How reliable are econometers?, mine in my 1.7 behaves very strange, some days it doesn't work at all others it stays in the red and today went all the way round into white!. I don't know if its a dodgy gauge or if there is something else engine wise it is telling me. I think this car is going to be a challenge, i have just filled it to the brim to work out its economy as i have a feeling at best its only doing 20mpg i shall wait and see.

The econ should move really really quick, i.e. put your boot down it should go red, lift off it should go white. Could be if it's moving slow its got oiled, the 1.7 breather pipes are shocking at taking lumpy oil cr*p around the system. Foggy and 5lab have both come up with ways of fixing the gauge if yours has done this... I seem to remember (or it's a good guess) that Hugh's way may have been a tad ghetto

Foggy's way was to soak the end of the gauge in some white spirit for about a week. Hugh's way was to cut the end of the filter off. You then need to find some other sort of way to damp the vibrations. I think Hugh used a fuel filter.

It certainly doesn't move quickly, in fact when it finally does spring into life it quite often stays in position with the engine not running!. Thanks for the tips i will add it to the 'to do' list, at least i can put it down to a faulty gauge and not something more sinister!

Yeah, Hugh used a fuel filter, but said it made a buzzing noise then. Some can be revived, if there's movement and the spring isn't bent you have a chance.
Pete