Domo-kun
08-08-2011, 10:11 PM
Hi guys,
My EP3 is acting funny lately. The fuel gauge has become COMPLETELY unreliable recently, like varying by 1/4 tank or more. It's sorta like how being on a hill/slant can mess with it, only a hundred times worse. Over the course of a 15-mile drive, I can watch it drop by more than 1/4 tank. I've even watched it move back up. It changes fast (relatively speaking) and dramatically.
As for mileage itself, I used to always get an easy 300 miles or more out of a tank, like clockwork. Now it can hit halfway at barely 100 miles, and be at the E after 270, 250, sometimes just 230 miles. I've never run it dry, so I can't be certain how accurate that is. Plus, when I started calculating the mpg at the pump recently (the proper way), I'm still averaging around 29-30 mpg (although it may be dropping - not sure yet). But that still makes me think the gauge itself is the problem, and not something in the fuel system. Is that even possible? Do gauges go bad?
I have 124K miles, all stock except a K&N intake. New O2 sensor, new cat, fresh oil, always good gas, proper tire pressure, no funny sounds or smells, no codes or check engine lights, and the car feels fine to me.
Still, it's unbelievable stressful driving around staring at the gauge, uncertain of your own gas tank, where next thing you know...bam, it's on a free-fall to empty. I drive this thing a lot, and depend on it heavily.
Can anyone provide any insight, advice or suggestions? Any normal stuff I should do? Spark plugs? Fuel filter? That sort of thing? I've talked to two mechanics now, both sounded confused as to what to recommend.
Thanks everyone!
My EP3 is acting funny lately. The fuel gauge has become COMPLETELY unreliable recently, like varying by 1/4 tank or more. It's sorta like how being on a hill/slant can mess with it, only a hundred times worse. Over the course of a 15-mile drive, I can watch it drop by more than 1/4 tank. I've even watched it move back up. It changes fast (relatively speaking) and dramatically.
As for mileage itself, I used to always get an easy 300 miles or more out of a tank, like clockwork. Now it can hit halfway at barely 100 miles, and be at the E after 270, 250, sometimes just 230 miles. I've never run it dry, so I can't be certain how accurate that is. Plus, when I started calculating the mpg at the pump recently (the proper way), I'm still averaging around 29-30 mpg (although it may be dropping - not sure yet). But that still makes me think the gauge itself is the problem, and not something in the fuel system. Is that even possible? Do gauges go bad?
I have 124K miles, all stock except a K&N intake. New O2 sensor, new cat, fresh oil, always good gas, proper tire pressure, no funny sounds or smells, no codes or check engine lights, and the car feels fine to me.
Still, it's unbelievable stressful driving around staring at the gauge, uncertain of your own gas tank, where next thing you know...bam, it's on a free-fall to empty. I drive this thing a lot, and depend on it heavily.
Can anyone provide any insight, advice or suggestions? Any normal stuff I should do? Spark plugs? Fuel filter? That sort of thing? I've talked to two mechanics now, both sounded confused as to what to recommend.
Thanks everyone!