Gasoline instrument!

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Bojan - 21 Aug 2006 10:23 GMT

Hello everybody!

I have a small problem with my instrument table in my Hyundai Lantra 1.8GLS.
When I turn off a car, so when no electricity is supply to the instrument
table, I recently discovered, that the gasoline needle won't go down. So, if
I am clear: all needles (speedo- and RPM, temperature) are positioned to the
minimum (to number 0), except the needle for gasoline information shows the
ammount of gas. It means, if the car has been fully filled up with gas, the
needle shows maximum all over again also when the car is not working (and the
key is pulled out).

What should be the problem?

Thanks for all answers,
Regards, Bojan.

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nothermark - 21 Aug 2006 12:23 GMT

If it reads correctly when the key is on you do not have a problem.

FWIW - the one in my 2006 goes to zero. OTOH, I have seen designs
that do not or do so very slowly. The reason is that a fast
responding needle would bounce around as the fuel sloshes in the tank
so the gauge is set up to respond slowly to changes. This averages
out the sloshing.

>Hello everybody!
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>Thanks for all answers,
>Regards, Bojan.

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Bojan - 21 Aug 2006 20:17 GMT

Thanks for the answer. But maybe I wasn't clear enough. The needle actually
doesn't fall slow, it shows the right ammount of gasoline. It just doesn't go
down to zero (0) not even through a night, when a car doesn't work. And
clearly the electric current is flowing through the instriment table. When I
disconnect battery, the needle falls down. Any suggestion or is this
situation OK? I think, something isn't right whit the electricity?

Regards,
Bojan.

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nothermark - 25 Aug 2006 01:36 GMT

>Thanks for the answer. But maybe I wasn't clear enough. The needle actually
>doesn't fall slow, it shows the right ammount of gasoline. It just doesn't go
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>Regards,
>Bojan.

Most mechanical meters use a spring to return the needle to zero when
there is no power applied. If that spring breaks the needle usually
goes to the maximum reading and stays there when power is on.

There is at least one design that uses an electric coil instead of a
spring. Many car manufacturers use this type for gas tanks as it
leaves the needle reading how much fuel is in the tank when the engine
is shut off. It is a feature. I don't know if Hyundai used this type
on your car but it sounds like it.

My bottom line would be that if it reads "right" when the power is on
I would not worry about it. It is handy to be able to read the fuel
level without having to turn on the key.

nothermark

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