fuel gauge probs

Post Sun Feb 06, 2005 8:22 pm

while driving today my gauge was reading quarter of a tank then suddenly it shot straight up to full and wont drop back down till i turn the ignition off. any one had this happen or no what it might be?? thanks for any help.

ryan.

Guest · Post Mon Feb 07, 2005 1:03 am

Could be the gauge, the instrument cluster as a whole, the sender in the tank or a dodgy earth somewhere. Best check 'em all.

Post Mon Feb 07, 2005 5:01 pm

thanks sunking, how do i get to the sender in the tank? also in my car under the rear seat theres a plate that unscrews which is just above the tank, whats under there?

Guest · Post Mon Feb 07, 2005 5:15 pm

If you only have the one removal plate under your rear seat then you'll have an integral fuel pump and sender unit. When you're low on fuel remove this unit to check all the connections are ok and that it isn't full of rusty crud. If it still doesn't work......Does your fuel low warning light come on when you're low on fuel, regardless of what the needle is saying?If this comes on when low on gas but the needle reading is incorrect then I'd suggest that the sender is at fault. Try another one. Before you do this though, remove your instrument cluster and tighten the brass nut directly behind the fuel gauge - sometimes the electrical gremlin is caused by this nut being loose. It pulls the gauge contacts against the circuit board and if the nut is loose you may not be getting a proper connection which can cause gauge irregularities.