General Fuel Gauge Issue

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General Fuel Gauge Issue

bluestar85

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I hope someone can shed any light on this before it goes to the garage. I am just learning about car maintance so please excuse the vagueness etc.

I purchased my Sei back in May and got a 30day warrenty. When I purchased it the engine management light was on, the garage assured me this would go once its be run 'a few miles'. I knew this wasn't the case but as I had warrenty I wasn't too bothered. The light didn't go out (not surprised) so I took the car back and it needed a sensor on its exhast (something to do with knowing the mix of oxygen and fuel). Due to bank holiday and then me going on holiday this wasn't booked in until Wednesday.

Wednesday on the way up to the garage my fuel light goes on. When this comes on I fill the car up as I use fuelly and don't know how many miles my Sei will go in reserves. I went to get fuel before going to the garage as I know they drive the car for 10min to get to the mechanics garage. I didn't want to chance the petrol running out completely. To fit the sensor they had the car 3 hours, I don't know whats done to fit the sensor etc but when I got in the car the light had gone :)

But more worringly my fuel gauge had drop by a quater. I was not happy but at this point I had pulled away from the garage and had appointments to keep. So I drove it for 10miles and the gauge didn't change, but to keep up with fuelly I thought I better fill it back up and write the petrol off as bad luck. However I went to get fuel and the tank was full, it took £3 but the pump kept clicking :confused:

Now someone said the gauge may have just froze and as soon as I use that petrol the gauge will start working. Is it that simple or does it need to go to a mechanic? At the moment I am using the trip counter to 'guess' where the gauge is as I know how much I do on a tank of fuel. Its working ok so far but obviously I ahve my MOT in a few months and don't know if this issue will make it a fail?

Thanks for any opinions/help on this subject. I did search but it mentioned messing with teh tank which obviously I don't want to do if it's full (n)
 
It won't fail an MOT on a dodgy fuel gauge so don't worry about that. One constant to bear in mind, the fuel tank is 30l so you'll soon learn how far you can go on a full tank - it should be around 250-300 miles, depending on conditions. The other thing to bear in mind with these cars is that the fuel gauge is pretty inaccurate so is only meant to be a guage and not an absolute value, for example going uphill your fuel tank will appear emptier as will turning sharply, the only time it's accurate is sitting still on level ground, lol.

Edit: Going down hill makes it appear fuller ;)
 
the only time it's accurate is sitting still on level ground, lol.

Thanks Eklipze, glad it will be ok with the MOT. I generally get 270-280 miles out of a full tank but I have only filled it up twice (discounting its first fuel) so not 100% yet. I understand but I like to know ish how my petrol is going, I guess I will have to keep it on the trip counter from now on. The worrying thing is its been sat unused on flat ground for 4days now and the fuel gauge still isn't showing a full tank :(

Nevermind thanks for your help (y)
 
Oh sorry, I didn't realise that was the case, I was skim reading the post (at work you see!). I'm not sure how the level is relayed back to the gauge as I've never gone poking around in my tank but I'd suspect the level sensor is jammed at that position somehow.
 
Lift the diamond plate under the back seat, that lets you into the fuel level sender. Might be worth lifting it out to see, but I would wait until you've done a few miles so the tank ain't full.

Cheers

D

Thanks D, when I do this what am I looking for? Sorry :(
 
hi blue if i was you i would take the car to a garage for safty reasons because taking the diamond plate is very easy but then you would have to remove the electrical connections to the top of the fuel pump carrier and then remove the fuel hoses which are push fit and then unscrew the white coller holding the fuel pump carrier into the fuel tank and then lift and turn the carrier out fo the tank, on the side of the fuel pump carrier is a plastic float on a thin metal rod which connects to the fuel level sender.
if your knowledge of cars isn't great i would get someone else to do this one for you because you are going to spill some fuel and there will be fumes in the car from the hole in the top of the tank all of which could be dangerous.

paul
 
with my fuel gauge, it works as it should but my orange light it on most of the time. when you get to around the half tank mark it goes out. then comes on when it gets low.
no idea what thats about but the gauge still works so its not that much of a problem.

not fiat related, but if ever you find your self owning a Corsa B (or tigra) turning right will give you unlimmited fuel.. its handy!
 
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