Sisters fuel gauge reads <1/4 at all fill levels.

[Jon K]

So just recently the car, a 1995 530i, has trouble displaying correct fuel level. I am thinking it has something to do with a capacitor but I am not sure that this affects the gauge or not so I figured I'd ask. Even if the car has 100% full fuel tank, the gauge is off by more than 3/4 of a tank, indicating 1/4 tank or less. I really hope this is not the fuel tank level sender, as I hate reaching in the depths of petrol, but I guess I will find out from the crowd. One thing worth mentioning is that when the tank is full, the car turned on, the gauge goes from 0 (like normal) to the 1/4 or so but reaaaaal slow.

Has this happened to anyone before, and if so, what was the fix?

On another note, i notice my fuel gauge is relatively inaccurate beloew 1/2 or 3/8 full... similar issue or different?

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Does the range reflect the level of the tank?

If the range reading goes up like mine to 400++ after a fill up, then it is probably the sender.

May be stuck, sometimes the outer sleeve comes loose and blocks the float travel.

[romus]

hey Bob I'll add my detail to this. After a full fill up mine used to go 580+ on OBC but gauge still stays zero or wherever. Just recently it developed a habit of sticking to whatever number there was before fill up, only to change hours later.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

But if you guage is dead and the OBC is doing a decent job of calculating your range then it's probably the guage, or the wiring to the guage, since the sender drives both the guage and OBC.

[romus]

OBC used to take no time at all recalculating. By the start up from the gas station I'd press range and it would already be recalculated. Recently tho it started holding the "old" range for hours after fill up.

Thanks

[Jon K]

I will check it tomorrow. I have to ask her how much fuel is actually in it.

[shogun]

http://bmwe32.masscom.net/johan/fuel...el_sender.html

[genphreak]

Interestingly mine shows 1/4 if I leave the car running when filling it up from empty (isn't that dangerous- but when I'm talking on 2 cell phones at once AND working the pump there's often just too much happeneing to cover everything...)

The cap must need to have the ignition turned off in order for it to reset, otherwise the gauge will creep up ever so slowly as you drive along with your newly filled tank afterwards...

I know it doesn't help- but as an observation it might have some value one day.

I find that the gauge is pretty accurate apart from that.

Nick

[Alexlind123]

Interestingly mine shows 1/4 if I leave the car running when filling it up from empty (isn't that dangerous- but when I'm talking on 2 cell phones at once AND working the pump there's often just too much happeneing to cover everything...)

The cap must need to have the ignition turned off in order for it to reset, otherwise the gauge will creep up ever so slowly as you drive along with your newly filled tank afterwards...

I know it doesn't help- but as an observation it might have some value one day.

I find that the gauge is pretty accurate apart from that.

Nick

Talking on cell phones while pumping gas can cause explosions. Talking on two doubles your chances!!

[rob101]

Talking on cell phones while pumping gas can cause explosions. Talking on two doubles your chances!!

LOL
no it doesn't thats just something mothers tell their children to scare them

Not touching the metal body of the car when you get out and then using the pump causes explosions.