Title: fuel gauge fault on 2001 2.2DCi
Post by: brian on October 24, 2007, 12:40:10 pm
Hi
I filled up with diesel yesterday but the display does not show all the segments light up as usual but just shows 1 segment light flashing and a small picture of a fuel pump flashin next to it. anyone got an idea what could be wrong or where to start looking?
::)
I filled up with diesel yesterday but the display does not show all the segments light up as usual but just shows 1 segment light flashing and a small picture of a fuel pump flashin next to it. anyone got an idea what could be wrong or where to start looking?
::)
Title: Re: fuel gauge fault on 2001 2.2DCi
Post by: Martin Tyas on October 25, 2007, 09:36:48 am
Brian, the chances are that the float mechanism in the fuel tank (which operates a potentiometer to provide the fuel level indication) has either given up or the float is stuck at the bottom and hasn't risen with the fuel level as you've filled up.
But... before you start panicking that you'll have the fuel tank to drain and remove from the car to replace the float mechanism I'd keep using the car and see if it rectifies itself next time you fill up.
The reason I say this is because I had once run particularly low on fuel and filled up on a forecourt with an unusually steep side gradient only to find that the fuel level in the gauge didn't come up and the low fuel warning (the illuminated fuel pump) was still on. I obviously knew I had a full tank of fuel so reset the mileage trip indicator and continued to run it to the normal mileage I was getting from a full tank... about 550 miles in my case for the type of motoring I was doing at the time (but kept a 5 litre can of diesel in the boot just in case ;) ) and the next time I filled up the float came back up and I haven't had the same issue since.
Martin
But... before you start panicking that you'll have the fuel tank to drain and remove from the car to replace the float mechanism I'd keep using the car and see if it rectifies itself next time you fill up.
The reason I say this is because I had once run particularly low on fuel and filled up on a forecourt with an unusually steep side gradient only to find that the fuel level in the gauge didn't come up and the low fuel warning (the illuminated fuel pump) was still on. I obviously knew I had a full tank of fuel so reset the mileage trip indicator and continued to run it to the normal mileage I was getting from a full tank... about 550 miles in my case for the type of motoring I was doing at the time (but kept a 5 litre can of diesel in the boot just in case ;) ) and the next time I filled up the float came back up and I haven't had the same issue since.
Martin
Title: Re: fuel gauge fault on 2001 2.2DCi
Post by: brian on October 25, 2007, 03:59:27 pm
good idea Martin, I did reset the tripometer when I noticed. but normally on this model when you are down to the last drop of fuel the last segment goes out and then a "service" and petrol pump sign come up where the radio info normally is. this hasnt happend. I have never seen the segment flashing and the little pump as I have described.
still you never know :-\ I will run it as low as I dare then fill up again as you suggest.
cheers
Brian
still you never know :-\ I will run it as low as I dare then fill up again as you suggest.
cheers
Brian
Title: Re: fuel gauge fault on 2001 2.2DCi
Post by: Martin Tyas on November 17, 2007, 06:43:32 pm
Did your fuel gauge reading rectify itself at next fill up Brian?
Title: Re: fuel gauge fault on 2001 2.2DCi
Post by: brian on November 30, 2007, 08:59:08 am
yes, I did as you said and filled it up again and its been working ok ever since.? fingers crossed that it doesent happen again. thanks for the advice Martin.
Cheers
Brian
Cheers
Brian
