volvo 440/460 - faulty fuel gauge

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What do you think of Elon Musk? Have your say | No thanks
View Threaded
Sun 18 Apr 2010 10:52
volvo 440/460 - faulty fuel gauge - tutor52

fuel gauge not working. The needle doesn't move with ignition on or off. I only picked it up yesterday so haven't had chance to familiarise yet.

Can anyone suggest the obvious places to look?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 18 Apr 2010 11:30
volvo 440/460 - faulty fuel gauge - Peter D

Was this from a dealer, if so take it back. Could be a fualty sender in the fuel tank or a cabling issue. Regards Peter

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 18 Apr 2010 11:36
volvo 440/460 - faulty fuel gauge - tutor52

No - if it had been a dealer I certainly would.

I have a Ford Scorpio which cooked its engine on wednesday night and, living in the wilds of Norfolk, being without a car isn't an option. The Volvo was the first I could find quickly and cheaply and overall it is pretty good. Just few minor niggles and this is one.

I just wondered if there are specific areas where these are prone to problems with fuel gauges?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 18 Apr 2010 13:42
volvo 440/460 - faulty fuel gauge - Peter.N.

If you can get to the sender unit, they often have an access panel under the back seat, if it only has one connection, earth it, this should give a full reading if its a standard set up, if it does the sender is faulty if not the gauge/wiring is. I have even known the tank to become insulated from the chassis - assuming its a metal one.

Edited by Peter.N. on 18/04/2010 at 13:43

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 18 Apr 2010 14:29
volvo 440/460 - faulty fuel gauge - tutor52

Update - having driven it a bit more I've now realised that the temp gauge isn't working either. I obviously need a wiring diagram!!

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 19 Apr 2010 11:36
volvo 440/460 - faulty fuel gauge - Simoncelli58

I'll bet they are both on the same fuse ! Have you checked the fuse panel ? Fuse may be ok just a little corroded-take it out and put it back in again ?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 19 Apr 2010 14:58
volvo 440/460 - faulty fuel gauge - tutor52

I've found a wiring diagram on-line and they appear to share the same fuse as a number of warning lights which I know are working (at least they show when I first turn on the ignition so I assume they are working). However, the temp and fuel gauges are fed from the fuse, through a voltage regulator. So I'm guessing it is the voltage regulator failed or a lead off this.

Anyone know where this is hidden?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link