Petrol Gauge issues

[McIntoshWeeks]

Hi

I've recently bought a 1993 Chimaera. Everything is excellent (touch wood) except that the fuel gauge is horrendously inaccurate. It will stay on "full" for ages and then suddenly drop and the warning light comes on. Being a new kid on the TVR block, is this a common issue? if so is there any way of making it slightly more reliable?!!

Thanks

Antony

[V8 Kieran]

Mine drops fairly rapidly to start with, then slows up towards the bottom. 2 schools of thought: 1 - the tank appears to be shaped narrower at the top and wider at the bottom, and 2 - fill up, go balls out for a while, then concerns for running out lightens right foot

Very serious though - bloody odometer button jammed in by previous owner, and runs out of fuel while still showing between empty and quarter so I try to never go beyond quarter as I just can't trust it and always forget to write down mileage at fill up so can't judge.

Still, can't take a joke - shouldn't have joined etc.... and of course: TADTS!

[McIntoshWeeks]

Hi thanks for the amusing reply! Without sounding like a numpty what does TADTS mean?

[TVRleigh]

I think its They All Do That Sir.

General comment from the sales reps, when trying to complain.

Edited by TVRleigh on Tuesday 12th June 17:09

[ogie]

TVRleigh said:

I think its They All Do That Sir.

General comment from the sales reps, when trying to complain.

Edited by TVRleigh on Tuesday 12th June 17:09

Take the float/sender unit out and alter the length of the rod.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Warning light? Pah! they even discontinued that later on to make the fuel gauge/odo thing even more interesting!

[Don]

Ummm. How shall I put it?

The petrol gauge serves no useful purpose other than to indicate that

1) The car is mostly full
2) The car is no longer full
3) The car is someehere between half-full and empty - time to top up

I have only got the gauge to show full by literally having fuel piss out the top of the tank. I have never run out. Because our (wise and knowledgable) salesman told us that once the needle shows 1/4 left? Fill it. No exceptions.

Its a TVR. They do this stuff. Get used to it!

[Don]

McIntoshWeeks said:

Everything is excellent

The ONLY thing that is "excellent" about a TVR is the GRIN!

I love ours dearly. But I'd be hard put to describe anything about it as "excellent" - other than the pleasure in ownership on a sunny day in summer with the roof down and the V8 burbling. If that isn't enough? You shouldn't buy one...

[Bensonv8]

McIntoshWeeks said:

and the fuel warning light comes on.

I've never seen mine come on

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Warning light? Pah! they even discontinued that later on to make the fuel gauge/odo thing even more interesting!

Oh

When i bought mine from furnhurst, they told me not to go below the little dot just above empty.
i quite often let it get that low.
I believe the tank holds 57L/12.5G.
when i fill up (till i can see fuel in the filler) the gauge reads i touch under full.
The most i've ever put in in one go was 48L/10.5G.
so that should leave about 9L/2G.
But i'm not risking going any lower

[leadfootlydon]

Once when the gauge was showing way too low , I managed to put in 53.56 litres .

I find that a fill up usually requires between 45 and 48 litres.

[DonnyMac]

use the trip.

[convert]

My Fuel gauge has never worked, I just carry a can in the boot, I know the rough range I get out of a tank of Shells finest Vintage, I just make sure I fill up within 10 miles of that figure on the trip meter.

If you want a fuel gauge that works, you'll have to sell your soul to the Devil...........and buy a Porsche.

[McIntoshWeeks]

Hi

I did think about a Porsche as it has always been an ambition of mine to have one. However, went for the TVR because I loved the sound, loved the fact it was British and unusual, loved the styling and finally love the fact that I cant stop smiling when I drive it! Not only that but having watched Porsche drivers get abused and sworn at all, never let out in traffic and generally hated, I decided that they weren't for me. All I seem to get is knowing smiles from elderly gents, appreciative smiles from all others and occasional frowns due to the noise from elderly women! Saying that my wife and I argue about who is going to drive it next!! She refused to give me the keys yesterday as she wanted to drive it first!!!

[Don1]

Jesus. My petrol gauge (touch wood) works perfectly and very accurately. Boot may leak like a colander to make up for it mind...