Fuel gauge acting odd

[-crookedtail-]

I filled up yesterday and when I got back in the car the gauge didn't go all the way to the top, it went in-between three quarters and full. I then picked up my mate, who has a drive way on a steep slope admittedly, and once started again and back out on the road the fuel gauge was reading half full.

I did a restart and drove on for a bit at which point the gauge started to act normally again, most bizarre!

Now it looks like the fuel sender going on the blink is quite a common issue with these 9-3ss, now it doesn't seem the part is too expensive but you have to drop the tank and I cannot be buggered with that over winter. Mine may very well be fine for a while but if anyone else who has experienced noticed similar issues, is that how it starts and is a sign that the sender is on its way out?

I'm going to leave it anyway until the weather gets nice again and just hope the gauge will be okay now, if not I'll just run from the trip distance each time.