Technical fuel problems, gauge and smell

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Technical fuel problems, gauge and smell

arc

this is where i stand
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My fuel gauge has gone nuts again. Its not a loose wire in the dash, checked that. When full, the tank shows 7/8's full. When the tank gets low (1/4) the guage randomly flops up and down. However, the low fuel warning light doesnt come on, even the gauge is showing below 0.

I'm wondering if this has anyhthing to do with the strong petrol smell i have in the car (normally after giving the loud pedal a bit of a bash). Its very strong, its not crankcase fumes either.

I've also noticed that when i last went to fuel up, there was no hiss from the cap. The tank wasnt pressurised. I'm thinking a seal has gone somewhere, but is that likely to send the gauge loopy?

The car had its tank replaced under recall around 2 years ago.
 
Hmmm not exactly the problem I'm having but since having my suspension fitted, any extreme cornering will send the fuel guage plummeting to 0 and it stays there unless you redress the balance with some more fast cornering, float for the sender must be loose in the tank.

Liam
 
I had this on a recently purchased Seicento Sporting.

Fuel gauge was all over the place and it stank of petrol after I filled it for the first time. I then noticed fuel was coming out of the fuel cap. Ordered a replacement at Halfords for about £10. Problem solved. Smell has gone, it doesn't leak and the gauge now works.

Worked for me :p
 
Liam said:
Hmmm not exactly the problem I'm having but since having my suspension fitted, any extreme cornering will send the fuel guage plummeting to 0 and it stays there unless you redress the balance with some more fast cornering, float for the sender must be loose in the tank.

Liam
I have sort of the same problem, did anyone manage to fix this? It has never been like this before on my car and has only recently started?

Arc, how did you fix yours?

Thanks

David

Edit, the radio has being turning itself off lately and not wanting to come back on, so I wonder if it is earth related. the gearbox was swapped over a few months back.
 
Last edited:
id check earths first, but then also remove the fuel gauge sender unit and give it a good shake. its v easy to remove, just unplug a wire, twist and pull
 
Just an overdue comment due :D (to the first posts): the fuel guage and the reserve indicator are two different wires, meaning they work indepedently.

I found my fuel gauge connector (on top of the tank) in very poor shape - after disconnecting it for replacing the tank it just went crazy. Started to clean the connectors on the gauge - they broke off. Took the gauge out and resoldered them back on (an extremly bitchy job, if you are not familar with soldering don't try it) . Since then - no probs whatsoever.

/Woj
 
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