[willy3000]

Hi guys,

I just noticed that my petrol gauge stops at 55Litres, before I could get it to full tank, now its just about 3/4 of the tank.

Ive tried pumping the fuel untill it over flows and it still displays just around 3/4 full.

Anybody have any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[fgin]

faulty sender unit ? there are 2 on each side of the tank, maybe one is faulty. I think I have an OEM used one with the whole pump assembly in a box somewhere.

 

[all4show]

try resetting the instrument cluster - read this thread: http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=648876&highlight=reset+instrument+cluster

about half way down, its got the steps on how to reset it. after you have gone to 19, go to 21. dw, you'll understand what im on about after you have a read lol

 

[MR3URO]

I think faulty sender units are common for e46's. I know mine is playing up. I found out the hard way on Eastlink that when the car says it has another 40kms left in the tank, it's actually bone dry.

 

[willy3000]

I think faulty sender units are common for e46's. I know mine is playing up. I found out the hard way on Eastlink that when the car says it has another 40kms left in the tank, it's actually bone dry.

Are they easy to replace?

cheers

 

[MR3URO]

Are they easy to replace?

cheers

I've looked into it, can be a bit costly and time consuming from what I know. If you have basic knowledge in the area you could do it yourself. The sender unit and pump is underneath the rear seat inside the car.

The sender units themsevles are about $100 and the other side has the pump too which is about $250 (when sourced overseas). I'm not sure if you can actually determine which side is faulty which means you have to replace both or one, and then the other if you didn't get it right the first time.

 

[shannon1]

I'm pretty sure there's a way to check out the levels in your tank using the cluster display. By pressing the buttons in a certain sequence you can bring up the level amount for the L/H and then the R/H senders. I saw it once ages ago when I was just surfing through the cluster features. When I get some time, I'll see if I can find it again, or you can try and search for it yourself, I think it was under cluster codes but not sure.

 

[BMW//Blonde]

I too had this and it gets worse. 3/4 tank is bareable but it will eventually only go up to 2/3. Got quoted $900 for genuine as they have to replace faulty fuel float & fuel pump. Mechanic said he can't see anything wrong with putting aftermarket in and got it done for around $400. Probably worth it in the longrun if you like to try and fill up on the cheaper days, use fuel vouchers etc. When mine was out of whack i was filling up all the time and it didn't need it.

 

[shannon1]

He you go, here's how to check out the sensor levels using the cluster functions.

You can use the clusters hidden functions to get the fuel level from each tank individually. This may help you to ascertain which unit is at fault.

1. Hold Trip Reset while turning ignition key to on position
2. OBC should show "Test"
3. Press Trip Reset to cycle through to function 19.0, this unlocks all the features
3. Wait for display to show "Off", it will move between "On" and "Off"
4. Press trip reset to select "Off"
5. With no delay press Trip Reset several times to cycle through the following options.

1 Car Engine and cluster data
1.0 46nnn Chassis nr/VIN serial number (last 5 digits)
1.1 4nnn K-number
1.2 690236 Cluster Part #
1.3 045210 Coding (04)/diagnosis (52)/bus index (10)
1.4 1200 Week (12)/year of manufacture (2000)
1.5 09_160 Hardware (09) and software # (16.0) of cluster
1.6 Not used
1.7 04__44 CAN-version (04) KI-revision index (44)
2 (test) Cluster System Test - Activates the gauge drivers,
indicators and LEDs to confirm function
3 SI Data
3.0 1098 Used fuel in liters since last SI (Service Inspection)
3.1 0231 Periodic inspection days; elapsed days (since last SI)
4 Momentary Consumption
4.0 0145+ Instant fuel consumption - 0145=14.5 liters/100km
4.1 0018 Instant fuel consumption - 0018=1.8 l/Hour
5 Distance Gone Consumption
5.0 082 Average mileage; 082=8.2 liters/100km
5.1 0536 Calc. km to refuel (momentary distance to go)
6 Fuel Level sensor inputs in liters
6.0 109330+ Fuel level averaged; Left half sensor input=10.9 liters; Right sensor input=33.0 liters
6.1 0439+ Total tank level averaged; vlgs 6.0: 10.9+33.0=43.9 liters
6.2 0442+ Indicated value (44.2) and tank phase
7 Temperature and Speed
7.0 021+ Coolant/Engine temperature (2.1C)
7.1 130 Ambient/Outside temperature - chg met 5 pts. 125/130/135
7.2 + Engine speed / Current RPMs 1/min
7.3 + Vehicle speed / Current Speed in km/hour
8 Input value in HEX form
8.0 1d0+ System voltage ADC-Value Hex code
8.1 26C33C+ ADC Values HG left/HG right
8.2 0000 ADC Value brake degradation sensor (000=o.k.)
8.3 18C ADC Value outside temperature
9 Battery
9.0 140 Battery Voltage - 140 = UB 14.0v
9.1 242013+?
9.2 074_78+?
9.3 0011+?
10 Not used
11 Not used
12 Not used
13 GonG Gong Test
14 Not used
15 Status cluster I/O-ports (bit codes) 0=low; 1=high
1st-belt contact, seat belt fastened=0; 2) ignition lock contact, key inserted=0; 3) door contact, door open=0; 4) clock button pressed=0; 5) SI reset=0, for reset=0; 6) EGS transmission failure=0
Status Digital Outputs (bits) 0=inactive, 1=active
1) Gong output; 2) Brake warning lamp; 3) Low fuel warning lamp; 4) EGA lamp; 5) seat belt lamp; 6) manipulation dot
16 Not used
17 Not used
18 Not used
19 Lock Status; unlocks functions in range 3-18
19.0 L-On/L-Off Unlock: press button when "L-Off"
20 Not used
21 Software Reset; reset OBC settings
00 End of test


To go into a menu simply stop on the number you want (number 6) and it will go into that section. As you scroll through it will be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and when you pause to go in to option 6 it should change to 6.0, now pressing it will go through 6.0, 6.1 etc....

To exit this at any time simply remove the key, no harm done. Keep an eye on this and as your fuel gauge changes look at which side of the tank changes it's value. Maybe a bad connection or faulty unit?

Hope this helps any way.

Scott.

 

[shannon1]

Also after checking out all4show's link, it's about the same there as well.