Fuel gage no reading correctly @ 1,200mi?
#1
Pro
Thread Starter
Fuel gage no reading correctly @ 1,200mi?
So far my new C4S launch Coupe is a blast. I'm only at 1,200mi and ran the tank into the "reserve" zone...was rushing to get to work last night...and when I went to gas up this a.m. afterhaving purchased 5 gallons, the fuel gauge remained unchanged to the degree of counting down the remaining miles to zero....(10 mi drive home). The car sat all day and this p.m. I filled it up...the total gallons jived with tank capacity. Initially the guage showed 3/4 full and within 5 minutes of driving, worked its way up to full. Any ideas or experience with this? It is an 8/08 build and I purchased it 2 weeks ago with 34 mi on the odo. I'd like to trust the gauge/s...all of them. This is my 4th fill up I believe. Thanks!
#2
Did you turn the ignition switch on while the car was being filled? I experienced this with another car and it took a while ( driving for about 15 minutes) before the gauge reached ( showed) full.
#3
This happened to me once before. Coincidentally, I also have an early build (10/08) ordered C4S coupe. I partially filled the tank with just a few gallons after driving to almost empty in an unfamiliar part of town. To my surprise, the gauge acted like I had added no fuel at all -- still showing only a few miles left in the remaining range. It made me wonder if there was a problem with the pump, but I drove back to my usual fill-up station near my house on the other side of town and was only able to add the expected remaining balance. The gauge seemed to hesitate at less than full but then went all the way up to full mark.
Like I said, that only happened once. I now have over 6,000 miles and have never let it get that low again. Not sure if it was just a fluke, but I wouldn't worry too much about it.
Like I said, that only happened once. I now have over 6,000 miles and have never let it get that low again. Not sure if it was just a fluke, but I wouldn't worry too much about it.
#4
Pro
Thread Starter
The ignition was not touched Farher. The scenario was exactly as experienced by mstams. We'll see what happens. Will probably run it low again to check it...if repeats...back to the dealer. Thanks for the input. Anyone else?
#5
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Well, for what it's worth, the current owners manual (2009 that is) says the gauge and the "miles to empty" indication will not be correct after a partial fill. I can go get the exact wording if it matters, but I think it amounts to "Don't do that." Partial fills, that is. Or at least do your range calculations in your head if you do.
#7
Pro
Thread Starter
Fill up understood...now to figure out the homelink programming...
Thanks guys, I guess I should read the manual. That said...any hints to programming the homelink garage door opener. My opener has a rolling code and I DID read the manual on this but still no go. Anyone?
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#8
I followed the instructions in the manual and it worked the first time. I did stand directly in front of the car and pointed the remote at the bumper. Give it another shot, it should take.
#11
Drifting
Ok, so today I had my experience with the dumb gas level gauge.
Drove the car to about 42miles remaining, needle a bit into the lit-up-orange last 1/4 tank region (the message about fuel already cleared). Drove into a convenient but expensive station to get a splash of fuel.
I added about 3.4 gallons. Drove off. The remaining miles and the fuel level needle actually went DOWN. Now I was reading 35 miles left, and the needle was further down in the last 1/4 tank than before.
Hey, I can understand that miles remaining might be thrown off a bit.. maybe.. but why the heck is the needle not reading the right tank level? Why did my 94 VW Golf have a better fuel capacity system than my Porsche 997.2?
I can only conclude that these cars actually have NO WAY of measuring the fuel level in the tank as it goes up and down at all. They must only have a way of sensing that you have filled the tank, which resets the system to full and then have a flow meter that measures fuel leaving the tank so that they compute the remaining capacity and miles based on the fuel you have consumed. That would jive with the idea that the system is inaccurate on a partial fill that supposedly is in the manual.
So, the fuel guage ONLY measures how much fuel you have used since the last FILL UP (or near fill up). Once it gets below a certain point, the car doesn't recognize you have put more fuel in the tank. Methinks thats a bit crazy-stupid, but if the tank shape is really wierd, thats probably the best solution, since metering the actual tank level would be a nightmare.
But it was still a WTF moment to put 3 gallons in and see no improvement on the needle. Very odd feeling.
Drove the car to about 42miles remaining, needle a bit into the lit-up-orange last 1/4 tank region (the message about fuel already cleared). Drove into a convenient but expensive station to get a splash of fuel.
I added about 3.4 gallons. Drove off. The remaining miles and the fuel level needle actually went DOWN. Now I was reading 35 miles left, and the needle was further down in the last 1/4 tank than before.
Hey, I can understand that miles remaining might be thrown off a bit.. maybe.. but why the heck is the needle not reading the right tank level? Why did my 94 VW Golf have a better fuel capacity system than my Porsche 997.2?
I can only conclude that these cars actually have NO WAY of measuring the fuel level in the tank as it goes up and down at all. They must only have a way of sensing that you have filled the tank, which resets the system to full and then have a flow meter that measures fuel leaving the tank so that they compute the remaining capacity and miles based on the fuel you have consumed. That would jive with the idea that the system is inaccurate on a partial fill that supposedly is in the manual.
So, the fuel guage ONLY measures how much fuel you have used since the last FILL UP (or near fill up). Once it gets below a certain point, the car doesn't recognize you have put more fuel in the tank. Methinks thats a bit crazy-stupid, but if the tank shape is really wierd, thats probably the best solution, since metering the actual tank level would be a nightmare.
But it was still a WTF moment to put 3 gallons in and see no improvement on the needle. Very odd feeling.
#13
Race Director
Ok, so today I had my experience with the dumb gas level gauge.
