Any one had this problem?

Filled my Freelie with £90 of Morrisons finest last wednesday.

185 miles later I noticed the needle had dropped to just above the bottom 1/4. Not sure what point it dropped off.
Fuel comp showing 34.0 mpg, range 171 miles.

Checked for leak - nothing. Checked to see if I had been syphoned - everything in tact.
Filled it up again - just fitted in £34 til it wouldn't take any more and needle went up to half way mark and no further. I understand if the guage drop to bottom regardless of whether there is fuel then the ECU cuts the engine.

Looks like a problem with the sensor so booked in to Dealers on Tuesday 'for a look'....

Anyone else had this problem?

Car has done less that 20k and I always fill it up from empty so its not as if the sensor spends much time on the same part of the 'wire'. I hear to replace sensors is an expensive job - lucky I won't be paying.... There's always a way forward!

2008 Freelander Td4 GS - Stornoway Grey - Now Gone - Sob
2011 Freelander Td4 GS 150 - Rimini Red - in its place - Better x far x 4!!

Never let a tank go nearly empty, and dirt on the bottom will get sucked into the fuel system then you have a problem. Changing the fuel sensor should not be a big job as access I think is under the rear seat in the drivers side. The biggest cost would or should be in the replacement part

I did have a sticking fuel needle but it seems to have cured itself and didn't do it ever time the car was started

Realspeed Ex 2010 Freelander2 GS-e Diesel manual Silver owner

This has happened to me a few times too. Last time, I had a 3/4 full tank, parked up and when I came back, the gauge read empty. I checked for leaks but nothing. There was no way any fuel could have been stolen as the car was locked in the barn during the day. During the next journey of 30 miles or so, the gauge slowly krept up with the range increasing rather than decreasing as I was driving along. The only good bit was the fun that me and the kids had with a sweepstakes trying to guess what the range would go up to (I didn't win!).

Andy.

P.s. Realspeed...this is not an empty fuel tank problem which is indeed a bad thing to let happen, but a gauge problem! Though it does make you wonder if you should drive away being told that there is no fuel in your car!

realspeed wrote:

Never let a tank go nearly empty, and dirt on the bottom will get sucked into the fuel system then you have a problem.

Realspeed

Why will letting the tank get nearly empty suck up dirt, the fuel is taken from a couple of milliemetres from the bottom all the time.

Hi Guys

didn't say that I ran it down until there was only valour only that when I do fill it up it gets brimmed.

Got the car back from dealers - they have recalibrated the dashboard software - apparently its a two stage fix.
This seems to have done the trick. If it fails again its a sensor replacement job which I'm told is about £400 so they won't rush into it. Not sure whether recalibrate means ignore on of the sensors!

For info : the freelie has two sensors in the fuel tank and they compensate for each other to give a 'more accurate' reading.
If the sensor detects no fuel (either in practice or through a fault) in your car then if its running it will go onto limp home mode, if its not then it won't start - regardless of the actual fuel in the car.

We'll see how it goes.

Got a wash and brush up for my troubles so not completely wasted!!

No mention of my expert retro Tom Tom fit either - must look factory!!  There's always a way forward!

2008 Freelander Td4 GS - Stornoway Grey - Now Gone - Sob
2011 Freelander Td4 GS 150 - Rimini Red - in its place - Better x far x 4!!

Had this happen just once.
I'd parked on a steep slope for about 10 mins. The tank was about half full. When i returned the low fuel lamp came on the the range was down to 15 miles. Over the next few miles, the gauge slowly came back up and the range returned.

It never happened again and i assumed the slope was to blame. Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

Sounds like a common problem. The 57 plate SE im meant to be taking delivery of in the near future had a similar problem. I noticed the fuel guage was just over 1/4 full when we started the test drive, 2 mins later the fuel light came on and showed range of 0 miles!! Throughout the test drive the guage was fluctuating between 1/4 and below empty.
The dealer has changed the fuel senders and the fuel pump in the tank apparently and all is now fixed. Lets hope it is!! They mentioned it cost them just over £400 to fix.

Sounds like this is due to the tank shape. Because it's saddle-shaped there is a pump to even out the fuel from side to side and, presumably, two sensors. If one goes down, you'll get a 50% reading.

Pastmaster
Think you may be spot on. I had a similar problem with a R75 diesel which also had a saddle tank.
I parked on a slope overnight and the next morning it wouldn't start because one side of the saddle was empty.
A right pig to restart it Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

Pastmaster is correct in saying there is a level sensor in both saddles and each gives a proportional signal to make up the 100% (Full).

ad210358 wrote:

realspeed wrote:

Never let a tank go nearly empty, and dirt on the bottom will get sucked into the fuel system then you have a problem.

Realspeed

Why will letting the tank get nearly empty suck up dirt, the fuel is taken from a couple of milliemetres from the bottom all the time.

Old wives tale, any muck will swill around near the bottom as will water, as will any water, so you've just as much chance of it sucking it up when full as when empty.

What's the fuel filter for then????? To fix... Disconnect the battery then reconnect. Sorted happy days

I have found other threads that are similar to my problem, but not the same.

A few months ago my fuel guage dropped from full to just over 1/4 overnight. No leak, no sign of siphoned tank etc.
After a couple of days the levels sorted themselves out, end of problem and quirky car syndrome I can live with.

Two weeks ago brimmed tank, and next day levels were just under half after 3 miles of travel. I thought I would leave it and the car will sort itself out when its ready, but it never did. The needle drops when the ignition is off as usual, but can't seem to get it up to where it should be on restart.

Yesterday I brimmed up again, and the needle stayed just under half a tank but within a few yards the car was juddering and felt like it was 'missing'. Today fuel guage still broken, and but no noticeable judder.

I think it will have to go back in under warranty for the wiring or sender unit, but I was wondering if the two issues could be linked in some way ?

Tried all usual remedies including battery disconnection.
Car was only in 3 weeks ago for buzzing / rattling from rear diff  _________________
Gone - 2010 Rimini XS

Mods - just seen Drowned Rat similar thread under Technical - please add this to that thread if you wish. sorry _________________
Gone - 2010 Rimini XS