Hi all,

I have been having issues where my fuel gauge is dropping on my 2004 Skoda fabia VRS from half tank to under the red and then back up to half tank again, intermittently. it hasn't done it for a while, but i noticed it does it most when I have just filled up with fuel. 

Recently when starting the car, the car will start for 1 or 2 seconds sounding rough and then die, it will then take around 5 seconds cranking before it will start and then runs absolutely fine for the remainder of the day, starting on the button every time until left for over 24 hours when it SOMETIMES does the same as above, other times starting straight away, its very hit and miss.

 

I have checked the fuel pump under the rear seats, I am getting 11.97v to the plug, and it is showing 1.3 ohms across pins 1 and 4. I tested this as the sender for the gauge and the pump is obviously in one unit in the tank so I assumed the pump was giving up the ghost as it seemed like the car is being starved of fuel, and takes a few cranks to fill the lines again to the cylinders, but after checking the numbers at the pump it seems to be fine?

 

Has anyone else had similar issues and have they managed to find out the issue?

 

Many thanks

 

Lloyd

Hi Lloyd; I'd be surprised if the fuel gauge issue isn't due to a cracked solder joint on the green connector of the instrument cluster.  Relatively easy to reflow (all) of the joints with a soldering iron and some fresh solder.  The other issue I'm not sure about, but could possibly be related to the same thing, if the immobiliser pins of the same connector are behaving intermittently.

 

Reflow them all, and the ones of the other (black) connector and see how you go.

This photo shows the solder joints of the green connector, as you can see, accessible enough (with care) without removing the dial needles or bezel. Various pins are marked on that one, I seem to remember the fuel gauge pin is down at the left hand end as we're viewing it.  May as well just reflow them all though.

 

9 hours ago, Wino said:

This photo shows the solder joints of the green connector, as you can see, accessible enough (with care) without removing the dial needles or bezel. Various pins are marked on that one, I seem to remember the fuel gauge pin is down at the left hand end as we're viewing it.  May as well just reflow them all though.

 

Thanks for sending this over and taking the time to reply in detail!

 

i shall have a look at this , didn’t really give the immobiliser a thought because of the sluggish start when cranking like as if it’s more a fuelling issue, but I will check this out too! 

Edited 4 November, 20205 yr by floydboy1