Gas Light always on

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  • motorsports_3
    E30 Enthusiast
    • Mar 2007
    • 1058

    #1

    Gas Light always on

    When I first bought my car, my level was always on empty. So I changed the fuel level unit on the drivers side. That seemed to fix the empty level, but now the empty light is always on. Since then I changed the one on the passenger side. The unit held down by 4 8 mm screws. The empty light is still on. Do you guys have any ideas? TIA BTW my car is an 88 325.
  • jlevie
    R3V OG
    • Nov 2006
    • 13530

    #2
    As I recall, the reserve warning light switch is in the passenger side level sensor. An ohmmeter check of the switch contacts in the level sensor will quickly tell whether the problem is in the sensor or wiring/gauge. once you know where the problem is a bit more checking should reveal the cause of the light being on.
    The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
    Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

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    • motorsports_3
      E30 Enthusiast
      • Mar 2007
      • 1058

      #3
      Originally posted by jlevie
      As I recall, the reserve warning light switch is in the passenger side level sensor. An ohmmeter check of the switch contacts in the level sensor will quickly tell whether the problem is in the sensor or wiring/gauge. once you know where the problem is a bit more checking should reveal the cause of the light being on.
      Yeah, the passenger side is the one I just changed. If the problem is in the guage, what might cause it? So I have to check the OHMs on the wire or the actualy unit. What should it read?

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      • motorsports_3
        E30 Enthusiast
        • Mar 2007
        • 1058

        #4
        Anyone?

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        • jlevie
          R3V OG
          • Nov 2006
          • 13530

          #5
          In this case, I rather doubt that the problem is in the sensor, since that's just been replaced. But to be sure, a quick is a good idea. With at least a quarter tank of gas, pull the connector from the level sensor and check the pins for the warning at the sensor. They should be an open circuit.

          My guess is that the light will be on even with the level sensor disconnected, which means there's a short somewhere. To isolate that fault, pull the cluster and check the resistance of the wire from the warning sensor. With both ends disconnected it should be an open circuit to ground. If not, you'll have to find where the harness is damaged and repair it.

          If wire isn't shorted the problem will be in the cluster or in the OBC or its wiring. See 6210-1 of the ETM (I used the ETM for an 89 as a reference, which you can get from http://wedophones.com/BMWManualsLead.htm).
          The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
          Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

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