I think this is weird, maybe its just me. I need a little input. During lunch today I had to go out to my Jag to use my mobile charger because my cell phone battery died. I turned the keyto the on position, but did not start the engine.When I turned the key on I had about 1/8 tank of fuel, the needle was just above the red. As I sat checking the internet on my phone, I watched the gas hand slowly go down into the red, farther in the red, past the red, and to empty. I said to myself I cant be running out of gas, the engine isnt running, so I didnt do anything. I was there for about 30 minutes. I figured it was just taking that long for the needle to get to its final resting position (yeah I know, but I was preoccupied). Anyway, so when Im done and its time to go back in, I want to make sure this fuel gauge thing is not real so I start the car, it starts fine, but nothing from the fuel gauge, except the amber low fuel light. The needle doesnt move at all. I move the car across the parking lot trying to see if the needle moves based on the position/incline of the car....nothing. It says Im out of gas!! WTF??? Somebody tell me how this can happen? I thought the engine had to be running for the gas to run out.

 

Yes..you are correct, engine must be running to consume fuel...Might be a bad sending unit in the tank..Make sure you keep your tank full until you get it fixed.

 

What happened when you filled up, did the gauge come up as normal?

Maybe it is a tank Gremlin

 

Your gauge is going bad or the sending unit in your fuel tank is going bad.. Hopefully it's your sending unit, that's a much cheeper fix.

 

...or someone w/ ***** siphoning your tank while you sat there and bebopped to some tunes.

 

[sm=insomnia.gif]Wow. I would have had to be a real space cadet (uh oh, dating myself) to let something like that happen right under my nose. I was preoccupied, but that would just be criminal. LOL.

The gauge seemed to work fine when I filled it up. I didnt think to document the actual odometer mileage, I just reset the trip to try and track the mpg. I thought I remembered someone saying the trip wasnt accurate. ??? Anyway, it seems to be registering okay right now.

How will I be able to tell ifits the gauge or the sending unit thats bad?

 

It's a hit or miss..It could read full or near full all the time, or empty when it's full or a little less...keep an eye on it..