petrol gauge

1. 19paul89 Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2010 Solihull Posts: 132 Saxo VTR 1.6 1999

   #1 9th February 2010, 00:53

   hey. just brought a 1999 VTR and the petrol gauge doesnt show how much fuel i have.. when i start the engine the needle bounces around for a few seconds but then stays at empty... today it caught me out and i ran outta fuel then my car hasnt started since ( i have put petrol in since! )
   
   just wondering if any knows if it could be a faulty gauge or faulty wiring or what ever... also is this easy enough to fix or cheap enough to have it fixed?
   
   thanks
2. Merrick L-plater Joined: Jan 2010 Wolverhampton Posts: 77 Posi VTR Mk2

   #2 9th February 2010, 01:12

   How much petrol did you put in after you ran out? if you only put abit in, the engine is likely just sucking in all the shit from the bottom of your tank which is why its struggling to start, try putting a good 10 litres+ in.
3. johnyh Infrequent Poster Joined: Jan 2010 Shropshire Posts: 127 Corsa VXR Arctic

   #3 9th February 2010, 01:29

   should start with enough fuel in as its automatic bleeing...
4. user_23168 Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2008 N. Ireland Posts: 576 BMW 328i Coupe with M3 diff

   #4 9th February 2010, 09:00

   The petrol gauge problem is probably a faulty fuel sender unit.
   
   If you run the tank empty then the fuel filter is probably clogged up with all the gack from the bottom of the tank...a new filter should do the trick.
5. 19paul89 Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2010 Solihull Posts: 132 Saxo VTR 1.6 1999

   #5 9th February 2010, 13:03

   thanks for your help.. engine is running fine now.. i just needed more petrol than one green can! and yeah it is a faulty sender unit