hi all, i have a `93 ford escort 1.3 & the other day when i start the car the fuel gauge from showing a low level(which was correct reading) "jumped" to the full level on the display & to my dismay has not moved since then. can anyone tell me what might have caused it or better still what i need to do to get it back to working properly again ,thanx in advance ,jezza.
fuel gauge stuck?
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Whack the instrument panel (Gently!!)
Does it drop? I had this problem on a 96 Xantia. The gauge was changed 5 times when the garage admitted defeat.
My needle went straight to way beyond full, every time the ign was switched on, but a tap would return it to the proper level.
I know it's not a proper fix, but may help short term until it is sorted.
Does it drop? I had this problem on a 96 Xantia. The gauge was changed 5 times when the garage admitted defeat.
My needle went straight to way beyond full, every time the ign was switched on, but a tap would return it to the proper level.
I know it's not a proper fix, but may help short term until it is sorted.
jezza said:
You have obviously discovered an everlasting fuel-source and your car will now run forever without the tank becoming empty. You should turn yourself in at your local police station before they arrest you for breaking the laws of thermodynamics.
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I've had similar with a 1991 Ford transit van. The fuel gauge movement on my ford was a bimetallic strip with a heater. Somehow the fuel level float thingy in the tank produced varying current, therefore varying heat, therefore bending the bimetallic a varying amount (varying according to how much fuel in the tank). Seems complex!
I found that the problem was the transistor (possibly regulator chip) on the back of the gauge. replaced this, and it worked.
these chips can fail either open-circuit (no current, so permanent low reading) or short-circuit (loads of current, so permanent high reading).
I'd check this first. Unfortunately, it's a dash-off job!
I found that the problem was the transistor (possibly regulator chip) on the back of the gauge. replaced this, and it worked.
these chips can fail either open-circuit (no current, so permanent low reading) or short-circuit (loads of current, so permanent high reading).
I'd check this first. Unfortunately, it's a dash-off job!