Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us
Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network
HomeAnnouncements
Discussion Groups
By Brand
BMWChevroletDodgeFordGMHondaLexusMercedes-BenzNissanPeugeotToyotaVolkswagenOther Brands
By Topic
4x4 CarsRVsDrivingMaintenance & RepairCar AudioCollectible Cars
Country Specific
Australian ForumsUK Forums
ArticlesAuto InsuranceBuyingCars & TechnologyMaintenanceMiscellaneousSafety
DMV Resources
Related Topics
MotorcyclesBoatsMore Topics ...

Car Forum / Ford / Ford Focus / May 2005

Tip: Looking for answers? Try searching our database.

Fuel gauge behaving strangely

Thread view: 
Enable EMail Alerts  Start New Thread
Thread rating: 
Martin J - 10 May 2005 20:41 GMT
Hi,
Filled up today (UK 1.8 Petrol 2001 X- reg) and the gauge didn't budge at
all.
Then after starting and stopping the engine 3 times the gauge registered
full.
Drove off and all seemed OK, about 1/2 mile before home at some lights the
gauge just plummeted to zero and that's where it stayed.
Any suggestions
Thanks,
Martin J.
Chris Whelan - 10 May 2005 22:38 GMT
> Hi,
> Filled up today (UK 1.8 Petrol 2001 X- reg) and the gauge didn't budge at
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Thanks,
> Martin J.

There are some problems with the fuel gauge sender. Sadly it is a
single unit that incorporates the fuel pump and replacement means
dropping the fuel tank. My understanding is that this costs
300UKP!!! It has been discussed here before so it might be worth
a Google for more info.

It is likely that as the level in the tank drops the gauge will
start reading OK again.

My '99 LX did it once about a year ago. From the information I
found in this ng it was suggested not to overfill the tank. I now
stop on the first click of the filler and it hasn't happened
again... am I tempting fate here?

HTH

Chris

Signature

Remove prejudice to reply

Roarmeister - 11 May 2005 03:03 GMT
>> Hi,
>> Filled up today (UK 1.8 Petrol 2001 X- reg) and the gauge didn't budge at
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>300UKP!!! It has been discussed here before so it might be worth
>a Google for more info.

Yowsa - that over $700 CDN for a sending unit that should cost a 10th of
that.  Somebody is getting ripped off big-time!
GeoffP - 11 May 2005 19:50 GMT
>>> Hi,
>>> Filled up today (UK 1.8 Petrol 2001 X- reg) and the gauge didn't budge
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> Yowsa - that over $700 CDN for a sending unit that should cost a 10th of
> that.  Somebody is getting ripped off big-time!
======
If you can get a fuel pump and sending unit changed for $70 Canadian you
don't live in my province. <VBG>
Geoff
Don McC - 11 May 2005 22:27 GMT
>> Yowsa - that over $700 CDN for a sending unit that should
>> cost a 10th of  that.  Somebody is getting ripped off big-time!
> ======
> If you can get a fuel pump and sending unit changed
> for $70 Canadian you don't live in my province. <VBG>

Well, you SHOULD be able to replace a sending unit for $70,
but the sending unit is an integral part of the fuel pump which
itself is buried in the fuel tank (to avoid vapor lock), so
a replacement involves removing and opening the gas tank.

Modern cars are just not designed with maintenance/ repair in mind.

--
Don

Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are much more pliable.
~ Mark Twain
Roarmeister - 12 May 2005 00:41 GMT
>>> Yowsa - that over $700 CDN for a sending unit that should
>>> cost a 10th of  that.  Somebody is getting ripped off big-time!
>> ======
>> If you can get a fuel pump and sending unit changed
>> for $70 Canadian you don't live in my province. <VBG>

Heh heh, I guess I should have emphasized the "should" part or put in a
smiley.  Don picked up on the it but I can see how I miscommunicated my
message...  :-)

>Well, you SHOULD be able to replace a sending unit for $70,
>but the sending unit is an integral part of the fuel pump which
>itself is buried in the fuel tank (to avoid vapor lock), so
>a replacement involves removing and opening the gas tank.

Exactly.  If designed / engineered for easy replacement of components
happened, maintenance would be cheaper.  I had a 2000 Focus where the
dealer replaced the sending unit under warranty and I didn't see the actual
price of repair. But with labour at $65/hr plus the parts and miscellaneous
fees it should be a min. of $300 CDN.  Even still that's half what the
bloke in Britain is being charged.
JG - 11 May 2005 16:52 GMT
> Hi,
> Filled up today (UK 1.8 Petrol 2001 X- reg) and the gauge didn't budge at
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Thanks,
> Martin J.

I have had similar problems only when I filled up to much. I.e.: putting
a bit extra in after the pump has clicked. All goes back to normal after
a bit has burnt off.

Signature

Anti-Spam Trap In Use:
To Reply Remove "REMOVE" :
Same Rule if you Click "Reply To " :
http://www.mozilla.org/

gandissy - 11 May 2005 22:53 GMT
"Martin J" wrote...
> Hi,
> Filled up today (UK 1.8 Petrol 2001 X- reg) and the gauge didn't budge at
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Drove off and all seemed OK, about 1/2 mile before home at some lights the
> gauge just plummeted to zero and that's where it stayed.

the fuel gauge sender is not an integral part of the fuel pump, although it
*is* attached to it and therefore does require the removal of the fuel tank
for access.  the replacement sender lokks like a small circuit board with a
float arm and a few wires, priced at (iirc) about 20-30 quid. if you want to
be kind to your dealer get it done when the tank is nearly empty. shouldn't
take much more than a couple of hours so find a dealer with a friendly
hourly rate.

hth

Signature

gandissy

Chris Whelan - 15 May 2005 09:38 GMT
> "Martin J" wrote...
> > Hi,
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> hth

My local dealer still insists the sender is not available on its own.
Could you quote a part number or other information that I can use to
show him please?

He is also telling me that it's a 2.5 hour job, needing removal of the
exhaust and undertray, so at 70UKP an hour will still be expensive!

Chris

Signature

Posted using XanaNews version 1.17.4.1
Remove prejudice to reply

Gandissy - 16 May 2005 19:26 GMT
"Chris Whelan" wrote...

> My local dealer still insists the sender is not available on its own.
> Could you quote a part number or other information that I can use to
> show him please?

having checked, it could depend on when your car was built.
if built after 30/09/00 the sender is seperate from the pump
(part no 1318703), before that it looks like a complete
unit.

> He is also telling me that it's a 2.5 hour job, needing removal of the
> exhaust and undertray, so at 70UKP an hour will still be expensive!

main dealer or retail dealer?
my local retail dealer is more like 40UKP an hour. wouldn't
touch my main dealer with a barge pole...

hth

--
gandissy
Chris Whelan - 16 May 2005 20:09 GMT
> "Chris Whelan" wrote...
> >
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> (part no 1318703), before that it looks like a complete
> unit.

It's March '99 so looks like the dealer was correct.

> > He is also telling me that it's a 2.5 hour job, needing
> removal of the
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> my local retail dealer is more like 40UKP an hour. wouldn't
> touch my main dealer with a barge pole...

My local main dealer is about the one place around here that I would
trust my car to! They are not perfect but I've had really bad
experiences with other Ford places

> hth
>
> --
> gandissy

Thanks for your help

Chris

Signature

Posted using XanaNews version 1.17.4.1
Remove prejudice to reply

 
Sign In
Join
My Latest Posts
My Monitored Threads
My Blog
My Photo Gallery
My Profile
My Homepage

Start New Thread
Enable EMail Alerts
Rate this Thread



©2008 Advenet LLC   Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.