Fuel gauge issues...

Hi everyone, I realise there are a lot of fuel gauge threads on the forum already but most of them seem to get pretty in depth regarding electrical stuff which goes way over my head, so I'm hoping to get back to basics a bit.

A few weeks ago I hadn't started the engine on my S3 for a while and initially the needle on the fuel gauge stayed right at the bottom. Then after a few miles driving I noticed it was working again so I assumed it had just sort of seized up with lack of use. It worked again for a few weeks but now it has stopped again.

As I said I don't have an electrical brain at all, so I have no idea how the gauge works. My main question is: Is there any chance this is something more mechanical and not an electrical fault? Because if not I'll have to get someone else to work on it for the first time since I've done it up which would be a shame...

(Either that or start using a dipstick in the fuel tank...)

Cheers in advance and sorry it's a bit of a mundane thread.

I 'lost' my fuel and temp. gauges a while ago. Turned out it was a dodgy fuse - try jiggling the fuses if it happens again.

the series cars have fuses? i thought it was all run on hopes and dreams?

OK nice one, that sounds like the kind of electrical engineering I can manage. Haven't actually noticed if the temp gauge is gone too. Are they connected and likely to both go down together?

Series three fuel guge is damped so that needle does not bounce as much and takes time to come to correct level.

Check that you have 12V to the gauge and a good earth.

Take the wire off the sender unit and short it to earth and it should read 'full'.

Simple steps for starters, eh!

'Are they connected and likely to both go down together?'
They are on the same fuse, yes.

RobertP you were spot on, gave the fuses a tap and the gauge is now working fine. Nothing like a quick fix haha.
Cheers for the help everyone.