#1: Help - where's all my fuel gone? Now sorted - Update! Author: Werdnal, Location: Cornwall, UKPosted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 4:41 am ---- Typical, MOT booked for 9.00am tomorrow and car decides to throw a wobbly on me.
Low fuel light came on this morning, so called in and bought £25 worth of diesel, but the gauge still shows the same level as before I put any in! Low fuel light still on, and dash readout showing 54M'ish fuel left. I drove a few miles home, hoping perhaps the gauge is stuck and the odd road hump might reset it, but no change. I've looked under the car - difficult as its wet anyway, but cannot see any obvious leaks on the fuel tank, and nothing shows in the engine bay. No diesel smell either, and no marks on the gorund where I usually park. Even if it was a leak, surely it would be something major for 25 quids worth of fuel to just disappear as soon as I put it in!
Its a 2.0HDi, 52 reg, 99K miles.
I'm hoping it just the gauge, but is this just wishful thinking? The needle lifts off the bottom when I switch on, but doesn't rise to where is should for the amount I think is in it! Are they electronic or is there still an old fashioned float in the tank, and does the tank sender give info to the dash readout as well as the guage? Any advice appreciated, thanks Last edited by Werdnal on Wed Oct 10, 2012 11:18 am; edited 1 time in total
#2: Re: Help - where's all my fuel gone? Author: frenchfrog40, Location: MaidstonePosted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 4:47 am ---- you might find that if you leave it for a while and then start it up again then your fuel will appear out of nowhere! if there's no leaks then at least you know there is fuel in there and it will last you to mot and then maybe garage could have a look.
#3: Re: Help - where's all my fuel gone? Author: LeeThr, Location: North West WalesPosted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 5:03 am ---- reboot the bsi
#4: Re: Help - where's all my fuel gone? Author: Werdnal, Location: Cornwall, UKPosted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:11 am ---- Thanks all,
Done a BSI reboot and no change - seen on another site that may need to do this more than once to rectify electrical glitches, any thoughts?
Parked and moved the car after a couple hours - no sign of diesel on the road, and looked underneath with engine running and nothing evident, so convinced its not leaking anywhere.
The garage I use for MOT does diagnostics - is there any point in asking them to plug in and check it? Is it likely to be something that shows up a fault code?
Or is next step is to check the float in the tank.
Any other suggestions please,
Thanks
#5: Re: Help - where's all my fuel gone? Author: Seabook, Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:17 am ---- most likely the float on the pump is stuck somewhere.
or could be your gas needle stuck on the dial?
#6: Re: Help - where's all my fuel gone? Author: Werdnal, Location: Cornwall, UKPosted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:23 am ----
Seabook wrote:
or could be your gas needle stuck on the dial?
Would this affect the Multifunction Readout, which is also showing around 50 miles of fuel left? Are they both fed from the fuel sender/float level?
If it is the float, is there any way to encourage it free other than going into the tank? Thought of bouncing or rocking the car, or filling the tank full to try to dislodge it?
#7: Re: Help - where's all my fuel gone? Author: Matt, Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2012 11:46 am ---- I had this before. Drive around for a day or so as normal and it sorted itself.
#8: Re: Help - where's all my fuel gone? Now sorted - Update! Author: Werdnal, Location: Cornwall, UKPosted: Wed Oct 10, 2012 11:20 am ---- Just a quick update - fuel gauge now sorted.
Disconnected the plug on the sender/pump unit under the rear seat, and noticed it was full of green corrosion. Cleaned up the terminals with some WD40 and reconnected - working fuel gauge!
Top that with an MOT pass (only needed a new fuel tank strap which garage ordered and fitted for me for £20, and a good day all round.
Thought I'd update for anyone else searching for help on this problem, and thanks to those who replied.
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