Fuel Level Sensor

[brettkel]

Hi guys,

I've got a slight problem i've been meaning to sort out.

When i had my clocks done someone just pulled the petrol gauge needle off and put it back anywhere. I know on these cars when you turn t he ignition off the needle stays where it is.


What is the best way to reset it without running out. The wife wants me to sort it so she doesn't run out on a roundabout. The light is on and off all the time and i dont know where i am

[Davezj]

Fill the tank to the brim and set the needle to full.

[brettkel]

Why didn't i think of that. good idea.

[GalantOnly]

Sounds strange... There's only one way to put the needle back on the high contrast gauges, otherwise there will be no light in the needle LED.

[Nick Mann]

Fill the tank to the brim and set the needle to full.

Or wait for the fuel to run out and set it to empty!

Seriously - the fuel gauge does have a life of it's own. With vaguely sensible driving, expect 80 miles to go from full to 3/4, then 20 miles from 3/4 to 1/2, another 20 from 1/2 to 1/4 and then 60 miles from 1/4 to the light coming on. The light usually comes on with about 10 litres left, filling the car should see you put 50 litres in if the light has only been on for a couple of miles.

[Davezj]

I couldn't be bothered typing that lot in again.

But nick is spot on about the dodgy fuel gauge reading, and i would agree totally with the values quoted

[Wodjno]

I couldn't be bothered typing that lot in again.

But nick is spot on about the dodgy fuel gauge reading, and i would agree totally with the values quoted

For an Auto

[Nick Mann]

Lots of variables - auto/manual, light right foot/heavy right foot, but I was trying to be "typical" about quoting numbers....

I have got much less than those numbers in mine, both as an auto and as a manual!! I've also got a lot more too, but not very often!

[elnevio]

Has the fuel pump assembly been out for any reason? May need reseating if the float is getting caught on the side of the tank.

[brettkel]

No fuel pump not been out. If i fill it up till it clicks (better get a loan lol) where does your gauge go cos mine used to go over the full line. Should i fill it up and then just put it on the line. And where is your needle when the light comes on cos mine is under the white line sometimes.

[BraindG]

Is the fuel light connected to the level of the needle or a level signal from the tank?

[swinks]

No fuel pump not been out. If i fill it up till it clicks (better get a loan lol) where does your gauge go cos mine used to go over the full line. Should i fill it up and then just put it on the line. And where is your needle when the light comes on cos mine is under the white line sometimes.

Nope!
When full tank, as you just described, gauge needle is above full line. It does look like misalignment, IIRC 2 - 3 mm above, but it's correct.

[elnevio]

Agree with swinks there about where Full really is!

Barry, pretty sure that the fuel light works on a different sensor, as I have had them working (or not working, I suppose!) independently of each other when the assembly was misaligned.