Holden VX - Fuel Gauge?? Is this common?

[Naloor]

I was driving on the Gold Coast today. Started the car and the fuel gauge showed just below 1/4 tank of fuel. Drove about 20km (stop/start) whist at a set of lights the low fuel warning light came on with the fuel gauge line about 1/3 between 1/4 tank and red line, drove about 1 km further and the car died. The "Distance to Empty" reading suggested i had about 28km til empty. Rang RACQ who advised me that i had run out of feel and it was a common to be called out to commodore for this same reason.

I had a VP prior to the VX (which i have owned for about 6 months) and the VP was very reliable.

I don't normally drove on empty, as i always have clients in the car and don't liek to risk it. Normally i fill up at about 1/4 or at the latest as sooon as the warning light comes on.

How can i trust the fuel gauge and is this a common problem. If so how can it be fixed?

Appreciate any replies..

[Tezza_VESSV]

I had some troubles with my VX in this regard too. It seems to be a fairly common problem. Sometime it was OK and then a couple of times I ran out without the fuel light even coming on at all!! In the end I started looking at the kms I had travelled and using that as a guide instead of the fuel gauge or 'distance to go'.

[Naloor]

Yea, good point. I will have to watch the km's from now on. fill up every 400kms

[Azza]

Mine seems to be totally the opposite, when the low fuel light comes on and you go to fill up you'll only get about 50 to 55 litres of fuel in the tank and the bowser pump will cut out.

[Hammer]

depends you might need a recalibration of your fuel sender, or you may have a sticky float.

[mick57l]

vx had a recall called an MRA where the fuel pump/sender unit was replaced, if your car has never had it done it will still be covered by holden. its worth checking out, if not you may have to buy one.

[Redhot_57]

Did the same thing in my VX SS not long after I picked it up..

If i recall I was trying to impress a female 'friend' at the time when it decided to die with 30kms to empty on the dash.... doh!

Dealer fixed it with an updated fuel sender calibration or similar, but the trust was gone forever..

Go see your local dealer, its no biggie.

[nazar]

bummer with the fuel sender....

lucky with my car.....

i know when the fuel light comes on - i got 8 litres left
depending on how or where i'm driving - i always know how far ive got.......

if the sender is faulty, get it fixed straight away,,,,,,, running the newer cars out of fuel does damage to the engine (it's in the manual)

[Drewie]

vx had a recall called an MRA where the fuel pump/sender unit was replaced, if your car has never had it done it will still be covered by holden. its worth checking out, if not you may have to buy one.

Pretty sure the recall was only on the Series 2 VX, I have had my VX SS Series 1 from new and never had any recall and the fuel gauge is pretty accurate, never had any problems with it. I also asked about it on the last service as there has been a bit of publicity in the Herald Sun Carsguide about VX's running out of fuel and I was told there was no recall on mine.

[planetdavo]

Damn this question keeps popping up.....
http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=76154&highlight=fuel+gauge