General Fuel light / range confusion - 100hp

[Raify]

Does anyone understand the fuel light / range? When I'm approaching empty it goes:

LED Warning + beep - but the light isn't even on.

Then the range changes to --- Very helpful.

Range in figures then re-appears - fuel light still isn't on.

Finally, the light comes on - another led warning and the range disappears again, right when you really need it. :bang:

 

[ThisBitterPill]

I think the range disappears just in case it's not accurate...Fiat don't want people ringing up stranded on the motorway saying....Your computer says I have 12 miles left!

But I agree, it's very confusing!

 

[santa]

On mine it does the following:

LED comes on (unsure about range, but it's somewhere around 100 km).

Beep and warning message comes on (this happens at a "range to go" of 50 km), after the warning message (which is displayed 3 times) the "range to go" goes from 50 km to ---.

So I know that when range is --- I have less than 50 km to go.

 

[Raify]

It vexes me, and I can't play petrol light bingo either.

A chap here in the office has got his Mini Cooper to -6 miles range before filling up!

 

[Gofra]

Its quite logical really.

The board computer makes constant calculations and then updates the information screen. For instance:

You're driving hard, with high RPM and a warning beep sounds, reminding you, theres only enough for 50 kms left. You suddenly change to easier driving, trying to save on gas. BC updates and calculates theres enough gas for 120 kms (that kind of driving).

I've even experienced the beep sounding prior to the little light flashing up (cold engine, cold morning, traffic jam).

Makes perfect sense to me. Nothing wrong here...
Besides, theres one topic allready open on fuel / consumption...





F

 

[Gofra]

It vexes me, and I can't play petrol light bingo either.

A chap here in the office has got his Mini Cooper to -6 miles range before filling up!

Actually, you can.
The light goes on @ ap. 5L left in the tank.
The beep goes on @ ap. 50 kms left (with that driving style).
Set the BC to instant consumption (or reset the B-trip and follow the B-Average) and pay attention. I dont reccomend doing so without the reserve plastic can with 2,3..5 L of petrol.

 

[FDF]

you could try putting petrol in wouldn't that solve the problem.:bang:

 

[ThisBitterPill]

you could try putting petrol in wouldn't that solve the problem.:bang:

Thank you, that's really helpful...If only you'd said earlier I wouldn't be walking home now

 

[Derv drinker]

Found that the light comes on quite soon with plenty left, ( fill as soon as it lights up I get 25l in ) as others have said it's most probably set that way so people fill up sooner rather than later.

 

[Trefor]

On my 100HP the light comes on and the sound happen at the same time. There is between 5 and 6 litres left when this happens (measured by refuelling).

 

[hpScot]

The moral here would seem to be.....fuel up when you can once the warning 'beep' sounds - worse case scenario....the tank still has circa 5 litres in it - but that saves you having to put in the five litres you've already paid for (probably at a cheaper rate)........AND you don't have to walk home.

Common sense really I guess.

That's the 'old fart' in me talking - if you really want to play 'fuel tank roulette' you go for it - might not be worth the fine if the 'Feds' find you stuck on the motorway though......that's the equivalent of getting the coffee flavoured 'Revel' in my book.

 

[Gofra]

Ok, one more time ;-):

Its the same with all the 100HPs - if you drive carefully, the light will come on a lot sooner than the beep. If you're flooring it, it could happen that the beep will sound sooner. Its not that every Panda is different...

If you're doing 10L/100 km average it means you'll run out of last 5 liters of fuel covering only 50 kms. However, if you manage (mission impossible though) to average 5L/100 km, you'll have just enough to cover 100 kms after the light goes on. The beep will sound much later.

@ Derv drinker: basicly, that means you're doing 10L/100km when the light comes on.

At least thats how I think things go - could be wrong, but it wouldnt make no sense to me.

EDIT:

@ HP Scott: According to the manual, the light comes on when theres app. 5 Liters left in the tank. Split that in half = *beep*

 

[Alan.D]

? you shouldn't let the tank go below the 1/4 unless absolutely necessary the older the car gets the more sediment remains at the bottom of the tank so taking it to empty will just fill your fuel filter full of crap.

 

[Gofra]

...+, it is advised not to play "fuel tank roulette" since running out of gas can cause problems. (check your manuals) And by problems, I'm not talking about having to walk long distances and staying out in the cold ...

F

 

[trackdayqueen]

? you shouldn't let the tank go below the 1/4 unless absolutely necessary the older the car gets the more sediment remains at the bottom of the tank so taking it to empty will just fill your fuel filter full of crap.

Actually Alan, I really think its a bit of an urban myth about fuel tanks getting full of crap. I'm not sure if its different with diesels, but certainly with petrols this just doesn't happen. I know this because when i scrapped my 15 year old Mr2 I took the fuel tank out.

When i took the pump out i can honestly say it was the one part of the car that looked absolutely like new. On the gauze filter for the pick up there was not one bit of dirt or otherwise on it. It was gleaming. The tank was pristeen inside. So its most certainly not the case at least with petrol cars. There was also not a grain of dirt in the bottom of the tank.

 

[Toomanytoys]

The other thing is, the fuel is taken from the bottom of the tank and the fuel pump always returns some to the tank... the filter gets changed and so the tank stays clean.....

I also have to agree... its a bit of a myth... yes if the tank goes rusty (old cars have steel tanks) or becuase of contamination entering the system... My 24 year old VW caravelle has a steel tank and when I took it off a few months ago to replace some breather hoses... it was really good inside, barely any surface rust (very light) and only on the upper surfaces... sediment problems have only come from road dirt and water getting in via a perished filler hose conection thats in the wheel arch..

 

[calvjones]

The other thing is, the fuel is taken from the bottom of the tank and the fuel pump always returns some to the tank... the filter gets changed and so the tank stays clean.....

I also have to agree... its a bit of a myth... yes if the tank goes rusty (old cars have steel tanks) or becuase of contamination entering the system... My 24 year old VW caravelle has a steel tank and when I took it off a few months ago to replace some breather hoses... it was really good inside, barely any surface rust (very light) and only on the upper surfaces... sediment problems have only come from road dirt and water getting in via a perished filler hose conection thats in the wheel arch..

Rusty tanks are a fairly common problem on older classics - such as FIAT 850s, although mine is fine as its built from good quality Spanish steel, not the usual Russian cr@p!

 

[j6pkp]

my renault clio had the trip computer, which also conveniently and annoyingly went to
---- miles left when the light came on.
its ok if you check the trip as the light goes on and keep your eye on how far you drive!!

 

[Toomanytoys]

Rusty tanks are a fairly common problem on older classics - such as FIAT 850s, although mine is fine as its built from good quality Spanish steel, not the usual Russian cr@p!

True, but we are talking about "modern" "newish" cars on theis the "new" panda forum... but the only crap that was getting in my 24 year old VW, was from a split rubber connector, not what was forming in the inside of the tank...