Stuck fuel gauge

NoZSP · 10-21-2008, 02:20 PM

My fuel gauge reads on full even when the tank is 1/3 down

(about 140 miles since last fill up.) Miles-to-empty and average mileage indicators do show the expected consumption. (I verified that the average mileage computation was accurate to within 1% on the previous tank, by dividing refill volume into distance on the trip odometer.) it looks like this will be my first warranty issue, but I'll wait for something more serious to crop up before taking it in.

Has anyone else seen this happen?

NoZSP · 10-21-2008, 03:45 PM

Correction:
The miles-to-empty was ALSO not registering any fuel consumption; I misread it before.

Now that I am below 2/3 tank the fuel gauge is starting to move SLIGHTLY below full. Maybe the tank sensor is just very nonlinear/inaccurate?

mikeo · 10-21-2008, 10:57 PM

Not saying that you did this, but modern BMWs are very sensitive to trying to "top off" with fuel when filling up. When I stopped trying to get the last little bit of fuel in the car I stopped having guage issues you are describing. Others have validated this issue.

josh · 10-22-2008, 06:04 AM

I also found that out the hard way on my E36. Does anybody know why the gauge gets stuck if thye tank is topped off?

lannypoffo · 10-22-2008, 12:30 PM

pretty self explanitory, the gauge goes higher than it was meant to, and gets stuck on full. either in the gauge itself (less likely), or the fuel tank float itself. (more likely).

NoZSP · 10-22-2008, 07:04 PM

I never obsess about stuffing the maximum amount of fuel into my car, but at the last fill I MAY have given it one LITTLE extra squirt after the pump stopped. If that is enough to jam the tank float, I would consider it a design flaw.

Anyway, what will it take to unstick the float or gauge? Will it reset at the next fill-up if I stop when I should, or does it require a dealer visit? Is it just jammed, or actually damaged?

mikeo · 10-22-2008, 07:26 PM

If it doesn't return to normal operation after a couple of days take it to your dealer.

NoZSP · 11-24-2008, 06:21 PM

My fuel gauge was definitely reading too high (showing almost 1/2 full when nearly empty) so I took it to the dealer. They said the problem is in the in-tank pump (fuel level sensor must be integral with the pump) and they cannot do repairs inside the tank as it is sealed at the factory. SO, they have to order me a whole new tank (still under the warranty of course) and now they say it'll take a MONTH to get the new fuel tank!

I'm getting my 128i back tomorrow and will rely on the trip odometer to keep track of fuel level (filling more frequently than normal also) until they get the tank and I can go back to have it fixed. Annoying as it is a 1-hour drive each way. OTOH I did have a nice 528i as a loaner. Big and boaty, but still pretty capable, and with surprisingly good fuel economy: about 32 mpg on the highway (similar to the 128i) and only about 2 mpg worse around town. And that is with the AT (my 128i is 6MT.) The AT must have very tall top gearing.

10-21-2008, 02:20 PM	#1
NoZSP New Member 3 Rep 24 Posts Drives: Join Date: Aug 2008 iTrader: (0)	Stuck fuel gauge My fuel gauge reads on full even when the tank is 1/3 down (about 140 miles since last fill up.) Miles-to-empty and average mileage indicators do show the expected consumption. (I verified that the average mileage computation was accurate to within 1% on the previous tank, by dividing refill volume into distance on the trip odometer.) it looks like this will be my first warranty issue, but I'll wait for something more serious to crop up before taking it in. Has anyone else seen this happen?
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10-21-2008, 03:45 PM	#2
NoZSP New Member 3 Rep 24 Posts Drives: Join Date: Aug 2008 iTrader: (0)	Correction: The miles-to-empty was ALSO not registering any fuel consumption; I misread it before. Now that I am below 2/3 tank the fuel gauge is starting to move SLIGHTLY below full. Maybe the tank sensor is just very nonlinear/inaccurate?
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10-21-2008, 10:57 PM	#3
mikeo Santa Fe Concorso 103 Rep 2,984 Posts Drives: '11 M-sport 328i, '13 X1 28i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Santa Fe, NM iTrader: (3)	Not saying that you did this, but modern BMWs are very sensitive to trying to "top off" with fuel when filling up. When I stopped trying to get the last little bit of fuel in the car I stopped having guage issues you are describing. Others have validated this issue. __________________ Santa Fe Concorso - The Southwest's Premier Automotive Gathering.
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10-22-2008, 06:04 AM	#4
josh Private First Class 12 Rep 127 Posts Drives: E36 M3, 135i Join Date: Oct 2007 iTrader: (0)	I also found that out the hard way on my E36. Does anybody know why the gauge gets stuck if thye tank is topped off?
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10-22-2008, 12:30 PM	#5
lannypoffo Lieutenant 19 Rep 564 Posts Drives: 2013 Dodge Charger SRT8 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Cali iTrader: (1)	pretty self explanitory, the gauge goes higher than it was meant to, and gets stuck on full. either in the gauge itself (less likely), or the fuel tank float itself. (more likely).
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10-22-2008, 07:04 PM	#6
NoZSP New Member 3 Rep 24 Posts Drives: Join Date: Aug 2008 iTrader: (0)	I never obsess about stuffing the maximum amount of fuel into my car, but at the last fill I MAY have given it one LITTLE extra squirt after the pump stopped. If that is enough to jam the tank float, I would consider it a design flaw. Anyway, what will it take to unstick the float or gauge? Will it reset at the next fill-up if I stop when I should, or does it require a dealer visit? Is it just jammed, or actually damaged?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-22-2008, 07:26 PM	#7
mikeo Santa Fe Concorso 103 Rep 2,984 Posts Drives: '11 M-sport 328i, '13 X1 28i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Santa Fe, NM iTrader: (3)	If it doesn't return to normal operation after a couple of days take it to your dealer. __________________ Santa Fe Concorso - The Southwest's Premier Automotive Gathering.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-24-2008, 06:21 PM	#8
NoZSP New Member 3 Rep 24 Posts Drives: Join Date: Aug 2008 iTrader: (0)	Fuel gauge problem cont. My fuel gauge was definitely reading too high (showing almost 1/2 full when nearly empty) so I took it to the dealer. They said the problem is in the in-tank pump (fuel level sensor must be integral with the pump) and they cannot do repairs inside the tank as it is sealed at the factory. SO, they have to order me a whole new tank (still under the warranty of course) and now they say it'll take a MONTH to get the new fuel tank! I'm getting my 128i back tomorrow and will rely on the trip odometer to keep track of fuel level (filling more frequently than normal also) until they get the tank and I can go back to have it fixed. Annoying as it is a 1-hour drive each way. OTOH I did have a nice 528i as a loaner. Big and boaty, but still pretty capable, and with surprisingly good fuel economy: about 32 mpg on the highway (similar to the 128i) and only about 2 mpg worse around town. And that is with the AT (my 128i is 6MT.) The AT must have very tall top gearing.
	Appreciate 0 Quote