Technical Fuel Gauge problem

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Technical Fuel Gauge problem

PavPev

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Well my fuel gauge is stuck at zero with the light on...let me tell you the whole story:

Got in my 53-plate Punto MkIIb 1.2 diesel at my house in Oxford, noticed I had half a tank of fuel and usually I only use a quater tank for the trip I was going to make today.

Left to pick up my mate from his place in Farnham Common, then we started to make our way to Maidenhead. At a certain slightly sharp turn I managed to slide the car (it was obviously wetter than I thought) the back swung out one way, then the other, then somehow I got it back without hitting anything!

We spent a few minutes joking about how we could have just died, then I noticed that my fuel gauge was reading empty! And not just low, or with the light on, but completely empty with the light on!

I was pretty sure that no matter how aggresively I drove, there was simply no way I could burn 20litres in that time, my mate suggested that I could have a leak but once we stopped I couldn't smell a hint of diesel under the car. I get the feeling that my little unexpected drift sesh may have submerged a floating indicator within the tank, but I don't know if that's what they use or if thats even possible?!

Anyone have any idea what else it could be/I can check for? It's definitely just the gauge because I drove 40 miles back to Oxford with it pointing at 'E' so the fuel is there!

Thanks!!!

Pav
 
Under suggestion of another user on another forum I had a look under the plate under the back seat to see if the fuel pump connections were loose. They were really filthy but not loose at all so I don't think it's that.

Any more ideas anyone?
 
Have you tried filling the tank up?

sounds silly but its worth a try might knock the sensor back into place
 
Cheers Mdeko, I was thinking about that but I was gonna wait and see what people suggested first. Might stick a tenner of fuel in there tonight and see what happens, cheers!
 
I stuck £20 of diesel in the tank today and still no luck =o( anyone else got an idea?
 
cheers for the help lads, might have to try opening up the pump this weekend as I went for a 'spirited' drive with a m8 of mine yesterday, got lost down some proper s****y roads and they were bumpy as f**k so if it was just stuck that would have knocked it loose!
 
Well my fuel gauge is stuck at zero with the light on...

Can't help you with a solution - but until you get it sorted, you can check your fuel state by pressing [trip] until `range' shows you how many miles are left in your tank ... assuming that's not b*ggered-up too!
 
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nice idea Caravadossi, but the range is constantly zero! It must use the same measure for the gauge as for the trip computer. at the mo I'm just using the trip mile counter and estimating 45mpg as thats about what i was doing before
 
Well that sguuests its not a faulty guage . . must be either the sensor in the tank or the wiring
 
Ok problem solved...believe it or not all we had to do was hit it with a hammer...

We started to remove the fuel pump but the screw-top was on soooo tight that my m8 had to get a ball-joint seperator and hammer and try to loosen it. After hitting it 3 times i noticed that the gauge had gone back up again?! Took it for a drive and it seems to be working fine now!

So there you have it... when your small italian car breaks, hit it with a hammer to make it all better again =o)

Cheers for the suggestions though guys!
 
Ok problem solved...believe it or not all we had to do was hit it with a hammer...

That reminds me (anecdote coming on) …

Some client takes his car to his dealer to solve an engine fault. Client watches as mechanic appears to diagnose the problem … selects a No.1 iron … whacks engine with it … problem solved.

Dealer then presents client with invoice just showing a grand total of £100 before VAT. Client is upset at this, arguing that the few minutes involved didn’t justify that sum - & asks that the dealer reconsiders the job with a breakdown.

Dealer presents amended invoice reading …

Hitting engine with hammer …… £1
Knowing where to hit it …… £99

A very old one – but makes me smile.
 
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