Technical Fiat Punto Petrol gauge

[fiatpunto53]

I am having problems with my petrol gauage the needle is showing as empty and the petrol warning light is constantly flashing, the car has at least half a tank of petrol and I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on what the problem could be as I need to get it sorted ASAP.

Look forward to some response


Thanks

 

[a1ant]

Hello mate and WELCOME TO THE FORUM!! :wave:

Most likely culprit would be the fuel level sensor which is attached to the LP fuel pump in the fuel tank.

Did this happen randomly, or did it happen after a particular event? ie you had the rear seats up or something.

I would start by checking the connections under the rear seat.

Hope that helps
Alan

 

[fiatpunto53]

This just happened out of the blue, i was driving along and all of a sudden I heard a kind of click noise and then when I looked at the dash the needle had cut out and the light flashing. I was told by someone who checked my car it was the fuel sender unit and now they have changed there mind and saying it could need a new instrument panel? im confused

 

[a1ant]

Hi mate,

Yes the fuel sender unit is what I was referring to. Its mounted on the fuel pump in the fuel tank. Was the knocking noise coming from the area around the rear seats? As it could well be that the float had become detached. It works in a similar principal to a ball valve in a water tank. ie a float on the end of a shaft, the float hieght varies with the amount of fuel in the tank, and a sensor at the end of the shaft then varies its output depending on the height of the float and thus gives you a reading on the instrament panel.

It is possible that the instament pannel could be at fault, HOWEVER its very unusual that the fuel guage would fail on its own, and if it did, it would be more likely to not iluminate/move it all. It sounds to me like it isnt recieveing any signal from the sender unit.

When you say they checked the fuel sender unit, did they actually take the pump out and look at it, or test the connections with a multimeter?

Alan

 

[fiatpunto53]

It wasnt a knocking noise just one click when the gauage cut out. Not heard anything since. They apparently took my tank out and checked it but I took it to a garage my brother works at who only deal mainly with Vauxhalls so they dont have the equipment to link my car up to computers etc. They definately were meant to check the fuel unit though and told me this was the problem then when they went to order the part someone there told them they have never sold the sender unit for this problem and could more thank likely be the instrument panel. I just dont want to go paying for something that could not be the problem.

 

[T14086]

why take tank out, access hole is under rear seats

 

[KAVDOGG]

My 2004 Punto has a similar problem, in that it has cut out twice on me, on both occasions the fuel read that it was between a quarter tank and the reserve line. Left it for a few minutes, got it to a petrol station and a full tank sorts the problem, so it sounds like the "ballcock" problem, is there much to diagnose and repair this????

Cheers.

 

[rohankowli]

I am facing similar problem with my punto I bought in Aug 2010. I did complain during my 1st service & they said they have rectified it, which was not the case. I had similar problems again & during my 2nd service I asked them to replace it as my car is under 4 year warranty. Post servicing, they informed me that this time they have replaced the part. Unfortunately the problem still persists when the needle reaches the E mark & yellow indicator light is ON.
After restarting the car, the same refuses to move giving me false indication of no fuel in the car.

I have been maintaining the car at the authorized service station & they are not able to assist me. What should I do next?
Also, why is the fuel consumption of this car more than any other petrol car in the segment?

Awaiting replies.
Cheers.