Took out the fuel sender (under the first aid kit). Adj. wrench didn't do it, nut was on tight and the wrench was slipping off because of the angle. Found my 3/4 " drive socket set and the 1 7/8 socket fit loose but did the job (I measured the sender it's 45 mm).

Anyway the sender was coated in a film of black stuff. Is that algae? I'll post a separate thread on that later. I shook the sender back and forth to clear all the black sludge in the sender out of the 3 little holes. After most of the sludge was out, I wrapped it in newspaper and started a 15 minute dance and shook it back and forth while rotating it. The dance was to clean the contacts. I then put an ohmeter and tilted the sender to put it through the different levels and made sure there was no dead spot and also checked the low level continuity switch to make sure it was working. Re-Installed the sender and the needle is now rock steady.

I always use this procedure first on intermittent fuel sender, if it doesn't do the job, then I take it apart to do a real cleaning job.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

Can't help but think of the dance as the one in your avatar. Thanks, have to do this soon to the wagon (badly).

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

Thanks for the information. I hopefully will be doing that this weekend. Too bad i didn't read this first, I just had my first aid kit out and replaced it with a more solid one. If I would have been on here first I could have done at the same time! Oh well... Something for me to do later! Thanks alot for the tip!!!!!
jason

Hi,
had the same problem with a car I bought in the South. When you have water in tank algae will grow at the edge of it. Algae also got into the fuel sending unit. If you do not carry spare fuel filters (in-line and main) you better get the filters soon and familiarize yourself how to change them at the road side.

Shake shake shake, shake ur booty.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

The first aid kit comes out in less than a minute. 2 phillips head screws. I managed to break the brittle sun dried plastic lid while taking the unit out. I'll just leave it lid less. Don't think it'll look too bad.

Let the sender drain for a few minutes before pulling it all the way out. Have a container ready to put it in (or a towel) so you don't get diesel all over the interior.

I drove around for half an hour tonight and the fuel gauge dances no more!

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

I do carry spare filters and have changed them both approx 200 miles ago. What color is Algae? Is it black? What's the best way to get rid of it?

__________________
85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

http://www.starbrite.com/productdetail.cfm?ID=1538&ProductCat=Automotive&ProductSCat=Gas%20%26%20Diesel%20Additives%20%28Auto%29&ProductSSCat=

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'87 924S
'81 280SEL

Sold ->

81 300SD -
93 300E w/ 3.2
85 300D-
79 300SD
82 300CD
83 300CD - CA
87 190E 5 spd
87 Porsche 924S

"..I'll take a simple "C" to "G" and feel brand new about it..."

Does NAPA, Autozone, Advance auto parts or Pepboys carry it?

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

The sending unit in the 126 is it behind the back seat? How did u test the low level switch on the unit? Check continuity?

Yes, for 126...pull the bottom seat - (2) levers, then the backrest - (3) 8mm screws and lift up off the hooks. Sender is in front of the first aid kit under a black plastic pry off plate.

My question is....how do you disassemble the sender? Undo the spanner nut on the bottom, then the tube slides away? My low fuel indicator light does not light on low fuel (does light w/ key on).

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1983 300SD 307k miles
1993 Ford Escort Wagon 215k miles
1995 Isuzu P'up 214k miles

No you got to get his at Marine supply stores. West Marine is one that has it. aa

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'87 924S
'81 280SEL

Sold ->

81 300SD -
93 300E w/ 3.2
85 300D-
79 300SD
82 300CD
83 300CD - CA
87 190E 5 spd
87 Porsche 924S

"..I'll take a simple "C" to "G" and feel brand new about it..."

Yes, on W126 sending unit, unscrew plastic covered nut and then tube should slide off.

A pair of pliers will do the trick as it's shouldn't be tight.

And if you low level isn't working then most likely you are looking at a broken enamel wire or dirty contact disk.

If you have a broken wire and need some extra, I have a roll Usually you can sneak the ends up a little and resolder the old wire...

Thanks, jshadows and Brandon. I ended up making a spanner wrench out of a flathead screwdriver. I figured the plastic surrounding nut would crumble. Both wires were intact and I cleaned all contacts.

Anybody doing this for the first time....the tube has a notch and the top-plate has a long ridge - they must line up for a good seat.

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1983 300SD 307k miles
1993 Ford Escort Wagon 215k miles
1995 Isuzu P'up 214k miles