Fuel Indicator Light Stays On

I am new to to this cite and have an 86 Maxim XJ 700, I have replaced front wheel bearings, rebuilt petcock, and most recently replaced the instrument panel, tach and wiring. My problem is the fuel indicator light stays on, the tach didn't work before so this is a new issue, I don't see a sending unit on the gas tank - WHERE is this signal coming from? What am I missing?
thanks

 

Just in front of the fuel petcock is the low fuel sending unit.
If you follow the the wire lead it go's under the tank and plugs
into a spade connector near the batt poss terninal.
check the wire/connector for corrosion, and look for any pinched areas
that could have damaged the wire(s)
Trace the entire systm for the same.
If you still havn't found any probs get out the mulimeter and see if
you have any voltage/resistance issues.
Lastly, if all looks good to his point then drain tank and pull the sending
unit and check for damage. The stealership will want about $60.00
bucks for a new one maybe Chacal can get it cheaper..........I would
go to radio shack or other elec supply store and buy a new condencer,.

 

thanks for the advice, I will check it out and report my progress

 

The Fuel Level Sender is a very uncomplicated rheostat.
A Metal "Spoon" passes-over some bare-wire windings, progressively spaced for varying resistance readings.

I've seen the Float-operated "Spoon" travel over the thin wires of the rheostat ... wearing-out it's arch-shaped path over the windings, wear right through the windings ... rendering the Sending unit In-operative.

The higher the mileage ... the more likely that the Sending Unit has self-destructed due to the Spoon-shaped arm wearing right through the windings.

 

I found the sending unit but the wiring is missing, I will locate the connector that you mentioned near the positive battery post and take it from there.

Thanks for the help

 

Rheostats are inherently self-destructive (and wasteful!).