Fuel Gauge Not Reading Full

[solmanic]

Funny thing happened yesterday, I filled up and the fuel gauge only shows 3/4 full. I know it's full because I stopped later in the afternoon and topped off the tank a second time just to be sure and again, only 3/4 showing on the dial. It is definitely full, full since I put 65 litres in and usually only do around 60l.

Interestingly, this is perhaps the first time since getting the car that I had previously had a half tank fill before filling completely yesterday. A mate borrowed the car and put 40l in last week from empty - I ran it empty and filled yesterday. Previously every fill has been from empty, or thereabouts.

I'll monitor it today but am curious to know if this type of thing results from something pretty common, and do I just need to get the dealer to to some electrickery to get the gauge's memory back.

[Quarks]

Maybe it's telling you to get a bigger tank! :eek:

:)
Geoff

[solmanic]

OK, after a fairly long drive today (200km+ on the highway) the gauge is still doing odd things. Yesterday, the gauge wouldn't go above 3/4 full after at least half an hour driving. This morning, after about 45 minutes on the road and 50-60km, it had sloooooowly crept up towards full, but still well below the top line (usually it reads full until you have travelled about 80km). By this afternoon, on the way back to Brisbane, it was back down to 3/4 full but now that is about right given the number of km we drove.

Before this all started, it would go all the way above the top line when the tank was full, and would get up to this point within 5min of the servo.

[JDNSW]

These sort of antics usually indicate that the earth on the gauge is dodgy. If this is the case, the reading should change (slowly) when the instrument lights are switched on or off, as they use the same earth point, and whether or not they are powered changes the potential above earth of the earth point.

John

[jimbo110]

If the gauges are controled by the computer like a TD5 it may even be that playing up. Sounds like another job for the dealer under warrentee.