Gas Gauge Died

[bimmer8604]

Well, i was driving around tonight, and everything was working good as usual. I pulled up to stop at a stoplight, and noticed my gas needle was dead. I had a 1/4 tank of gas when I left the house, so i knew i had gas. its just sitting there like the car is off. Everything else in the cluster is fine, im hoping its just a loose connection somewhere, but i dont know where to begin. I checked my fuses and everything looked okay, too.

Any advice?

Kyle

[tonytony]

drive until the light comes on, mines dead but I usually know when I'm running out of gas :P

[Ducati]

Mine is so inaccurate it's not even funny, I just always keep a 20 in my dash and when the light goes on, I pull up and get gas, then before I leave the gas station I drop another 20 in my dash.

[erik325i]

Re: Gas Gauge Died

Gas Gauge Died. leaving for Cali in a week, now what?

Just don't use the gauge. Keep track of how many miles you have driven between your last fillup, and use that to determine when you are low on gas. It's not that hard.

[Stu]

Re: Gas Gauge Died

Gas Gauge Died. leaving for Cali in a week, now what?

Just don't use the gauge. Keep track of how many miles you have driven between your last fillup, and use that to determine when you are low on gas. It's not that hard.

Yea, don't fix the problem. WTF was he thinking...

[aaron_silva]

When I had that problem, it was my sender unit (left side of the tank).

Aaron

[BMW BMXER]

Mine was just the ground on the back of the gauge.

[bimmer8604]

I normally would say "Fuck it" and not fix it and just keep track of my milage. BUT, i would honestly feel more secure if i had an inaccurate gas guage showing me relatively how much gas i have. BEsides, my gas guage was pretty accurate before it died, so i wouldnt mind having it back.

If i werent going to fix it, i figure what, 250 miles for a tank of gas on the highway? I havent really had the opportunity to drive my car on long roadtrips, i know in the city i get about 200 a tank.

Kyle

[Henna Red]

if you werent going to fix it, wiat till the reserve light comes on. They are two seperate systems [guage and light] so until it lets you down, your fine

[Ducati]

Re: Gas Gauge Died

Just don't use the gauge. Keep track of how many miles you have driven between your last fillup, and use that to determine when you are low on gas. It's not that hard.

I tried that...then my odometer broke. =(

[bimmer8604]

So from what im reading, i need to check the back of the guage for a loose connection or something, and my fuel level sender on the top of the tank(under the black piece in car)? Any way to check the sender?

Kyle

[aaron_silva]

I checked mine. I took the 7mm (I think) nut of the bottom of the sender. There should be two wires (very thin...sort of look like a strand of hair) that run parallel to the center shaft. If they are just floating around and not conected to the guide at the bottom, you might have a faulty sender.

Good luck. Do it when you are low on gas. Also, take the sender out slowly as it is most likely full of gas. There is a small hole on the bottom that allows gas to enter and exit.

Aaron

[bichmgnt]

Do you have the nine button OBC? Leave that on Range all the time and that should tell you how full your gas tank is.

Steve

[oh2fly]

So from what im reading, i need to check the back of the guage for a loose connection or something, and my fuel level sender on the top of the tank(under the black piece in car)? Any way to check the sender?

Kyle

Yes, you can check the sender. After removing it and draining the gas in it back in the tank, connect the plug back on it but don't put it back in the tank. Turn the key to the On position-DON'T Start it! While watching the gauge invert the sender to upside down. You should hear the float move in the sender and the gauge should read full. With the sender right side up and the float bottomed out in it, the reserve light should be on and the gauge should read below empty. What year and model is your car? 88s and newer have 2 senders, except M3s. One in each tank

[bimmer8604]

So from what im reading, i need to check the back of the guage for a loose connection or something, and my fuel level sender on the top of the tank(under the black piece in car)? Any way to check the sender?

Kyle

Yes, you can check the sender. After removing it and draining the gas in it back in the tank, connect the plug back on it but don't put it back in the tank. Turn the key to the On position-DON'T Start it! While watching the gauge invert the sender to upside down. You should hear the float move in the sender and the gauge should read full. With the sender right side up and the float bottomed out in it, the reserve light should be on and the gauge should read below empty. What year and model is your car? 88s and newer have 2 senders, except M3s. One in each tank

awesome, ill check that tomorrow. ive been busy rebuilding the topend on my motor after breaking a rocker arm, thanks for the advice.

kyle