Hi all, 2019 Octavia vRS TDI…
Has anyone had an issue with the fuel gauge not working on their Mk3 Octavia?
I filled up with to the brim with fuel the other day and the gauge didn’t move, since then it gradually went down to 0 miles of range and totally empty on the gauge.

I’ve plugged in my OBDEleven which brings up code B103E1B - fuel gauge sensor 1 - resistance too high.

I’ve taken the sender out of the tank to check that the float was fine and all parts were freely moving, which they were.

I’ve also run a test on the instrument cluster to check that the fuel gauge was working - it moves fine.

 

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

4 hours ago, DareVRS said:

I’ve taken the sender out of the tank to check that the float was fine and all parts were freely moving, which they were.

I’ve also run a test on the instrument cluster to check that the fuel gauge was working - it moves fine.

Sender mechanically working, gauge working - what's left?

 

Wiring and sender electrical side. Check the sender resistance changes when you move the float, if that's OK then it's time to check the wiring between the gauge and the instruments.

Does the digital display work?

24 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

Sender mechanically working, gauge working - what's left?

 

Wiring and sender electrical side. Check the sender resistance changes when you move the float, if that's OK then it's time to check the wiring between the gauge and the instruments.

Maybe the sender float is ok with it opened up but is being restricted when being reinstalled. I’ve heard some sender faults before are due to alignment reinstalling the pump and sender basket back in the tank.

4 minutes ago, ords said:

Does the digital display work?

Display in the centre of the instrument cluster is working fine

So bit of a peculiar one…

I checked the resistance of the fuel sender which was fine. Next I removed the sill covers and checked for visual damage to the wiring - all fine.

I took out the instrument cluster to check continuity on the wires from the sender to the cluster - which was all good.

After admitting defeat and putting everything back together, I turned on the ignition and the fuel gauge decided to work!

I must have disrupted something somewhere which has kicked it back into life - fingers crossed it stays that way.

On 01/11/2023 at 11:53, DareVRS said:

Hi all, 2019 Octavia vRS TDI…
Has anyone had an issue with the fuel gauge not working on their Mk3 Octavia?
I filled up with to the brim with fuel the other day and the gauge didn’t move, since then it gradually went down to 0 miles of range and totally empty on the gauge.

I’ve plugged in my OBDEleven which brings up code B103E1B - fuel gauge sensor 1 - resistance too high.

I’ve taken the sender out of the tank to check that the float was fine and all parts were freely moving, which they were.

I’ve also run a test on the instrument cluster to check that the fuel gauge was working - it moves fine.

 

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

 

High resistance can indicate an open circuit so possibly just a bad connection that you have cured by taking things apart and re-installing?

2 hours ago, Stonekeeper said:

 

High resistance can indicate an open circuit so possibly just a bad connection that you have cured by taking things apart and re-installing?

That would make sense as the digital display was working.

22 hours ago, DareVRS said:

So bit of a peculiar one…

I checked the resistance of the fuel sender which was fine. Next I removed the sill covers and checked for visual damage to the wiring - all fine.

I took out the instrument cluster to check continuity on the wires from the sender to the cluster - which was all good.

After admitting defeat and putting everything back together, I turned on the ignition and the fuel gauge decided to work!

I must have disrupted something somewhere which has kicked it back into life - fingers crossed it stays that way.

And when I did a quick google with your fault - there were other people in Mk7 golfs and the like,  who managed to right the fault without knowing exactly what they did but after further attempts at disassembly and re-assembly!