Fuel guage quit working in my 1978 300SD W116 turbodiesel. I removed the sender from the tank (an easy job, accessible under the first aid kit well) and took it apart to discover that the fine wire is broken. I replaced it with the finest wire I could find but now it just reads 'full' all the time.

QUESTION: does anyone know the resistance value that a working fuel sender should have? I'm thinking that if I replace the resistor with the proper value it will work properly...

Thanks,
-=-=-=Eddie in Austin, TX

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1978 300SD 149K miles silver-blue "Maxine" (mine!)
1979 300SD 318K miles red "Helga" (SOLD)
1980 300SD 321K miles yellow "Linda" (younger daughter's)
1980 300SD 148K miles blue (SOLD)
1980 300SD 153K miles green(parts car, SOLD)
Yes, I have a W116 fetish :-)

Did you use nichrome wire when you replaced it? Copper wire has no resistance, or very low resistance compared to resistance wire.
The problem with resistance wire is it has to have special flux to enable it to accept solder, not something I would want to do. I'd look for a donor sender from a wrecked car if available.

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

Mine boke on a 123 once at the bottom were it connects. i was able to resolder it and it worked great.

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82 Rabbit diesel (first d), 84 Jetta turbo d (300k when sold), 83 240d (305k when sold), 84 F250 6.9d w/Banks turbo(parts truck), 86 F250 6 cyl.gasser(waiting for 6.9d), 84 300d ( 347k Sold 8/04), Y2k New Bettle TDI (185k miles), 95 740IL (wifes), 87 300TD (206k Sold 7/05), 05 Passat TDI Wagon