Fuel gauge problem

[monkeychops]

When I fill up, the needle only goes to 7/8 of full. I've tried really hard to fill the tank but I can't get the needle any higher. Can anyone help?

car is 02 octy elegance estate

[monkeychops]

I reckon this might just be me then :-(

[jaymd]

Try pulling the pump out slightly when you fill up,or i think the gauge can be set via vag-com.

[reesky]

Yep i have the same problem monkey chops! Mega annoying! I find parking on a totally level surface sometimes helps.

1.9TDI Ambiente estate.

[bk1]

I had this when I got my car in Sep. I also found that guage showed poor consumption (1.8 T engine but only about 70 miles per 1/4 tank), but the computer and a manual calculation suggested mpg was actually ok, at about 33 mpg.

I took car to dealer and they fiddled with the fuel tank sensor; I think they basically did some kind of recalibrating. Since then, I get about 100 miles per 1/4 tank (as I expect), and when I full up, the guage does actually reach the "full" marker.

[cheezemonkhai]

if you look to the left of the fuel filler there is a small plastic thing that when you press gently on it releases some air, which is there to stop the fuel leaks when it expands. If you push this in a few times to let the air out you can totally fill the tank, but if you don't go for a reasonable drive afterwards you may notice that you end up with fuel leaking out when the car warms up.

[monkeychops]

I'll give that a try cheeze, thanks. My feeling is that it's likely to be a calibration error, so when it reaches empty it's not really, rather than an actual drop in capacity of the tank by 1/8th.

[monkeychops]

update: cheeze was right - there was loads of air trapped.

I wish I tried this first though. Instead I ran the car dry thinking that once I'd emptied the tank then the fuel gauge would correct itself. I did about 50 miles whilst the trip computer said 0 miles left b4 running out. Emptied the emergency 5 litre can into the tank but it wouldn't start. Called out a breakdown truck who put 10 more litres in but still wouldn't start. Eventually he found the fuel filter chamber was completely dry and poured fuel into that. That finally got it going much to my relief.

Moral of the story: listen to cheezemonkai and don't run out of diesel, even if you've got some spare in the boot.

[Goochie]

50 miles after the car says zero is useful for others to know though

[monkeychops]

Useful for me too. Not that I'm going to let it get that low again. I generally drive around 55 mpg so it probably represents about a gallon of diesel.