Fuel Gauge Bouncing Three Times

1. HD7 Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2013 Plymouth Posts: 388 '99 Golf GT TDi

   #1 8th March 2013, 18:22

   Basically switch the ignition on, fuel light comes on, then the needle goes from empty to full three times then stays at empty.
   
   I've searched but a bit unsure of what they are referring to?
2. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #2 8th March 2013, 18:28

   Faulty fuel pump sender.
3. HD7 Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2013 Plymouth Posts: 388 '99 Golf GT TDi

   #3 8th March 2013, 18:34

   Is that in the bottom of the tank? How is it fitted without wasting fuel.
   
   I have noticed it is intermittent. Sometimes it will do this thing. Other times it will show about a half, others it will sit at low with the fuel light on.
   
   Is this definitely the sender as money is very tight as I've just done insurance and tax?
4. user_57844 Infrequent Poster Joined: Mar 2012 llanharan Posts: 178 saxo furio c2 gt conversion

   #4 11th March 2013, 09:30

   well mine had them same problem apart from it bounced 3 times and then just sat at bottom with no light after asking around on here i bought a set of clocks and problem solved
5. user_39461 Super Moderator Joined: Nov 2009 Cambridge(ish), UK. Posts: 10581 BMW 5x M50d.

   #5 11th March 2013, 10:06

   yes it's 100% the sender (or senders earthing). Known issue, and covered a fair bit. If you search, there's even a guide on how to check it, then replace the earth to the sender if needed.
6. D4NNY-801 Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 165 Saxo VTR

   #6 11th March 2013, 17:31

   Mine did that, but pump was nackered aswell so i got a 2nd hand pump for £30 and linked the green wire from the pump/senda unit to a mounting under the seat to earth it out as the earth breaks in the clock
7. user_36974 Frequent Poster Joined: Aug 2009 Manchester Posts: 570 Mercury Grey VT?

   #7 11th March 2013, 18:11

   mine did this.. was the sender. changed the pump and its all good.
8. HD7 Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2013 Plymouth Posts: 388 '99 Golf GT TDi

   #8 11th March 2013, 19:15

   There were two earth wires, both when earthed made my gauge right. Wired them up properly, was working for a bit, now stopped again. Everything is tight and connected so can't see the problem. It was reading correctly all day until I did this haha! But its been crap for the last few days so it has to be done.
   
   I read in the haynes that aren't the pump and sender one unit? I'm gonna grab one tomorrow and chuck it in.
   
   I also cleaned up the earth under the dash on the passenger side, I read that can make a difference? I did and it had no effect.
9. D4NNY-801 Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 165 Saxo VTR

   #9 11th March 2013, 19:34

   Yeah pump and sender is one unit. Yellow wire is earth for the pump and green wire is earth for the sender
10. HD7 Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2013 Plymouth Posts: 388 '99 Golf GT TDi

    #10 11th March 2013, 19:42

    I mean they were both yellow/green. Earthed both of them properly regardless but one was thicker than the other.
11. dan-sport Infrequent Poster Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 236

    #11 11th March 2013, 20:19

    mine did this disconnected battery for 10 min then it was sound after an has been for the past year worth a try and is free.
12. HD7 Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2013 Plymouth Posts: 388 '99 Golf GT TDi

    #12 11th March 2013, 20:22

    Tried that too but it didnt work
13. HD7 Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2013 Plymouth Posts: 388 '99 Golf GT TDi

    #13 12th March 2013, 18:11

    Replaced the sender/pump unit and still exactly the same. Double checked my wiring and still nothing?
    
    It acts the same with the plug in as without.
    
    Don't know if it bears any relevance but the pink wire is reading 11.6v and a the blue is reading 2.1v. This is when the ignition is on two clicks.
    
    Also pulled the carpet up where the wire runs out from underneath into the main body of the car, stripped the wires there and tried earthing them but did nothing. By all three I mean the two earth wires and the pink.
    
    Anyone?
14. HD7 Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2013 Plymouth Posts: 388 '99 Golf GT TDi

    #14 12th March 2013, 18:42

    Is the next stage the clocks? If so, what has broken behind there? As I see some people saying that they just replaced the lot. There are a few cheap sets knocking about on ebay for a similar price to the sender I bought
15. Skitts123 Regular Poster Joined: Jan 2012 Norwich Posts: 453 Saxo Mk2 Vtr (sold) 106 gti

    #15 12th March 2013, 19:39

    My saxo did this and it was a dodgy earth
16. Saxjoe Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2012 Northamptonshire Posts: 280 Renault Kangoo and currently saxoless :(

    #16 12th March 2013, 19:53

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by stevo67 Faulty fuel pump sender.

    +1.....
17. HD7 Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2013 Plymouth Posts: 388 '99 Golf GT TDi

    #17 12th March 2013, 21:16

    So everyone still saying dodgy earth or sender, shall I take this one back and get another one? Or shall o get a set of clocks? or what?
18. HD7 Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2013 Plymouth Posts: 388 '99 Golf GT TDi

    #18 13th March 2013, 13:25

    Any ideas? As this is urgent. I did notice last night when I went over a bit of a pothole covered road that the battery light was flickering. My battery needs replacing anyway, could this be a likely cause? Why does it do the same thing when its plugged in and not? Are those voltage figures out?
19. Skitts123 Regular Poster Joined: Jan 2012 Norwich Posts: 453 Saxo Mk2 Vtr (sold) 106 gti

    #19 13th March 2013, 21:49

    Theres a guide on here to try mate just type in your problem in the search bar
20. gzrvts L-plater Joined: Jul 2012 lanark Posts: 68 Saxo vts mk2 Audi A3 2.0 TDI 170 BHP Sportback

    #20 13th March 2013, 22:46

    Get the new battery in bud.
    
    Like was already stated check for the earthing guide on here.
21. HD7 Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2013 Plymouth Posts: 388 '99 Golf GT TDi

    #21 13th March 2013, 23:57

    Yeah I have earthed it and was still bad. Now it's intermittent but giving varied readings from empty to a quarter, and sometimes doing the three times problem.
    
    Gonna get a battery I think. Payday is in two weeks, fingers crossed it will last til then!