How do I get to the fuel tank level sender? I want to overhaul it (and hope that will cure my erratic fuel guage readings) but I can't seem to find a way to access it.

I was told it was through the first-aid kit door, but there doesn't seem to be any access there.

I have an 85 126 (500SE). Any and all advice will be muchly appreciated!

You will just have to replace it!

There is no servicable parts in the sender.

You will have to take out the back seat bottom and rear backrest.

Thank you, Benzmac!

Yes, pull the backseat cushion, then the backrest. You will see a large plastic plug about in the middle behind the backrest, near the top. Pull the plug out, usually you'll need to pry it off with a screwdriver. The fuel level sender is inside the hole that the plug was covering. It can be unscrewed from the tank and removed through the hole. It would be worth the effort to have the system diagnosed before buying anything though. If I were a betting man, I'd put money on the sender being bad, but the wise thing to do is "do the test!"....Gilly

Do you have erratic readings on just the fuel level indicator? Quite possibly you have a loose ground instead of a bad sender. I bought a new fuel level sending unit, replaced it, and guess what...same problem. I haven't gotten around to trying to fix it yet, but I think there is a thread concerning a faulty solder connection back behind the guages -- seems like there was mention of a circuit board. Now that I've replaced the sender to no avail, I now notice that a couple of other guages jump once in a while (don't remember which ones, but they are next to the fuel gauge). I don't know about yours of course, but I think my is a high Z ground connection. Good luck.

Hi kfuller -

The fuel gauge doesn't jump around, per se. It will read FULL for 150 miles, then drop way down to near empty and stay there untill the low level warning light comes on. There is nothing in between. Do you still think that may be a loose solder?

Tony.
Sounds like your sender. I have a '82 300DS and have had the sender out and all apart. If you are careful they come apart very nicely and then you can clean things up. Worth a try.

Thank, Mark. That's what I want to try to do. Ah, I love the smell of gasoline in the morning...

Hmmm...Well that does sound like the sender.

Tony;

I am assuming that the gas version is the same as diesel. It may not be. Have fun trying anyway. You have nothing to lose by trying. Be careful around open fuel tanks. Sparks=big bang.:eek:

Hang on...I gotta call the fire department.

Well, you could try to "Do The Test". You could try being a mechanic instead of a parts replacer.......Gilly