Rev counter/Tachometer stopped working

Axidium

Hello

I turned my car on earlier today, no biggie, but my rev counter wouldn't work. The car drove normally, but the rev counter needle was stuck to the bottom. When I got home I turned the car off, waited 30 mins and started it again, and then it worked. Any reason for this?

By the way, it's a 1.3 Diesel car if that means anything.

regards

Axidium

Also to add, when I got the car a few months ago, the oil level as indicated by the trip computer was 52%, now its at 35 and I have noticed that 20 euro diesel wont get me 200km, mixed driving. Does oil play a part in fuel consumption. Now for 20€ diesel i get around 165km.

Bpmull

What's the make model year of the car?

magentis

fiat or opel maybe?

Axidium

Bpmull wrote: »

What's the make model year of the car?

Sorry should of said.

It's a 2011 Opel Astra 1.3 CDTI EcoFlex

Superdedupity

Have you physically checked the oil, or are you relying on the gauge?

Axidium

Superdedupity wrote: »

Have you physically checked the oil, or are you relying on the gauge?

The on board computer says 30%. I didn't check it myself. What are the signs when the oil needs to be changed. I know when its black, but it becomes black a month after its poured in so its hard to judge.

djimi

Axidium wrote: »

The on board computer says 30%. I didn't check it myself. What are the signs when the oil needs to be changed. I know when its black, but it becomes black a month after its poured in so its hard to judge.

Worry about the levels first and check that the computer reading is accurate.

The oil usage and fuel mileage is worrying; Id be getting the car checked over properly if I were you. Youre getting about the same mpg from your 1.3 diesel as I get from a Type R Integra...

Axidium

djimi wrote: »

Worry about the levels first and check that the computer reading is accurate.

The oil usage and fuel mileage is worrying; Id be getting the car checked over properly if I were you. Youre getting about the same mpg from your 1.3 diesel as I get from a Type R Integra...

The car is still under warranty. What exactly will I ask the dealer to check? If I'm honest, even if they do check, I have a feeling they will find a way around it until the warranty ends.

djimi

Go back to the dealer, tell them your mpg is poor and that the car is using oil and let them figure out what to look for!

Axidium

I bought the car 25 Oct 2013. The computer indicated that oil was at 52%. Now it's at 30 as of yday. Before I used to top up by 50€ and get 500kms, 20 euro used to get 210 sometimes. Now it barely gets 170 for 20 euro.

Axidium

djimi wrote: »

Go back to the dealer, tell them your mpg is poor and that the car is using oil and let them figure out what to look for!

I have it booked in for Friday morning to check the tachometer so I'll mention it then. Thanks for the advice.

Axidium

Checked the oil manually.

Here's a pic.

Superdedupity

Have you filled the car with fuel from fuel light just on, noted the litres filled and price paid, zero trip meter, drive as usual until light comes on, fill and repeat to get, at least an approx mpg figure. You're only guessing.

And cars use oil, and it's your responsibility to check it. Not being preachy but driving a car with low oil will cause damage, now or later.

I'd still head back To the dealer regarding your rev counter and try and get an oil top up free;)

Axidium

Superdedupity wrote: »

Have you filled the car with fuel from fuel light just on, noted the litres filled and price paid, zero trip meter, drive as usual until light comes on, fill and repeat to get, at least an approx mpg figure. You're only guessing.

And cars use oil, and it's your responsibility to check it. Not being preachy but driving a car with low oil will cause damage, now or later.

I'd still head back To the dealer regarding your rev counter and try and get an oil top up free;)

As soon as the reserve light comes on, I go to the nearest petrol station and fill up. Then I reset the trip meter and see from there. For example, last time I topped up 10€ just to see how far it will go, done all of the above and just as I came in the door a couple of mins ago the reserve went on at 85kms.

I had a 1.8 petrol Mondeo before, and that did 30 approx on 10 euro.

Mycroft H

Axidium wrote: »

As soon as the reserve light comes on, I go to the nearest petrol station and fill up. Then I reset the trip meter and see from there. For example, last time I topped up 10€ just to see how far it will go, done all of the above and just as I came in the door a couple of mins ago the reserve went on at 85kms.

I had a 1.8 petrol Mondeo before, and that did 30 approx on 10 euro.

That's woeful mileage out of that Mondeo. That's only about 20mpg.

djimi

I find using small amounts of fuel to be somewhat inaccurate when calculating mpg. €10 isn't very much, depending on how far into the reserve you have already driven.

Do the same test with €40+ fill ups, repeat it a few times and see how you get on from there.

Axidium

djimi wrote: »

I find using small amounts of fuel to be somewhat inaccurate when calculating mpg. €10 isn't very much, depending on how far into the reserve you have already driven.

Do the same test with €40+ fill ups, repeat it a few times and see how you get on from there.

I did before. Did 50€ twice and it done 500kms, topped up 50€ again and it did 470kms. According to whatcar website, a full tank should do 889 miles.

Axidium

Mycroft H wrote: »

That's woeful mileage out of that Mondeo. That's only about 20mpg.

Tell me about it. It was dreadful. I wasted so much money on petrol in that car. It was my first car too.

10€ always got around 30 miles, sometimes as low as 23 depending how I drove.
20€ always got around 65 miles.

I loved the car though, comfortable, great handling car, never had problems with it.

Wouldn't recommend it as a first car though. Wastes too much petrol.