Gas Gauge STILL has problems

Butch · 01-25-2009, 05:51 PM

First time the gas gauge did not read full after fill up the service tech re-flashed the chip.
Worked for a while and did it again several more times in a row. Took it in again for service. This time when I stopped for gas just before reaching the dealer and the gauge went to full.
Service Advisor said they could not fix anything that was not broken as no scan codes showed up. The next fill up the gauge still did not read full.

I will call smart again for service. But now I need real answers to final solve this problem. Does anybody have a concrete solution to the gas gauge problem? I am tired of the long drive to the service center. I guess I could try another dealership's service tech.

Duckhunter · 01-25-2009, 06:22 PM

I know this has been talked about before but how do you fuel?

I do slow fuel(1st click) untill shut off, let fuel settle for about 15-30 seconds then slow fuel untill clicks off again. Should take very little fuel. I have not had a problem getting last bar since. Happened only once on mine. Try different pumps? Last resort could be a mal adjusted sending unit.

Butch · 01-25-2009, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckhunter

I know this has been talked about before but how do you fuel?

I do slow fuel(1st click) untill shut off, let fuel settle for about 15-30 seconds then slow fuel untill clicks off again. Should take very little fuel. I have not had a problem getting last bar since. Happened only once on mine. Try different pumps? Last resort could be a mal adjusted sending unit.

Always fuel it slowly. Tried different pumps as well.

Duckhunter · 01-25-2009, 07:34 PM

My scanner will show fuel level percentage. Try fully fueling the car and have it checked. Autozone or checker should be able to read it for you. If it is not near 100% you might have a sending unit issue. Have not tried it at full and mine is reading half and shows 45% fuel level.

tbone28 · 02-08-2009, 12:04 AM

I have this issue, too. My car is 1-week old now, and I filled up for the first time. I filled "slowly", using the 1st click of the pump....got back in the car, and my gauge read 7/8. When I picked up the car from the dealer, it was 8/8.

Why would it read full last week, but not this week?

Duckhunter - is it safe to top off like that?

On a positive note, I averaged 37.3 mpg on my first fill-up

smark · 02-08-2009, 06:42 AM

Normal, it a Smart thing.

Bum-bling-B · 02-08-2009, 06:47 AM

Mine has read 7 of 8 since new. The last two tanks have showed full - I've never had the car at a dealer except when I purchased it, I had to buy it from them. Mileage is now 6700 miles and I fill every 300-350 miles per tank.

Hopefully it is a quirk that has worked itself out - if not - I highly doubt it'll lead to bad things since the gauge always reads right once the gas is used up, 7 bars and below.

jimvw57 · 02-08-2009, 06:49 AM

They told me to wait until the 4th tank and see if mine straightened out. The 4th tank showed full and been working OK ever since. Of course the 4th tank was on my way to the dealer to fix the problem.

W/B Smartie · 02-08-2009, 07:15 AM

Mine did the same thing, when i brought it home.
When I fill it now I run the pump till it clicks off and then wait a couple seconds, fill again till it clicks off, wait again fill till 3rd click and you're done. Gauge then reads full.
Make sure to leave fuel nozzel all the way in when doing this otherwise you are gonna be really P.Od. at yourself. Voice of experience here.
Later
Rich

smark · 02-08-2009, 07:31 AM

Gauge goes to full after I driven it 60 miles. Then at 80 miles, it goes back to 7/8. It been like this the last 6 months. It also matters on what gas station I use. Sometimes full sometimes 7/8. I know its got gas in it. I just live with it. Its not broken, just a poor design. The dealer can't fix what's not broken.