Fuel gauge problem
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: ShyTot graphics Location: Squires Bar Location: Wakecastlefract
Fuel gauge problem
Tried a quick search for this, but the only relevant thread was started by PSL, so the responses weren't exactly informative 
My fuel gauge decided to plummet from just over 1/4 to very very empty in the space of about a minute whilst driving up the M1 yesterday.
Initial reaction was to leave at the next exit and have a check under the bonnet / car for leaks etc. Nothing.
Found the fuse for the dash and pulled it to see if i had blown or had a dodgy connection (though everything else was working fine) that was okay.
Popped fuse back and the CEL came on (car was still running at the time
)
Having reached the limit of my fiddling knowledge I decided to go and fill up, and after a couple of miles (before getting to a pump) the gauge decides to start working correctly again.
So, just a couple of q's
1) What's going on with the gauge?
2) The CEL light is still on. Should I be unduly worried, or have I just confused it by pulling the fuse? Will I need a CEL reset?
TIA
Sticky
My fuel gauge decided to plummet from just over 1/4 to very very empty in the space of about a minute whilst driving up the M1 yesterday.
Initial reaction was to leave at the next exit and have a check under the bonnet / car for leaks etc. Nothing.
Found the fuse for the dash and pulled it to see if i had blown or had a dodgy connection (though everything else was working fine) that was okay.
Popped fuse back and the CEL came on (car was still running at the time
)Having reached the limit of my fiddling knowledge I decided to go and fill up, and after a couple of miles (before getting to a pump) the gauge decides to start working correctly again.
So, just a couple of q's
1) What's going on with the gauge?
2) The CEL light is still on. Should I be unduly worried, or have I just confused it by pulling the fuse? Will I need a CEL reset?
TIA
Sticky
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 19,020
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From: Just beyond the limits of adhesion
CEL's often stay on for a while when the ECU has detected something it doesn't like. It should go off after a day or two when it's quite happy it's had normal service for long enough. A popular one on new-ages is the neutral position sensor, which when connected to a service monitor tells you that the car is misfiring on one or more cylinders. How the hell a spurious reading from a sensor which (lord knows why) detects if the car's in neutral can be so badly misinterpretted I do not know, but suffice to say that unless the car is running badly or the CEL starts to flash, don't worry. Haven't got a clue why the fuel gauge would do that, apart from a bad connection somewhere.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: ShyTot graphics Location: Squires Bar Location: Wakecastlefract
Just pulled her out of the garage and the CEL has indeed gone off.
Not overly concerned about the gauge just so long as I know it's nothing dangerous. I'll keep an eye on it (and try to make sure I fill up every day
)
Not overly concerned about the gauge just so long as I know it's nothing dangerous. I'll keep an eye on it (and try to make sure I fill up every day
)
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