faulty fuel gauge

[bungi]

Whenever I fill up my tank, my fuel gauge doesn't always register it correctly. Like, sometimes it will just stay @ E with the red light still on, or just go about 1/2 half, even after filling up the whole tank. Even the OBC says I have "--- mls" when I check the range. It will eventually go to full in a day or two, but I just find that very strange. Anyone else have this problem?

[00poop6x]

Whenever I fill up my tank, my fuel gauge doesn't always register it correctly. Like, sometimes it will just stay @ E with the red light still on, or just go about 1/2 half, even after filling up the whole tank. Even the OBC says I have "--- mls" when I check the range. It will eventually go to full in a day or two, but I just find that very strange. Anyone else have this problem?

No, maybe your sending unit?

[POPS M3]

It is probably one of your fuel tank level senders/sensors. You have one on each side of the car. They can be accessed by removing the covers under the rear seat. Electrically, these sensors are in series. If one acts up the level gauge in the instrument panel will read wrong.

When the gauge is acting up, measure the resistance of each level sensor.

Bentley manual has section on "Fuel Level Sender Resistancs".

I usually test resistances after filling the tank, but with gauge on empty and yellow light on.

Good luck,

Ken

[Ffroggs]

Whenever I fill up my tank, my fuel gauge doesn't always register it correctly. Like, sometimes it will just stay @ E with the red light still on, or just go about 1/2 half, even after filling up the whole tank. Even the OBC says I have "--- mls" when I check the range. It will eventually go to full in a day or two, but I just find that very strange. Anyone else have this problem?

I'm actually having this exact problem. I'm going to pull out the Bentley and see what it says.

Ken -- you say you test resistances when the gauge reads empty but you just filled the tank -- what results do you get? Did you solve your problem? Did you replace a sender/sensor?

[00poop6x]

My friend had this replaced in her Jetta at the stealership. But the stealer never tells you the truth. :devillook :shifty :mad


*EDIT* the full truth atleast. :(

[M3andPorsche]

Whenever I fill up my tank, my fuel gauge doesn't always register it correctly. Like, sometimes it will just stay @ E with the red light still on, or just go about 1/2 half, even after filling up the whole tank. Even the OBC says I have "--- mls" when I check the range. It will eventually go to full in a day or two, but I just find that very strange. Anyone else have this problem?

I had this very problem with both of my BMW's (92 325is and 97 M3). I was told their is a BMW tech bulletin for this problem, solution was to replace the fuel level sensors with updated ones. They fixed this later on BMWs, after 97, by using gold contacts on the fuel sensors. I fixed the problem by adding a bottle of Redline fuel injection cleaner for 3 tanks and the problem went away. Now I add a bottle of Redline with every oil change. I haven't had any problems in 2 years and 20K+ miles. This is a lot cheaper and easier than replacing the fuel sensors. I hope this helps.

[Ffroggs]

I had this very problem with both of my BMW's (92 325is and 97 M3). I was told their is a BMW tech bulletin for this problem, solution was to replace the fuel level sensors with updated ones. They fixed this later on BMWs, after 97, by using gold contacts on the fuel sensors. I fixed the problem by adding a bottle of Redline fuel injection cleaner for 3 tanks and the problem went away. Now I add a bottle of Redline with every oil change. I haven't had any problems in 2 years and 20K+ miles. This is a lot cheaper and easier than replacing the fuel sensors. I hope this helps.

Hmmm...mine is a '99, and I'm still having the problem. Do you know where I can go to read the tech service bulletin? I'd like to see what it says about my car. msf

[aweather]

Here's my experience on the subject:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=224093

[Ffroggs]

Here's another thread about the same issue:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=272142

I think all of this is pointing to the same thing. Looks like we found our culprit. I think I probably have the "new" versions, so maybe I just have a loose connection, or maybe it's faulty for some other reason. Ah well.

Thanks for all the help.

[paul e]

I used to have this problem sporadically too.. But it hasnt recurred in the last year.. it just seems to work itself out many times, and is a pretty common fault.