fuel and temp gauge issues

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  • Maad325
    Advanced Member
    • Jan 2013
    • 132

    #1

    fuel and temp gauge issues

    So I filled my car up with gas today, and the gas gauge is only reading a quarter tank, at first it didnt move but after a half hour and a lot of twitching it moved up to quarter tank. It spontaneously twitches all over the place sometimes. which is odd.

    Also my temperature gauge doesn't go past the mark in between the blue and the middle regardless if I let the car idle to warm up or if i drive it around it just sits in between.

    are these ground issues or do i just need a new cluster?
  • Gregs///M
    Forum Sponsor
    • Mar 2012
    • 2459

    #2
    Temp needle should sit dead center at normal operating temp.

    Tighten the 7mm nuts behind the gas gauge, might fix it. If that doesn't work, your fuel level sender might be shot.
    Owner - Bavarian Restoration
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    • Maad325
      Advanced Member
      • Jan 2013
      • 132

      #3
      Thats the issue, it never gets close to dead center. Are those bolts located in the actual cluster itself?

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      • dnguyen1963
        R3VLimited
        • Nov 2011
        • 2648

        #4
        I posted the link a few times. Search my username.

        Comment

        • Cosmic Serpent
          Advanced Member
          • Mar 2012
          • 154

          #5
          yes the nuts are on the back side of the cluster so it must be removed from the dash to tighten them.

          Comment

          • Maad325
            Advanced Member
            • Jan 2013
            • 132

            #6
            What about the temperature gauge? Could it Be a stuck thermostat?

            Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

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            • Cosmic Serpent
              Advanced Member
              • Mar 2012
              • 154

              #7
              First thing I would check would be the nuts on the back of the cluster, does your temp gauge bounce around?

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              • george graves
                I waste 90% of my day here and all I got was this stupid title
                • Oct 2003
                • 19983

                #8
                I think he's trina tell you to check the nuts on the back of the cluster. ;)
                Originally posted by Matt-B
                hey does anyone know anyone who gets upset and makes electronics?

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                • Cosmic Serpent
                  Advanced Member
                  • Mar 2012
                  • 154

                  #9
                  yep simple things first :D

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                  • Maad325
                    Advanced Member
                    • Jan 2013
                    • 132

                    #10
                    The temperature gauge doesn't bounce around, I just thought it was a different issue. Ill check the back of the cluster when I get home

                    Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

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                    • Maad325
                      Advanced Member
                      • Jan 2013
                      • 132

                      #11
                      Well I think I found my problem
                      Attached Files

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                      • Maad325
                        Advanced Member
                        • Jan 2013
                        • 132

                        #12
                        After fixing that missing bolt and tightening the other bolt the gas gauge reads quarter tank all the time and doesn't twitch. The temp gauge still only goes in between the cold and middle

                        Comment

                        • Gregs///M
                          Forum Sponsor
                          • Mar 2012
                          • 2459

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Maad325
                          After fixing that missing bolt and tightening the other bolt the gas gauge reads quarter tank all the time and doesn't twitch. The temp gauge still only goes in between the cold and middle
                          You'll have to check the fuel level sender next. They are known to fall apart over time so check the condition of it. You can reference the Bentley manual for more info and testing procedures. The manual can be downloaded free on this site, just search for it.

                          The temp in your car could be actual. Perhaps you have a lower temp thermostat installed and you did not know it. OEM should be 80 deg I believe.
                          Owner - Bavarian Restoration
                          BMW and European Electronics Repair and Restoration
                          www.BavRest.com
                          My Feedback Thread
                          Our Facebook!
                          Follow our Instagram!

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                          • dnguyen1963
                            R3VLimited
                            • Nov 2011
                            • 2648

                            #14
                            Remove the sender then spray in carb cleaner. Shake the floater up and down vigorously for about 10 times. You should see brown flecks come out with the cleaner. Repeat this process until you see no more brown flecks. Your sender should behave normally after this cleaning.

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                            • Maad325
                              Advanced Member
                              • Jan 2013
                              • 132

                              #15
                              Originally posted by Gregs///M
                              You'll have to check the fuel level sender next. They are known to fall apart over time so check the condition of it. You can reference the Bentley manual for more info and testing procedures. The manual can be downloaded free on this site, just search for it.

                              The temp in your car could be actual. Perhaps you have a lower temp thermostat installed and you did not know it. OEM should be 80 deg I believe.
                              I already have a new thermostat and Bentley manual in the mail. Hopefully that will fix my temperature issue, the gauge does work it will go up after idling for a bit not moving, could the thermostat possibly be stuck open?

                              Originally posted by dnguyen1963
                              Remove the sender then spray in carb cleaner. Shake the floater up and down vigorously for about 10 times. You should see brown flecks come out with the cleaner. Repeat this process until you see no more brown flecks. Your sender should behave normally after this cleaning.
                              I will definitely do this, hopefully it will fix my problem because I dont want to drop 100 bucks on a new sender

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