Fuel Tank / Fuel Gauge Problem - LotusTalk

Dave M. · 06-10-2008, 02:14 PM

My 2006 Elise seems to be thinking that the gas tank is empty when in fact there seems to be .75 of a gallon left in the tank. The tank holds 10.6. The warning comes on at 1.3. For the first 18 months whenever I filled up it took an amount of fuel that made sense. In the last 6 months the car has stopped running twice, both times when I was sitting with the engine running for 5 or 10 minutes. (which I don't normally do) It acted like it ran out of gas. Both times I put half a gallon in the tank and it started right back up and I drove less than a mile to a station. Both times it took only 9.2 to fill up. This means a variance of roughly .75 to 1 gallon. It did not do this before. Whenever I filled it up it took what I was expecting it to take.

For the past 6 months when the 1.3 comes on, at around 1 bar, it drops very rapidly to nothing, usually within 10 miles. At 1.3 I would expect to be able to go another 35 miles or so. The way the fuel gauge is acting it also seems to be thinking the tank is empty when there is still around .75 in the tank.

This has nothing to do with the miles per gallon. This has held steady at 27 - 28.

Comments?

Chili Red · 06-10-2008, 02:40 PM

What year is your car?

charliex · 06-10-2008, 03:21 PM

Its not that accurate, the cluster also averages out the fuel level and can take a short while to change. inclines also make it read off, but then it usually doesn't start if the fuels low and its parked on a sideways tilt.

chotto · 06-10-2008, 06:08 PM

Open your tank and bend your float arm a bit.

kverges · 06-11-2008, 07:01 AM

the tanks has to come out to get the pump/sender module out and I am pretty sure you will destroy the module removing it because it fits too tightly in the tank. I'd frankly treat the situation as part of the charm of the car

ChrisH · 06-11-2008, 09:47 AM

This type of problem is common in many cars (such as my 96 Chrysler minivan and my 98 Honda Accord). It is not unique to Lotus. Generally people don't notice because they don't let their tank run that low on gas very often.

06-10-2008, 02:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dave M. Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1	Fuel Tank / Fuel Gauge Problem My 2006 Elise seems to be thinking that the gas tank is empty when in fact there seems to be .75 of a gallon left in the tank. The tank holds 10.6. The warning comes on at 1.3. For the first 18 months whenever I filled up it took an amount of fuel that made sense. In the last 6 months the car has stopped running twice, both times when I was sitting with the engine running for 5 or 10 minutes. (which I don't normally do) It acted like it ran out of gas. Both times I put half a gallon in the tank and it started right back up and I drove less than a mile to a station. Both times it took only 9.2 to fill up. This means a variance of roughly .75 to 1 gallon. It did not do this before. Whenever I filled it up it took what I was expecting it to take. For the past 6 months when the 1.3 comes on, at around 1 bar, it drops very rapidly to nothing, usually within 10 miles. At 1.3 I would expect to be able to go another 35 miles or so. The way the fuel gauge is acting it also seems to be thinking the tank is empty when there is still around .75 in the tank. This has nothing to do with the miles per gallon. This has held steady at 27 - 28. Comments?

06-10-2008, 02:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Chili Red Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 2,197	What year is your car? __________________ 2007 Exige S - Chili Red 2009 Mini Cooper S - Chili Red Gotham 265, Nitron Sport Pro, Moroso oil pan, RTVBrace, Volk CE28N/R888, Cup Wheels/A048, 2Bular Ultra 4", Rapfix II w/ Sparco P300, S111 CF Splitter, Ultradiscs, Pagid RS42, V-Force Harness Bar, Schroth PROFI II, Fire Extinguisher, Folding Tow Hook, Odyssey PC680, re-ENFORCER, LLumar 30% tint, Traqmate, DashDAQ, Chasecam, Alpine IVA-D100 w/ Backup Camera.

06-10-2008, 03:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
charliex OSX Black hat Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Las Vegas , NV Posts: 9,935	Its not that accurate, the cluster also averages out the fuel level and can take a short while to change. inclines also make it read off, but then it usually doesn't start if the fuels low and its parked on a sideways tilt. __________________ Black Exige S - http://goth.am 265 Mule / Elan M100.ECU Tuning, http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39660 West Coast Lotus Meet - Las Vegas - November 6-9 2009 http://www.westcoastlotus.com/

06-10-2008, 06:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
chotto vv My Awesome Wife vv Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 917	Open your tank and bend your float arm a bit. __________________ 2005 SY-BWR Supercharger, Challenger Grill, AreaP single tip exhaust, Ohlin Double Adjustables, RTDbrace, Custom Kirkey 58 Series seats, Schroth 6 pt. harnesses, Multivex mirrors, Odyssey PC625 battery, Micromirror, HID's, V2arms, Sparco removeable steering wheel, 15"/16" Rota's with RA-1's, Pagid RS 4-2 pads, Cup airbox, Saikou Michi catch cans

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06-11-2008, 07:01 AM	#5 (permalink)
kverges Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 902	the tanks has to come out to get the pump/sender module out and I am pretty sure you will destroy the module removing it because it fits too tightly in the tank. I'd frankly treat the situation as part of the charm of the car

06-11-2008, 09:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
ChrisH Mountain Road Nut Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ramona,CA Posts: 2,283	This type of problem is common in many cars (such as my 96 Chrysler minivan and my 98 Honda Accord). It is not unique to Lotus. Generally people don't notice because they don't let their tank run that low on gas very often.

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