BMW E34 Fuel gauge slow :( - BMW Forum

Mamij · 09-12-2010, 08:09 AM

Hi,

Yesterday I had a problem with my fuel gauge, it was too slow because I ran out of gas in the middle of the road, the fuel gauge was showing about 15 l left, but I ran out of gas.
I have run an instrument cluster test, all clusters move fine, but the reserve light does not light on when I make the test, what can I do to fix this problem, do I need to replace a censor or just the bulb behind the fuel gauge, its not fun to run out of gas?

brettski · 09-12-2010, 09:03 AM

Does the low fuel light come on when you first start the car? If not then its likely to be faulty.

Mamij · 09-12-2010, 09:07 AM

you mean the reserve light right, when there is not much fuel left means you have to fill up? No it does never come on, also because the gauge is too slow, it only goes down a bit lower than 20 liters, about 15 liters left it shows, when the car is empty of fuel...
I really dont understand what I can do, just seems so slow...

brettski · 09-12-2010, 09:23 AM

It sounds like there may actually be two issues, one the fuel level sender is faulty or at least out of calibration, and two the low fuel indicator (reserve?) light is out. It may be that the reserve light wouldn't be coming on even if does work if the sender is bad.

Mamij · 09-12-2010, 09:53 AM

so I need to replace the fuel lever sender and the reserve light?

brettski · 09-12-2010, 05:07 PM

Before you rush out and do anything, let's see if someone with more E34 specific knowledge has any other suggestions.

M540I · 09-15-2010, 01:15 AM

Please make sure to check your fuel lines... to me it looks like you started loosing fuel on the road.

Mamij · 09-15-2010, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M540I

Please make sure to check your fuel lines... to me it looks like you started loosing fuel on the road.

Its not the fuel, because a few days ago I filled it up, no problems like that at all, its the gauge, it shows wrong...

M540I · 09-15-2010, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mamij

Its not the fuel, because a few days ago I filled it up, no problems like that at all, its the gauge, it shows wrong...

Learn to read.

Mamij · 09-15-2010, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M540I

Learn to read.

You are saying I am loosing fuel on the road, well thats not true!
My car has been standing still for over 2 weeks in my garage with half full tank, and there is nothing under it like fuel, so it must be the gauge

Mamij · 11-13-2010, 07:10 AM

Guys I really need your help on this.
It's driving me nuts, so far I have replaced the sending unit, a whole new coding plug and a whole cluster with RPM, speedo, reserve light and all that, which was from a 525TDS shouldn't mean anything should it?

I moved the sending unit up and down to see how the instrument act, I found out when the tube is all empty the instrument shows 15 liters left, it is very strange why, and the fuel gauge always shows around 15 liters more than what the car has in the tank, like f.eks I fill the car up with 10 liters diesel, and the instrument shows around 20, even though there only is 10 in the tank...

anyway none of those things helped, the fuel gauge is still slow when it reaches down to around 15 liters, which is the less it can show, and then the car will run out of gas if I don't fill up much after.anyway none of those things helped, the fuel gauge is still slow when it reaches down to around 20 liters, which is the less it can show, and then the car will run out of gas if I don't fill up much after.

I have no idea if this car has a cluster from a 525TDS since they look the same as the 524td, I bought the car 6 months ago so I have no idea if the last owner changed it, but does it mean anything at all if its from a 525TDS which also has 80 liters like mine???
I have no idea what could be giving me these problems anymore....

Mamij · 01-30-2011, 02:10 PM

Guys, if you have any other ideas I could try to fix this problem, please let me know before I let BMW do it for me, so far I have tried all these things:

1. 3 different Fuel level senders.
2. Fuel level sender's connector resistance.
3. Harness connector to the fuel level censor also resistance.
4. Wire from the fuel pump to the instrument cluster, had the same resistance on both sides.
5. Instrument cluster connector, also seemed fine involving resistance.
6. A brand NEW fuel gauge in my instrument cluster.
7: 3 different used instrument clusters, all do the same
8: Factory new coding plug coded for my car.

You can check at this link, all I have been through in details if you are interested:

Fuel gauge slow

- bimmerfest - BMW Forums

This is really strange, that it's unpossible to fix this by yourself, so if you please have any other ideas on what it could be, I would glad to try it out?