Faulty Petrol Gauge - Dash Clock - BMW

slumped

Hi

I've a BMW 318i, 1998 model and last week the petrol gauge dropped to bottom depsite having a half full tank.

Got it checked out (float and electrics) and have been told I need a new Dash Clock. This will set me back 300-500 euro apparently.

Anyone else had this problem or can it be fixed without replacing the dash clock?

S

slumped

bump

Seth Brundle

Who diagnosed this?
I haven't come across that before. Maybe ask on www.bavarian-board.co.uk

Mr.Diagnostic

Hi,

The most common cause of this fault it the tank sender unit but if you are sure that the cluster is faulty then a used one could be used. It is possible to change the mileage to match the origional. Used units should be easy enough to source.

crosstownk

IIRC, this was a common enough fault in 3 series a few years back. I remember having 5 or 6 cars give this trouble in the same 6 month period. As Mr. Diagnostic says, it was the fuel guage sender in every case.

DublinDilbert

Hi,

The E36 has 2 fuel level senders, as the fuel thank is split in to two parts... one sender is attached to the fuel pump, the other sender is a stand alone unit... the 2 fuel senders are wired in series.

If you have a multi meter handy it should be fairly easy to check each of the senders....

The easiest way to check this is:-
Take up the back seat, and remove the 2 round steel plates, to allow you gain access to each of the fuel senders...

The fuel pump is the one with 4 wires going into it, the 2 heavy wires are the power to the fuel pump, the other 2 are the fuel sender. Take a resistance reading from the fuel sender ones.

The side with just the fuel sender on it should just have 2 wires going to it. The resistance reading from this side should be much the same as the other side.


Hope this helps,
dave

slumped

kbannon wrote:

Who diagnosed this?
I haven't come across that before. Maybe ask on www.bavarian-board.co.uk

Garage I use regularly diagnosed.

They also rang Frank Keanes and another BMW specialist and they thouhght the same thing.

Im not getting it fixed now, cant afford. I assume I am doing no damage as long as I keep petrol up at a reasonable level.

A

Fey!

Try AC Car Sales - they're an indi BMW specialist off SCR. Have heard great things about them, and have gotten some help from them in the past myself. 01-4531433. Ask for Alan or Richie.

OT - MrDiagnostic; used you be ChippedIRL?

Mr.Diagnostic

Fey! wrote:

OT - MrDiagnostic; used you be ChippedIRL?

Hi Fey,

That is the closest I have come to being insulted on the net

BabyEater

Had thie same problem with a 98 318 and i put in a new fuel pump and sender unit all was grand.