Fuel Gauge

[thespiceweasel]

HI all

My fuel gauge sticks and takes ages to come up after I have started the car... It sometimes takes ages and I have to tap it to get it to come up... How can I fix it? I don't want to take the whole dash out just to do this.... HELP!! It's really irritating.

Thanks
Steph

[OSL-060]

Steph, giving it a light tap when it acts up, like you said, is about the only way you could fix a sticky fuel gauge without pulling the instrument cluster out. Remember that they are naturally slow to come up (10-20 seconds from turning on the ignition).

Cheers

Jake

[danwalton86VP]

I have th same problem, How do you take the dash out?? Is it a big job?? Because I also hav a problem with the speedo the bar isnt lit at night (when i have my lights on) and it is almost impossible to see what speed im sitting on, how do I fix this??

[jules]

there's a front bit around the instruments you can take out wihtout removing the entire dash. i think you can change the globes this way. it's been a couple of years so i can't remember details but i am betting strongly you don't need to pull the whole dash out to replace bulbs.

[OSL-060]

QUOTE (danwalton86VP @ Mar 1 2004, 08:51 AM) I have th same problem, How do you take the dash out?? Is it a big job?? Because I also hav a problem with the speedo the bar isnt lit at night (when i have my lights on) and it is almost impossible to see what speed im sitting on, how do I fix this??
It's a 20min job max Dan, the globes are located on the back of the cluster. If you live in Qld I'll mail you one for free as I have heaps of spares. Or just grab one from Holden, VDO or a place like Dick Smith.

Job is done as follows:
Unscrew mounting screws from shroud. There are two on either side at the base and two in the ceiling of the instrument cluster (for these use a short phillips head screwdriver)
Pull shroud away to allow access to the connectors for the satellite switches eg. Dimmer Switch, Hazard Switch and Rear Demister Switch on an Executive.Disconnect wiring connectors with care, taking note of where each one came from. They usually have a different number of pins but it doesn't hurt to take note. Remove the shroud.With the shroud gone you can now get the remaining two screws, these are found on either side of the cluster. With these unscrewed you will be able to remove the cluster. Gently and evenly pull it towards you as to not damage the rear connectors.Cheers

Jake

[mickey]

hehe my old gauge used to read full - shitloads over the F, empty getting near the red... frustrating... Red didn't mean "get me fuel soon buddy" it meant "haha that WRX is gonna kill us, so i'll just fart an lay here"

[thespiceweasel]

I thought if I could access the actual needle on the gauge I could spray a bit of WD-40 on it to loosen it up a bit. This needle sometimes stays on E long after I've stared the car. I drove for 5 minutes last night before I had enough and tapped it, then it worked. Failing this, Is there anywhere in particular I'd take it to be fixed? It wouldn't be an auto elec, would it? From memory I took another car I had there and they told me they couldn't fix it.

I know it's a small, fiddly thing but if anything in my life has to be perfect, It's the state of my car.

THanks for your Help!!!