Freaky Fuel Gauge

[fpage77]

Originally Posted by dwoodwoo

new owner here, 2009 Passion. Second fill-up. Saw the same behavior -- 7/8 at the pump. Parked the car on an incline (hilly San Francisco =) and when I started the car next, saw 8/8. Have driven 50 miles. I still see 8/8. Will this right itself or should I bring 'er into the dealer?

Other than that, lovin' it!--

dennis!

It's an annoying quirk but it usually goes away after you've driven the car a bit goes from 7/8 to full. It's one of the quirks with a smart like having to have to replace the blinker fluid and muffler bearings every 2000 miles.

[SmartDigger]

Originally Posted by dwoodwoo

new owner here, 2009 Passion. Second fill-up. Saw the same behavior -- 7/8 at the pump. Parked the car on an incline (hilly San Francisco =) and when I started the car next, saw 8/8. Have driven 50 miles. I still see 8/8. Will this right itself or should I bring 'er into the dealer?

Other than that, lovin' it!--

dennis!

It should start moving at about 60-65 mile. Mine is dead on at the bottom end. Never had a fuel gage that was linear to the tank.

[mrc59]

I use the trip ode to be sure. I wouldn't make a special trip to resolve, but would ask while there for other things.

[Scott216]

I just purchased my Smart Car a week ago. I've driven 80 miles and the gas gauge hasn't budged, it still shows full (8/8). It will be interesting to see when it finally starts moving.

--Scott

[mark08859]

Originally Posted by Scott216

I just purchased my Smart Car a week ago. I've driven 80 miles and the gas gauge hasn't budged, it still shows full (8/8). It will be interesting to see when it finally starts moving.

--Scott

I've gone as much as 83 miles before the gas gauge registers a change.

[mrc59]

Sometimes I miss analog.

[Kermit]

I can normally tell if I'll have a good tank by the first bar. I can normally guesstimate how I'll do.

If I do:
60-65 miles = 36-38mpg
65-75 miles = 38-40mpg
75-80 miles = 40-43mpg

One time I got 100 miles on my first bar and that was the tank I did 49mpg on.

My later model '08 I do have the 7/8 problem but I decided to live with it since it is intermittent and there are times I think if something isn't too broke, leave it alone because it might make it worse.

[mrc59]

Last fill: Went to 7/8 after less than 25 miles.

Fill before: Went to 7/8 at 85 miles.

[Butch]

Glad my smartcenter mechanic knew how to fix my 7/8 gas gauge problem. Goes to full every time now. You don't have to live with it. There is a fix for the 7/8 problem.

[Padawan]

Originally Posted by Butch

Glad my smartcenter mechanic knew how to fix my 7/8 gas gauge problem. Goes to full every time now. You don't have to live with it. There is a fix for the 7/8 problem.

And what does the Repair Order state they did?

If it was to re-flash or "update" the software, that does not completely solve the problem. Neither does replacing the entire pump and sending unit, which others have tried.