, nobody carries the motor brushes anymore, auto elects just ain't what they should be, just fitters now. i'm still running my web site for schematics & a few other goodies>> www.jaguar-wiring-schematics.info
if you'd like a full colour schematic for your project, i'll donate one to you. i've sent many nth American jag owners your way - i hope they spent lots of $'s with you. keep us posted
tom

 

Welcome to XJ6 ownership and all the trials and tribulations that go with it. You've always been one of the good guys. Again Welcome!

Bill

 

xjtom.

there is a shop in Delaware USA who rebuilds Lucas wiper motors and they have brushes.

They sell and exchange rebuilt Lucas wiper motors in Ebay and the seller's name is Max

Search eBay for "lucas wiper motor".

 

Too often the story of after market components.

 

Jose,
i'll check them out but by the time i pay for the brushes & postage to Australia i can buy 100 brushes for $25 AU posted from amazon but then what do i do with the other 97, might have to go into the wiper motor referb business, i cleaned up the original brushes and motor working as it should again......