Fuel Guage Accuracy

[celica_xr9145]

Over the last week ive been having problems with my fuel guage.

Basically, the needle can be below the line and the light wont come on, it comes on if you brake hard or go up/down a hill but when stopped on a flat surface for a few minutes the needle is below the line without a warning light.
The needle does work because when i put in $20 it goes up.
I dont even know how far i can go, i put in a quarter of a tank and 60km later, the needle is below the line.

Problem is i dont know how far i can go on it, dont have a clue how much fuel is in there. I will post up a pic tomorow.

Havent got no money what so ever to buy new parts at the moment so just needing ideas of what it could be, its really annoying!!!!

Many Thanks

[RomanV]

The fuel sloshes around in the bottom of the tank when it's really low, which is why hard braking etc affects the reading.

There's an easy way to find out how far you can go.

1. Drive around.
2. Run out of gas
3. Note down how far down the needle is, and how long you've been on the gas light for.
4. Make a mental note that you probably should have brought a gas can along with you before trying this.

[celica_xr9145]

The fuel sloshes around in the bottom of the tank when it's really low, which is why hard braking etc affects the reading.

There's an easy way to find out how far you can go.

1. Drive around.
2. Run out of gas
3. Note down how far down the needle is, and how long you've been on the gas light for.
4. Make a mental note that you probably should have brought a gas can along with you before trying this.

yea my dad also mentioned that but problem is the light doesnt come on very often even if the needle is below the line which is annoying.

[Alex B]

My car seems to run for ages with needle below the line. Just run it around in town, take a little jerry can of fuel around with you and wait until the car stops, pretty simple really.

[tsoob]

put more gas in when this starts to happen?

[Boosted_162]

put more gas in when this starts to happen?

Your so on to it Nick! But your completely right

[sergei]

On my GT4 I can make light come on at half of the tank, just by going hard left up hill.

[matt dunn]

When they build cars they dont want them to run out of gas,
so there is usually quite a bit left once you get to E, and can take a bit for the light to come on.

Light will flash occasionally, then even lower will come on and stay on.
Some cars can get 50km or more once the light comes on solid before they stop.

Diesil hilux's though, get to E, and they stop. lol

[celica_xr9145]

thats good to hear then, i just dont remember it being like that before but if its normal thats ok then.

I will get a petrol can to see how far i can go on it

[eViLoNe]

Accuracy in these things is weird.

My ST185 for example, gets a lot lower on the gauge before the light even starts blinking, but my ST184, you can be JUST under quarter and itll start blinking annoyingly at you.

As people have mentioned though, take a little jerry can with you, and let it run out of fuel. That way you'll be able to see how far you can go, and also if the light suddenly comes on solid.

[Emperor]

Forester fuel light came on with about 10 litres still in the tank....

Havent tested stagea yet..

[sergei]

Well, on ae101 I get about 5-8L out of where the fuel gauge stops moving down. The light comes on permanently about 10-12L.
On ST165, I get about 15L left when the light comes on permanently, the needle hits bottom at about 10L left.
On ST205 is very similar to ST165.
Needless to say when the needle is below E and stopped moving you still get about 70-100Km of fuel depending on driving (applies to all my vehicles).
But I don't use the gauge to judge how much fuel. Gauge is just a reminder to look at the trip meter.
My fuel consumption is very consistent, and I can estimate distance I will do out fuel tank. I get about 62L out of 68L tank on GT4 almost on every fill up.
My closest to stop was 68L exactly, the car was cutting out at that stage.

[jakesae101]

my ae85s gauge would change direction with corners my ae101 and ae92 anything under 1/4 tank the light can come on if i corner hard then it will go off again

[deaf_rattle]

just fill up, drive 100km and then fill up.
then you know your litres per 100kms
then work off your odometer, done!

[Bling]

^^ Good plan. Or if you're that worried about how much is left don't let it drop below 3/4

My fuel guage is a rebel and varies when the light comes on depending on its mood.

[celica_xr9145]

just fill up, drive 100km and then fill up.
then you know your ks per 100kms
then work off your odometer, done!

thats a brilliant idea, when i fill up next i will definetly try that.

Many Thanks

[Dragger_Dan]

My old ute had no resistance on the fuel gauge needle - go over a bump and it would bounce up and down as waves formed in the tank