Hi, newbie here. Owned Hondas for years but this is the first time i've had an issue that needed advice.
For context the car is a late 2015 Civic SR 1.6 DTEC. Has only done about 45k miles and has FHSH.
During a long drive home yesterday, fuel was getting low so pulled over and filled up the tank. Drove off but fuel level continued to drop and soon after the low level warning came on and said I had about 40 miles to go.
I pulled into next Services as this didn't make sense as I'd just filled up. Low fuel light still on and showing 23 miles to go. Tried switching ignition off and on again but no change, and decided to continue home as I knew it was filled up. Then gradually over the next few miles the fuel gauge crept up, the low fuel light went off and eventually it showed a full tank. So I put it down possibly to a sticky fuel level float, but all now ok?
Then about 50 miles later the "tortoise" light appeared on the dashboard and it went into limp mode with revs restricted to about 1,750. No check engine light though. I was about 15 miles from home so decided to carry on, then about 2 miles from home (just after going on an uphill section) the indicator on the dash changed to "STOP". I pulled over, turned the engine off, restarted it and managed to make the last of the journey home. It did go back into "LIMP" mode but no longer told me to STOP. When I pulled up outside my house the Tortoise sign went off and I was able to rev the car freely, but as I reversed into my driveway, the LIMP Mode returned.
I've read that the Euro 6 diesels have this LIMP then STOP feature to prevent the engine running out of fuel due to the damage it can cause. My query is, the tank was full, and the fuel level indicator was eventually showing it as full, so where is the car's ECU getting the message that it was running very low on fuel and putting it into limp mode? Has anyone else come across this or know what it might be?
I don't want to commit to a replacement fuel pump/sender when it may be something else. I've left it overnight but am worried about taking it out for a drive and the limp mode returning or even the STOP message, or causing any damage to the car.