360 Gas showing empty...

t348,

This just started happening on my F430 - evidently there’s a float in the gas tank that’s a beeyotch to get to…

If it doesn’t fix itself - ha! - I’m getting mine addressed during annual winter trip to the dealer…

Kevin

 

Could be a coincidence... I don't know about the fuse situation but of course check the simple stuff first.
The 360 has two fuel pumps. One left and one right. The left one has the sending unit incorporated into it. If nothing pans out with the fuses, then probably the sending unit should be checked for ohm resistance (in the tank and in the car before embarking on the arduous task of removing the pump/sending unit). I just has to replace my left side fuel pump/sender (DIY) and it is NO FUN.
I know it seems unlikely but, Having a shop for over 30 years, I've seen some crazy coincidences that seem highly unlikely and in fact turn out to be completely unrelated-- removing and replacing one part only to have another fail has happened.

 

Are you getting the orange low fuel warning "light"?

 

The fuel sender has a special earth. Make sure it's properly bolted to the LH head

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One of these...

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By the way, there are no fuses associated with the fuel sender/gauge. Power comes from the instrument cluster.

 

I thought perhaps if you were getting no light, the issue might be in the instrument cluster, but it does sound more like a sender or wiring issue.

The fuel sender wiring does pass by the ECU, but unless you were unusually brutal pulling out the ECU past the wiring, I can't see you damaging the wiring.

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If accessing the sender electrical connector is difficult at the sender, I suppose you could always do sender resistance checks at that YL41 plug. The wire colour should be violet with a yellow stripe (going to pin 31)

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I was thinking that if the sender float arm got stuck through lack of use during an extended maintenance period that it might be freed driving to the gas station (or are your roads particularly smooth)? Can you remember how low the fuel was before you started working on the car?

Is it more likely that bio fuels melted the plastic float?

 

I assume the instrument panel puts out a certain voltage. 5 volts? Maybe you could also check the instrument panel side of that YL41 plug for a voltage? Use the chassis as an earth. Key on for tests, of course.

 

Maybe somewhere on the forum is a resistance range for the sender? You could possibly subsititute a fixed value resistor (half-full tank value) and plug it into the instrument panel side of the YL41 plug to see if you get a reading on your gauge?

Note that by disconnecting that plug, you may get a few other fault lights illuminating.

 

I couldn't find a resistance range, but perhaps you could try a 100 ohm resistor as a starting point

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/147522724/

Unfortunately, no follow up from the gentleman with a fuel level issue on a 360.

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As seen from the face of the plug (instrument side of harness).

The numbering system of that plug is very unusual. I would check the wire colour before inserting the resistor. i.e. violet/yellow.

 

Perhaps E-diff, suspension, engine, etc.. and some of your tail lights won't work.

Note that there may be a number of similar looking plugs in that area. Sorry, I don't know if YL41 has a particular colour. If you find the plug, maybe you could take a photo to help others in the future.

Hopefully it's not this one. Looks hard to get to...

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There's a good earth here for your voltage and 100 ohm resistor checks.

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Testy Italian girlfriend.....

 

oops... seems I switched to an F430 midway through the thread. Anyway, sounds like you had a win.

For reference, if it happens again. On the 360, the blue plug in your photo carries the fuel quantity data (pin 6, same wire colour......... violet yellow).

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It would have been nice to know what fuel level a 100 ohm resistor would have given.

Note that there are two violet wires on that plug. You want the one with the yellow stripe.

 

I had a funny thing happen to me. I was filling it but it was reading low. I assumed it was the sensor and didn't spend a lot of energy thinking about it.

One spring, after it had been sitting for a bit, it wouldn't start. After scratching my head for a while, I added some gas and it started right up. I had been going to the same gas station and filling at the same pump for months and it was extremely sensitive (I guess) and was turning off early! I just wasn't adding any gas. I drive infrequently enough that it wasn't obvious that the car hadn't been properly filled for ages.