Weird - fuel gauge and air con problem

[BongoDon]

Hi Folks,
Had something very weird happen on the way home from work today.

I work in Bedford, about 11 miles away. Fuel gauge shows just over a quarter full. Because the van is hot when I get into it, I stick the air con on three 'bars', and put the rear part on. Bit of a palaver getting out of Bedford (traffic lights and queues), but eventually get out onto the open road. Driven about 7 or 8 miles, and look down to see an empty fuel tank. Crikes! Looking in the rear view mirror I cant see a line of liquid behind me, though the view isnt great (I really should clean that back window!).
Van isnt showing any signs of stalling/going wrong, so I try to carry on, gliding where possible, trying to reach the petrol station that is only 600/700 yards from where I live. Suddenly realise that the air-con may be increasing the fuel consumption, so quickly turn it all off.

Within 500 yards of doing that, the needle starts creeping back up towards where it started.


Has anyone else experienced this? Nothing bad has happened, but it could be a sign of something about to go.

[g8dhe]

It sounds very much like the very common earthing problem on the fuel tank sender, the link with the Air-con is probably down to stray earth currents for the fans etc, especially if you had the rear fan/air-con on.
There is a factsheet here on the problem with the fuel sender http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/member ... sender.pdf

[BongoDon]

Phew! Thanks Geoff.

Being a technical numptie, can I ask if it is important to fix quite quickly? Or is it one of those things to get around to eventually?

[g8dhe]

Depends on how much you like your gauge to work
You might start cursing and swearing when the gauge REALLY reads zero ( well usually, minus quite a bit) and your thinking I'll still get a round tuit.

[BongoDon]

Cheers!

So I can fill her up, which gives me about a fortnight to fix it, then.