Faulty Fuel Gauge??

1. Rusey Newbie Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 13

   #1 15th May 2012, 10:38

   Hi All,
   
   I currently own a 1997 R reg Citroen Saxo SX 1124cc.
   
   Got it free from a friend who wanted rid of it due to engine probs.
   Got the engine probs sorted and it running perfectly. However there is a problem with the fuel gauge.
   
   Whenever the key is turned the fuel gauge goes straight to full, regardless of the contents of the tank!
   The sender unit has been checked, tested and changed and isnt faulty! But the fuel gauge does this every time!
   Would be nice if it constantly filled itself up but unfortunately that is not the case! Plus its a bit of a pain in the butt not knowing how much petrol i have left!
   So my questions are -
   
   (1) Anyone know what could be wrong and how it could be fixed?
   (2) If it is a break in the wiring between the sender unit and the dash, how difficult would it be to change the wiring?
   (3) On a full tank, on a saxo of that age, how many miles i could get per tank?
   
   Any help would be muchly appreciated!
   
   Rusey.
2. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #2 15th May 2012, 10:49

   1st thing i`d do is check the earth point which is (drivers side)where the carpet meets the dash there is a 13mm bolt try tightening it.Other than wiring faults the only other thing I can think of is maybe the gauge itself is faulty.
3. Rusey Newbie Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 13

   #3 15th May 2012, 11:20

   Thank you Stevo, will give it a try! Will let you know if it makes any difference!
   
   Also on a seperate note, recently when going round corners or roundabouts at certain speeds, i get a loud, knocking sound, coming from the front drivers side wheel, and then stops when straight again!
   Any ideas? I know i should have probably had it looked at, but currently havent the money to do so!
   Again, any advise would be mch appreciated!
4. Rusey Newbie Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 13

   #4 17th May 2012, 09:13

   Just had a look at that 13mm nut you said about, it was almost coming off!
   
   Have tightened it up a bit, but need to finish tightening it later as its only 75% done up!
   Didnt think i could tell if it had worked as i only filled her up yesterday, although saying that before i tightened it the needle used to go past the max limit on the gaugue of sometimes randomly stop 3/4 of the way up the gauge! But now every time i turn the key its always stopping just below the max fill point every time whice it never used to do!
   So fingers crossed it has worked!
   Thanks Stevo!
5. Baz Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Nov 2005 Coventry Posts: 17782 Fiesta ST150

   #5 17th May 2012, 09:19

   Just a waiting game then now mate lol, hopefully its sorted
6. Rusey Newbie Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 13

   #6 17th May 2012, 09:32

   Yeah definately hope so mate!
   Got the car for free from me girlfriends auntie as she was gunna scrap it! Had a bit of work to do on it, but when i picked the car up she said the fuel gauge has never worked since she got the car and that was in 2000!
   Said it never bothered her and just refilled it after every 250 miles! But it does my head in that i have to fill it to the max or not fill it at all! Specially if im running low near payday and i have little money left
   
   
   
   Just out of curiousity, do you know, or anyone else know, how many miles i could get to a full tank?
7. FurioAndy Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2012 Newcastle Posts: 517 Saxo Furio Mark 2

   #7 17th May 2012, 11:29

   1.1 45 litre tank iirc? Correct me if I'm wrong.
   
   Depending on how much you put your toe down, you can get 320 miles (40.12mpg) on a tank. This can rise to 440 miles (55.17mpg) from £50 worth of fuel costing the average 137.9p.

   1 user thanked this post: Rusey
8. Rusey Newbie Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 13

   #8 17th May 2012, 11:38

   Nice one Andy! Gives me a bit more leeway if the fuel gauge isnt fixed, so i wouldnt have to fill up every 250 miles!
   Cheers mate!
9. FurioAndy Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2012 Newcastle Posts: 517 Saxo Furio Mark 2

   #9 17th May 2012, 12:15

   No problem mate.
10. Rusey Newbie Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 13

    #10 22nd May 2012, 10:38

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by stevo67 1st thing i`d do is check the earth point which is (drivers side)where the carpet meets the dash there is a 13mm bolt try tightening it.Other than wiring faults the only other thing I can think of is maybe the gauge itself is faulty.

    Right, this is where being a complete novice with cars comes into action!
    I have located said bolt, presming it the plastic type one! I have been tightening it, but its still not done up fully, but as the bold it only softish plastic the bolt seems to be getting a bit mashed p around the edges, even though i have been very careful!
    As the bolt has been shrunk in size, the carpet from around it was able to be pulled away! Now this could be me being a complete car retard, but i saw no wires attatched to this bolt! Is this correct? Please advise!
11. holdawayt Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a

    #11 22nd May 2012, 10:41

    No, sounds like you're tightening a carpet fastener. It migjt be behind the carpet or a little further up, itll be a metal bolt with wires attached.
12. Rusey Newbie Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 13

    #12 22nd May 2012, 15:56

    This is why i shouldnt be sortin my own car out! I havent a clue what i am doing! lol