Please help me... My gauge is lame

[mysvxrocks]

So I had 1/2 a tank of gas, and about 5 minutes later I see this...



So wtf is the deal with it. Its not just now happening, its been like this since I bought the car. Once it goes all the way down like that, it goes back up to 1/4 tank, then back down to that. I dont see a gas light at any time... But Ive seen it come on when I start the car before...

I need to know how much gas I have.... Can anyone help me?

-Dennis

Also, do all SVX's gauges take like 10 minutes to go back up when you fill the tank? In my old focus, the gauge jumps all the way up instantly, and with this car... 10 minutes

[Hocrest]

The sensor for the low fuel light is different than the sender for the gauge.

Fill the tank, reset the trip odometer, refuel when you get to 300 miles, repeat...

[mysvxrocks]

I dont think my car will make it to 300 miles in one tank... Im at 200 right now

[kwren]

Originally Posted by mysvxrocks

I dont think my car will make it to 300 miles in one tank... Im at 200 right now

But you haven't a clue how much fuel is in the tank...



Keith

[mysvxrocks]

So lame...

So the question is, how do I fix it

Can it be fixed at all? Or is it stuck like this forever now? Is there some way to replace the sensor if its bad?

[kwren]

Maybe more comfortable to play it safe!
My gage doesn't work either so I...
Fill the tank, reset the trip odometer, refuel when I get to around 250 miles, I repeat...
I play it safe because I do a lot of freeway "driving", and freeway "parking" and don't want to sit there and run out of gas.
Better to refuel when outside temperature is low to actually get more volume of fuel... In case there is anyone that doesn't already know that.
probably not, but just in case...
Keith

[kwren]

Originally Posted by mysvxrocks

So lame...

So the question is, how do I fix it

Can it be fixed at all? Or is it stuck like this forever now? Is there some way to replace the sensor if its bad?

There certainly is!!!

I am with you, hoping someone that knows will inform us both...
Keith

[Davestone]

My gauge fills up but never gets below a quarter tank. But luckily the gas light still works, however my trip odometer doesn't work. I know this doesn't help anything but.. post count +1

[Manarius]

Originally Posted by mysvxrocks

So lame...

So the question is, how do I fix it

Can it be fixed at all? Or is it stuck like this forever now? Is there some way to replace the sensor if its bad?

It can be fixed, but it will just break again. The problem is that the sender on the fuel pump gets rusty and causes the fuel gauge to act weird. You can replace the sender, but it'll just rust again and you'll have to replace it.

[AndrewR]

Every older Subaru I have owned has been like this.

I drive until the low fuel light comes on, which means on my car that 12L are still in the tank- Plenty of room left to get to a gas station.

On my Legacy I do the same - the gauge needle rests on the empty stop for the last 1/4 of the tank

[Hocrest]

Originally Posted by Manarius

You can replace the sender, but it'll just rust again and you'll have to replace it.

Yeah, it will corrode again. But, for the next 12-15 years it should be fine

[Tim]

I have a similar issue. WHen I am driving my gas gauge will be working, but when I come to a stop the gauge will drop all the way down to the E.

Continue driving and the needle goes back up . It gets worse as the weather gets hotter and more humid.

[subeman90]

not sure how hard this is on an SVX but I have done it to two Imprezas and it is pretty easy to do with normal hand tools and can be done by a noob in an hour or so. FWIW, the one impreza was a coupe that didn't have a folding back seat so it was harder to get at everthing but still fairly easy to do.

I always used sube bucks to buy mine so my fixes were permanent and free!

[WestCoastSVX]

Originally Posted by Hocrest

The sensor for the low fuel light is different than the sender for the gauge.

Fill the tank, reset the trip odometer, refuel when you get to 300 miles, repeat...

+1

Also, the low fuel light IS accurate, so if I push it past 300 miles until it comes on, I always know I have AT LEAST 20 miles to go before I'm in trouble.

BTW, if you can't get at least 300 miles out of a full tank (you don't need a guage to know it's full, just wait for the gas pump to click off) you either drive 100% in stop and go traffic, or you may need to look into something. With gas prices as they are, any fuel economy related fixes are probably worth their costs!

[WestCoastSVX]

Originally Posted by subeman90

not sure how hard this is on an SVX but I have done it to two Imprezas and it is pretty easy to do with normal hand tools and can be done by a noob in an hour or so. FWIW, the one impreza was a coupe that didn't have a folding back seat so it was harder to get at everthing but still fairly easy to do.

I always used sube bucks to buy mine so my fixes were permanent and free!

Care to try it on the SVX and write up a How To?