Fuel showing as full tank

[Tippee]

Hi guys, I'm new here, had my first Clio for a couple months now.
Yesterday my fuel jumped from about half a tank to a full tank while I was driving. Now, let's just presume my car hasn't found its own way of refilling the tank and presume that some thing is probably broken. What could cause it and is it an easy fix? I messed about with old two stroke engines years ago and got on alright with it but I don't really know anything about cars but I'll give it a go if it's an easy(ish) task.

Thanks in advance

 

[jesus]

Try leaving the battery disconnected for a few hours, hopefully the computer should reset itself. Or, hold down the button on the end of the wiper stalk then start the ignition, and scroll through the options - one of them will tell you how many litres are left in the tank.

 

[Tippee]

Thanks, I'll go and give that a go in a bit.
Just spoke to my mechanic and he said to hit the fuel pump with rubber Molly and it should free off the sensor. I think I can get to the tank under the rear seats to try that, is that right?
Thanks

 

[jesus]

You can get to it under the rear bench yes

But I have no idea if that would work! If not, I'm sure someone else will be along shortly with more advice.

 

[Tippee]

I had been going down a bumpy country road when it happened so there could be some logic in his idea, if a bump has messed with the sensor, another bump might correct it. Thanks for your quick response. I've got a few other bits and bobs that are bugging me about this car but this is the most important to get sorted right now.

 

[edwarj123]

Fuel fairies? Check the main earth cable, heard of this happening due to that being broken/not making contact

 

[Tippee]

I tried to ask the fuel fairies but they were French, I don't speak French :/
Nice one. I did see that in a post somewhere after a google but I don't know where the earth cable is. Do you have a picture of it or something? Cheers

 

[Tippee]

When i got back in the car earlier, the fuel had gone back down to half a tank and it has since dropped down one bar so it looks like it is working as it should now. Any idea what would of caused it to have a funny turn and then go back to working normally? thanks for all your advice so far

 

[Mr Plums]

Just found this, not much else comes up in search, not too much help but something to check.

http://www.cliosport.net/threads/digital-fuel-gauge.404546/#post-5146031

 

[DrR]

Has it done it more than once? Is it fine now you've switched the car on and off?

 

[Tippee]

In that link it says to pull it out and check it, what am i looking for? is it hard to get out and clean up?
I has only done it once. (had the car since December) yesterday when it happened, i tried turning the engine on and off a few times but it didnt do anything. it looks like it has sorted it self out by just being sat still for 12 hours :/

 

[Mr Plums]

Id leave it until/if it does it again mate.

Its a Renault, wait until you have the problem when you brake and your fog light symbol comes on the dash.

 

[Tippee]

ok thanks for the advice. If it does it again, i may come back to you guys on advice on how to do it. if i can find the panel you unbold to pull the pump out, it cant be that hard... i hope.

yea ive heard about loads of mad problems with them but they are nice cars. i had an engine light come on, mechanic cleared the error. (something to do with throttle) and its run fine ever since lol

its my first car, i love it, i sort of like how erratic it is.... until it starts costing me money. had the sunroof leak fixed but now the sunroof creaks when im driving along. one thing after another

 

[Mr Plums]

I was assuming you had a 1*2.

 

[Tippee]

I was assuming you had a 1*2.

a what?

 

[Mr Plums]

a what?

172/182

 

[Tippee]

oh, no. i wish! i did wonder if this was the right forum but i couldnt see any other forums for boring clios like mine :/
although, its not a bad first car, the alloys are a bit battered and you have to red line it if you want it to feel remotely quick but its a start. my dad had a 172 when they first came out. good fun. makes mine feel so slow though

 

[Mr Plums]

oh, no. i wish! i did wonder if this was the right forum but i couldnt see any other forums for boring clios like mine :/
although, its not a bad first car, the alloys are a bit battered and you have to red line it if you want it to feel remotely quick but its a start. my dad had a 172 when they first came out. good fun. makes mine feel so slow though

You are welcome here mate I didn't mean to come across like a dick, I just didn't want to be giving you the wrong info about your fuel gauge fault, but im sure they'll be the same.

 

[Tippee]

nice one. yea i presume they must be pretty similar as they are all built at the same time, engine side of things will be hugely different i guess. any idea on how to stop the sun roof from making that noise? dunno where its coming from but it shuts up if you open sun roof

 

[Mr Plums]

@Daniel might do mate, hes had about 300 clio's.

Sorry I couldn't help.

 

[DrR]

Id leave it until/if it does it again mate.

Its a Renault, wait until you have the problem when you brake and your fog light symbol comes on the dash.

This is what I was going to say, cars so many strange things, if it only happens once don't worry about it.

 

[McGherkin]

Sunroof creak is caused in the handle mechanism, oil it all up and check there's a bit of foam in there, IIRC it comes up against a small black bar that runs across the handle mechanism when it's closed.

 

[Tippee]

@Daniel might do mate, hes had about 300 clio's.
Sorry I couldn't help.

Thanks, I'll PM him at some point over the weekend.

This is what I was going to say, cars so many strange things, if it only happens once don't worry about it.

they are very strange, I'm quickly learning that

Sunroof creak is caused in the handle mechanism, oil it all up and check there's a bit of foam in there, IIRC it comes up against a small black bar that runs across the handle mechanism when it's closed.

wow, I'm gonna guess you're either a Clio god or you've had the same problem as me lol. I'll take a look at it in half hour, got some WD or some TF spray. Fire some of that on and hope for the best
Thanks for that well reply mate

 

[McGherkin]

Sorry I can't be more help, I sold my 1.2 a couple of years ago and never took any photos. Search on here, I think there's a guide.