# Follow the Bouncing Gas Gauge

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/follow-the-bouncing-gas-gauge/15678>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** gauges, gas-tanks, gasoline\
**Created:** [June 22, 2008, 5:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/follow-the-bouncing-gas-gauge/15678 "2008-06-22T05:12:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![khazeh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/839c29/32.png) [@khazeh](https://community.cartalk.com/u/khazeh)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 5:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/follow-the-bouncing-gas-gauge/15678/1 "2008-06-22T05:12:09Z")

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Hello all,  
  
  
  
 My 1996 Subaru Legacy wagon has an unstable gas gauge - but only when it’s hot out. All summer, the needle will slowly drift back and forth between deep below “E” and half or quarter tank, so that the only way I can tell how much gas I really have is to watch the trip odometer. It doesn’t do this in the winter. What could be the cause?

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**Author:** ![Z69105](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Z69105](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Z69105)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2008, 7:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/follow-the-bouncing-gas-gauge/15678/2 "2008-06-22T07:24:15Z")

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I speculate that you have a bad wire somewhere. Or you need a new gas gauge.

The cheap way is to continue watching the odometer. Cost: Free.

Or have a mechanic do a full diagnostic. Cost: $$$$$, but with peace of mind included.