I am considering buying a '72 pre L with a fuel gauge that does not work. I imagine that it is the gauge or sending unit.
If it is the sending unit, any idea of cost and labor time?
Thanks
Dave
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
I have never heard of a gauge failing, so I'll bet its the sender which does fail. You'll have to call vendors for prices as the unit is specific to the DeTomaso Pantera; no known interchanges. To change senders is far more difficult than simply finding & paying for one, as on a stock Pantera, the sender is inaccessible unless the tank is removed which also requires the engine & transaxle to be removed.
Or, the work-around involves prying the left rear quarter window and chrome frame out of the body. This assembly is only held in by gasket friction and maybe old paint, so careful screwdriver work will pop it right out with no damage. Then, the upper left tank cover must be removed (easier on L models than pre-L). The sender is exposed and after taking a few machine screws out, can be withdrawn through the window opening. Do not mix up the sending unit wires and the low-fuel-light wires. Some owners then remove the glass from the frame and replace only the frame (on both sides), thus gaining permanent access to the tank and affording much easier cleaning of the big rear window. As the Pantera's boundary layer of air is many inches thick at this point, no difference in air drag occurs with the glass gone. Matter of fact, its been found that the small decorative air-scoops added over the windows grab zero air at all; it takes scoops sticking out 4 or more inches (so-called 'elephant-ears') to grab ANY air, even at 150mph.
Or, the work-around involves prying the left rear quarter window and chrome frame out of the body. This assembly is only held in by gasket friction and maybe old paint, so careful screwdriver work will pop it right out with no damage. Then, the upper left tank cover must be removed (easier on L models than pre-L). The sender is exposed and after taking a few machine screws out, can be withdrawn through the window opening. Do not mix up the sending unit wires and the low-fuel-light wires. Some owners then remove the glass from the frame and replace only the frame (on both sides), thus gaining permanent access to the tank and affording much easier cleaning of the big rear window. As the Pantera's boundary layer of air is many inches thick at this point, no difference in air drag occurs with the glass gone. Matter of fact, its been found that the small decorative air-scoops added over the windows grab zero air at all; it takes scoops sticking out 4 or more inches (so-called 'elephant-ears') to grab ANY air, even at 150mph.
Jack,
Thank you for your help. I would have liked to have heard how easy it is to change. Oh well!
Dave
Thank you for your help. I would have liked to have heard how easy it is to change. Oh well!
Dave
quote:
Originally posted by jack deryke:
I have never heard of a gauge failing, so I'll bet its the sender which does fail. You'll have to call vendors for prices as the unit is specific to the DeTomaso Pantera; no known interchanges. To change senders is far more difficult than simply finding & paying for one, as on a stock Pantera, the sender is inaccessible unless the tank is removed which also requires the engine & transaxle to be removed.
Or, the work-around involves prying the left rear quarter window and chrome frame out of the body. This assembly is only held in by gasket friction and maybe old paint, so careful screwdriver work will pop it right out with no damage. Then, the upper left tank cover must be removed (easier on L models than pre-L). The sender is exposed and after taking a few machine screws out, can be withdrawn through the window opening. Do not mix up the sending unit wires and the low-fuel-light wires. Some owners then remove the glass from the frame and replace only the frame (on both sides), thus gaining permanent access to the tank and affording much easier cleaning of the big rear window. As the Pantera's boundary layer of air is many inches thick at this point, no difference in air drag occurs with the glass gone. Matter of fact, its been found that the small decorative air-scoops added over the windows grab zero air at all; it takes scoops sticking out 4 or more inches (so-called 'elephant-ears') to grab ANY air, even at 150mph.