I have a 99 BMW 328iC convertible... whenever the fuel gauge gets around half a tank the needle will randomly drop down to "E" or up to full and go back to normal after a little while, but it will keep doing this as long as i'm around half a tank. What's wrong with my car?
2006-10-22 07:50:20 · 10 answers · asked by Dan 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ BMW
Its definately the fuel sender.
I had exactly the same problem in my Audi a few years back.
What has happened is this....
There is a wire connecting two hinged parts on the fuel sender. It has broken. When the tank is full, the float is high up and the wires touch giving you a good reading, but as the float drops the wires move apart until they lose touch and your tank reads as empty. Shoshing fuel will move the float and give you strange readings.
Check out the two pics below for examples.
SImply replacing the fuell sender should cure your problem.
2006-10-22 21:02:19 · answer #1 · answered by wally_zebon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fuel Pump and Sending unit are one in the same on your car, you can check some cars it's available in separate pieces but anyway it's inside the fuel tank. If you live in an area that has rusty cars, it will be more of a pain in the butt, but if you live in say, Arizona, it's not too bad. Just make sure the tank is as close to empty as you can get it, the less gas the easier it will be. If you live in say Wisconsin than you should buy new tank straps because the old ones will probably disintegrate when you remove them, and be ultra careful when you are tugging on the fuel lines so you don't break them cuz they get rusty. Also the part is pretty expensive, it's been a long time since I bought one for a 90 but the newer ones are around 200 maybe 300 on high side. I wouldn't buy a bone yard one if you are trying to fix the fuel gauge problem, the corrosion from sitting on a shelf may cause the same problem you have.
2016-05-21 22:49:24 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be a loose connection, but if it ONLY happens under 1/2 tank, probably not.
The sending unit in the tank may be defective.
I have also seen the float develop a hole or become fuel soaked.
When that happens, it will sink and show empty or bounce as you hit bumps & give strange readings.
2006-10-22 08:01:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like the sending unit in the tank is going screwy.
2006-10-22 08:35:57 · answer #4 · answered by Chris J 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sending unit in the tank is defective. You need toreplace the unit. I would recomend you replace the fuelp pump and screen as well, it is 8 years old and they are right there anyway. You never know when the electric pump will die on you.
good luck.......
2006-10-22 07:56:08 · answer #5 · answered by mailbox1024 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of the wires leading to the guage is shorting out intermittenly. You are lucky that it is not causing problems with your ignition
2006-10-22 07:55:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the sending unit in the tank is bad.
2006-10-22 07:54:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Loose connection at any of the two points.
2006-10-22 07:56:06 · answer #8 · answered by SKG R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if more than one gauge acts up, it's the voltage regulator :(
2006-10-22 07:58:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yup stallion is right
2006-10-22 07:56:09 · answer #10 · answered by codheadsoup 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