Drove the car to about 42miles remaining, needle a bit into the lit-up-orange last 1/4 tank region (the message about fuel already cleared). Drove into a convenient but expensive station to get a splash of fuel.
I added about 3.4 gallons. Drove off. The remaining miles and the fuel level needle actually went DOWN. Now I was reading 35 miles left, and the needle was further down in the last 1/4 tank than before.
Hey, I can understand that miles remaining might be thrown off a bit.. maybe.. but why the heck is the needle not reading the right tank level? Why did my 94 VW Golf have a better fuel capacity system than my Porsche 997.2?
I can only conclude that these cars actually have NO WAY of measuring the fuel level in the tank as it goes up and down at all. They must only have a way of sensing that you have filled the tank, which resets the system to full and then have a flow meter that measures fuel leaving the tank so that they compute the remaining capacity and miles based on the fuel you have consumed. That would jive with the idea that the system is inaccurate on a partial fill that supposedly is in the manual.
So, the fuel guage ONLY measures how much fuel you have used since the last FILL UP (or near fill up). Once it gets below a certain point, the car doesn't recognize you have put more fuel in the tank. Methinks thats a bit crazy-stupid, but if the tank shape is really wierd, thats probably the best solution, since metering the actual tank level would be a nightmare.
But it was still a WTF moment to put 3 gallons in and see no improvement on the needle. Very odd feeling.
Drove the car to about 42miles remaining, needle a bit into the lit-up-orange last 1/4 tank region (the message about fuel already cleared). Drove into a convenient but expensive station to get a splash of fuel.
I added about 3.4 gallons. Drove off. The remaining miles and the fuel level needle actually went DOWN. Now I was reading 35 miles left, and the needle was further down in the last 1/4 tank than before.
Hey, I can understand that miles remaining might be thrown off a bit.. maybe.. but why the heck is the needle not reading the right tank level? Why did my 94 VW Golf have a better fuel capacity system than my Porsche 997.2?
I can only conclude that these cars actually have NO WAY of measuring the fuel level in the tank as it goes up and down at all. They must only have a way of sensing that you have filled the tank, which resets the system to full and then have a flow meter that measures fuel leaving the tank so that they compute the remaining capacity and miles based on the fuel you have consumed. That would jive with the idea that the system is inaccurate on a partial fill that supposedly is in the manual.
So, the fuel guage ONLY measures how much fuel you have used since the last FILL UP (or near fill up). Once it gets below a certain point, the car doesn't recognize you have put more fuel in the tank. Methinks thats a bit crazy-stupid, but if the tank shape is really wierd, thats probably the best solution, since metering the actual tank level would be a nightmare.
But it was still a WTF moment to put 3 gallons in and see no improvement on the needle. Very odd feeling.
#14
I had the same problem. Homelink folks said I needed a new battery in my opener. I told them the opener worked fine. After trying several times without success I went ahead and changed the battery in the hand held opener and the process worked as outlined in my owner's manual. Try changing the batteries.
#15
Ok, so today I had my experience with the dumb gas level gauge.
Drove the car to about 42miles remaining, needle a bit into the lit-up-orange last 1/4 tank region (the message about fuel already cleared). Drove into a convenient but expensive station to get a splash of fuel.
I added about 3.4 gallons. Drove off. The remaining miles and the fuel level needle actually went DOWN. Now I was reading 35 miles left, and the needle was further down in the last 1/4 tank than before.
Hey, I can understand that miles remaining might be thrown off a bit.. maybe.. but why the heck is the needle not reading the right tank level? Why did my 94 VW Golf have a better fuel capacity system than my Porsche 997.2?
I can only conclude that these cars actually have NO WAY of measuring the fuel level in the tank as it goes up and down at all. They must only have a way of sensing that you have filled the tank, which resets the system to full and then have a flow meter that measures fuel leaving the tank so that they compute the remaining capacity and miles based on the fuel you have consumed. That would jive with the idea that the system is inaccurate on a partial fill that supposedly is in the manual.
So, the fuel guage ONLY measures how much fuel you have used since the last FILL UP (or near fill up). Once it gets below a certain point, the car doesn't recognize you have put more fuel in the tank. Methinks thats a bit crazy-stupid, but if the tank shape is really wierd, thats probably the best solution, since metering the actual tank level would be a nightmare.
But it was still a WTF moment to put 3 gallons in and see no improvement on the needle. Very odd feeling.
Drove the car to about 42miles remaining, needle a bit into the lit-up-orange last 1/4 tank region (the message about fuel already cleared). Drove into a convenient but expensive station to get a splash of fuel.
I added about 3.4 gallons. Drove off. The remaining miles and the fuel level needle actually went DOWN. Now I was reading 35 miles left, and the needle was further down in the last 1/4 tank than before.
Hey, I can understand that miles remaining might be thrown off a bit.. maybe.. but why the heck is the needle not reading the right tank level? Why did my 94 VW Golf have a better fuel capacity system than my Porsche 997.2?
I can only conclude that these cars actually have NO WAY of measuring the fuel level in the tank as it goes up and down at all. They must only have a way of sensing that you have filled the tank, which resets the system to full and then have a flow meter that measures fuel leaving the tank so that they compute the remaining capacity and miles based on the fuel you have consumed. That would jive with the idea that the system is inaccurate on a partial fill that supposedly is in the manual.
So, the fuel guage ONLY measures how much fuel you have used since the last FILL UP (or near fill up). Once it gets below a certain point, the car doesn't recognize you have put more fuel in the tank. Methinks thats a bit crazy-stupid, but if the tank shape is really wierd, thats probably the best solution, since metering the actual tank level would be a nightmare.
But it was still a WTF moment to put 3 gallons in and see no improvement on the needle. Very odd feeling.