Why hasn't the fuel gauge gone up after refueling? What are the reasons?
2 Answers
There are several reasons why the fuel gauge hasn't gone up after refueling: 1. Pointer sticking: This is caused by poor wire contact, not the needle touching the dial. Check for loose connections at terminals and sensor resistance coils, as well as broken wires. Irregular pointer swings are caused by loose or misaligned sensor resistance coils. If the contact arm is deformed and loses its spring force pressing against the resistance coil, remove the sensor for inspection and repair. If the resistance coil wire is broken or components are damaged, replace the sensor. 2. Float arm bending: Damaged wire insulation or loose coil fixing screws causing coil displacement. Straighten the float arm, replace damaged connecting wires, and readjust the fuel gauge.
I've been driving for many years and have encountered situations where the fuel gauge doesn't move after refueling. There could be several reasons for this. The most common is that the float in the fuel tank gets stuck, much like a buoy in a water cup. It should move up and down with the fuel level, but dirt or debris might cause it to stay in one position. Another possibility is a faulty sensor, especially in vehicles with electronic gauges—if the sensor fails, the signal won't reach the gauge. Electrical issues are also common, such as a blown fuse or poor wiring contact, which can cause the entire system to fail. The dashboard itself might be malfunctioning due to aging, leading to inaccurate readings. My advice is not to panic—turn off the engine, wait a few minutes, and restart it, as sometimes the system just responds with a delay. If that doesn’t work, try checking the corresponding fuse in the fuse box or gently tapping the outside of the fuel tank to see if the float can loosen. Never continue driving with an inaccurate fuel gauge, as it might mislead you about the fuel level and cause you to run out of gas. It's best to have a professional inspect the entire fuel system and gauges. Also, avoid overfilling the tank during refueling, as excessively high fuel levels can damage the float. Regularly cleaning the fuel tank can also help prevent such issues.
