Hi.

I have a fuel gauge with it's own personality. Firstly, the needle doesn't move from full until you use about a 1/4 of a tank, and you run out of fuel just under the 1/4 or 1/8 mark. I.e. you grind to a halt before you even go into the red. Luckily this has only happened to me once!

Also, it can also show the tank being completely empty when it's not... then it'll jump back up to full the next time you start. The Electronic range figure is also equally messed up.

Suggestions? Does the Octavia use an electronic fuel sensor? Easily replaced or is there anything I can do with a VAG COM cable?

I'm sure that's the level sensor from the symptoms, as long as the other instruments are ok.

I've a wacky fuel gauge too, a 00 1.6 GLXi. Its generally grand until it gets to the bottom 1/4, which it appears to drink faster than you can put it in. Naturally it doesn't but the gauge indicates its going that way. I suspect a bad earth on the sender, just haven't got near fixing it yet. Might be a cheap option to investigate? Apparently its under the rear seat, and easy to get to. I'd be planning on disconnecting the battery before I'd go near it myself though.

I don't know this one way or another, but if the Octy uses a variable resistor to drive the gauge, Dilbert's fault is typical of worn-out or dirty senders, right down to which end goes first!

I'm an idiot with cars so what exactly is the sender and what does it look like? Will I be able to see if it's at fault? If it's the level sensor, how easy is it to inspect?

Heads up lads, my gauge has packed it in too.

The "Electronic" display also reads Zilch!

ConorM, was it the level sensor?

Ken, what do you recomend?

Sorry to bump up an old topic.

Never go round to looking at this. But my annual £2.5k road trip to France becons in three weeks, and car is going in for a service soon.

What should I ask the mechanic (not a VAG garage) to look for?

My faulty item is under the rear seat on the 'off-side'.

Maybe your connections need cleaning.

It's a two minute job, so should not cost the earth.

I'll try that at the weekend!! It's a real pain having to guess that the car will do 350miles on a tank. And on the French motorways it can be 40km between services.... so if you forget to rest the trip.... you are in trouble!!!

Had a look. Lifted the plate under the seat to reveal the fuel gauge unit. There is the connector with four wires coming out of it. I tried to remove it so I could inspect the connections and see if anything was amiss.... but not luck. ANy knack to removing it?!