Dodgy fuel gauge on zaf a

[ultimatezafira]

anyone know what possible causes there are for a dodgy fuel guage on a zaf a, my mechanic says hes gonna check the sender but if theres any other causes let me know so can point him in the right direction quicker :cheesy:

[Autosparks]

Whats dodgy about it? Showing 1/4 of a tank one minute, flashing petrol light the next then 1/4 tank of petrol again?

:lol: if so thats standard :lol:

[AndyH]

Feeling that :lol:

I have noticed a pattern tho - pointing uphill, you have a quarter... pointing downhill, you're on empty. Quite clever really, all I need to do is keep going up progressively steeper hills and I'll never run out :hysterical:

[Autosparks]

The coupe's must have the sensor in a different place then as every time I park at KFC (pointing uphill) the petrol light flashes when I go to leave :lol:

[AndyH]

Left and right tilt has an influence on the bus too... tilt to the left = more, tilt to the right = less.

So going by that and my previous statement, I need to find an off camber right hand corkscrew shaped road and I'll never need visit a petrol station ever again. Woohoo!

[Autosparks]

:lol: oh the fun we could have with vauxhall petrol guages :lol:

Anyway back on topic for you ultimatezafira (http://www.astraownersclub.com/vb/member.php?u=14473) in what way does it not work/ is it dodgy?

[ultimatezafira]

lmao :hysterical: you lot are funny, basically its crap always moving around one min ive got half a tank and the next ive got like nothing at all all the way to zero

[AndyH]

As mentioned, the Zaf fuel gauge is a bit random sometimes! How the vehicle sits on the road has a big influence over it (see my musings above)

I have read of people getting it recalibrated but still having the same problems. To give mine it's due, empty is empty and full is full - it's just everything in between! I've learnt to live with it now :)

Saying that, it shouldn't vary between halfway and zero. Ask VX if they can recalibrate it.

[ultimatezafira]

mine is not just a bit off, it drops from like 3 quarts to zero and stays there for a while then after a couple of miles it will pop back up and read like half, then it might drop to a quarter then empty, just does not seem right for a modern car like a zafira to have such a poo read out

[DrewWhelan]

Mine's the same. Not sure but I heard somewhere it's cos the fuel tank is shallower on one side cos of the flex seven seats. could be true could be bull, but it might explain the gauge changes on roundabouts.

[ultimatezafira]

hmm interesting, mine is doing it in a straight line too

[Autosparks]

Might be bad wiring where the wire from the sender is making abd breaking

[ultimatezafira]

so what do i have to remove to get to the top of the sender?? coz i think its time for some hunting ha ha

[Autosparks]

I guess the zaf is the same as the astra and the senders under a plastic flap under the back seat. The astra back seats probably come out easier though

[AndyH]

I guess the zaf is the same as the astra and the senders under a plastic flap under the back seat. The astra back seats probably come out easier though

If it is in the same place, you can lift up the seat base and / or slide the middle row out of the way on a Zaf ;)

[ultimatezafira]

right ive had a good look and there is no access under the seats, only some wires going through which seem to go to some abs control thing next to the fuel tank, so where do i look now ??

[Autosparks]

There will be 2 connectors there, one is for the ABS sensors and one goes to the tank

[ultimatezafira]

so am i going to have to drop the tank then to get access to the sender

[AndyH]

Just checked the bible of Haynes - yes you have to drop the tank mate, there's no cabin access on a Zaf. Possibly due to the Flex7 seating on the bus... sorry mate :(

[ultimatezafira]

bummer, oh well, gonna have to get me a haynes manual and have a poke around, cheers for looking in ur book.

[montyfox]

Hmmm, some buggers put a curse on Zaf petrol gauges by the looks of it, mines been playing silly buggers fort the last couple of days now !

[ultimatezafira]

right im back here again, time to resurect this thread, ive had it now with the worlds crappiest fuel guage! my car ran out of fuel with my gf driving it today, it didnt even show the warning light, ( as you can imagine i has been getting the ear bashing especially after the police were behind her and she had to get a push from them haha ) im thinking of changing the sender and the guage. does anyone know if you can change the guage or if you have to change the whole speedo cluster ?

[Autosparks]

I'd say it will be the whole instrument cluster mate

[AndyH]

As Mr Sparks says, the whole cluster has to be changed if you need to change the gauge. Although I'd change the sender first if it was me.

[drosey]

Hi, this is my first post - always drove a laguna diesel, now have a Zafira. In the laguna, my diesel gauge was always showing how much fuel was in there, even when ignition turned off. Zafira only registers when I start the engine - is this normal please?

[montyfox]

Hi, this is my first post - always drove a laguna diesel, now have a Zafira. In the laguna, my diesel gauge was always showing how much fuel was in there, even when ignition turned off. Zafira only registers when I start the engine - is this normal please?


Yes, the gauge on the Zaffy only works with the ignition on.

Welcome to the site.

[drosey]

Yes, the gauge on the Zaffy only works with the ignition on.

Welcome to the site.

Many thanks for that! It's gonna take some getting used to - I set off today with just under a quarter of a tank, went about 2 miles and when I turned the engine on again the warning light was on and the needle was resting on empty - it freaks me out when the warning light comes on! I put about 12 litres in and now the guage is showing half full!

The site's great by the way, I've been having a good look around it, found out lots of useful stuff - so thanks again!

[montyfox]

That alright, glad you know now!
These gauges are a bit notorious for odd/innacurate readings, but you'll get used to it.