E34 520i - Parts Help Needed

[zackertashia]

but then wat if thers no readin o anythin?how to kno wat's d culprit 4my fuel meter?

does it mean dat if thers no resistance readin from it,the sensor is somehow faulty?

 

[jarance]

Originally posted by zackertashia@May 18 2005, 04:48 PM
but then wat if thers no readin o anythin?how to kno wat's d culprit 4my fuel meter?

does it mean dat if thers no resistance readin from it,the sensor is somehow faulty?

as I have mentioned earlier, there must be a reading of between 10 to 170 ohms.

if there are no readings, then you will need to open the respective fuel sensor. please take note there are two fuel sensors. One on the right tanks and the other in the left tank.

The level sensors works in series. if one kaput, the fuel reading would be zero even one of the level sensor is faulty.

No point in opening the level sensor if there is a reading.

I remember the time when c-square level sensor was faulty. His problem was due to a broken wire between the sensor and the external connector. The problem was solve by replacing the cable. Just cut old cable and solder a new cable for the level sensor.

 

[zackertashia]

quite confused wit d right n left.i jus know d one under d carpet inside the trunk.open oredi n found out 2things.one is the sensor unit n d other im not sure either pump o else.

in c² case,do u mean the replaced cable is d one connectin from d sensor to the male sensor connector?

 

[jarance]

Originally posted by zackertashia@May 18 2005, 08:03 PM
quite confused wit d right n left.i jus know d one under d carpet inside the trunk.open oredi n found out 2things.one is the sensor unit n d other im not sure either pump o else.

in c² case,do u mean the replaced cable is d one connectin from d sensor to the male sensor connector?

zack, no wonder you are confused. The level sensor is located under the passenger seat. To access, just hold the end (where the knee is when you are sitting in the seat) and put upward. The cushion seat should come off from its latch. Under the sound proofing material there should be two metal cover which is oval in shape. Remove the 4 screws and you see the following:-
1. driver side or right side - fuel pump and level sensor - two connectors.
2. Left side - level sensor only- one connector.

This applies for E36 model. I am not sure where your fuel pump is located exactly but I think the design or location should be similar.

 

[zackertashia]

oo..yaka?al this while id been fiddlin wit the one in pic shown..it's in d bonnet o my e34..so im wrong..but stil,tried to pull the seat but nothin moves..warh,so tensen oredi..

 

[jarance]

zack that look like the place for the fuel pump. It look like your car design for the fuel system is different from E36 model.

extract from etk for e34 fuel system for your reference.

I can't seem to locate the level sensor in the picture. maybe somebody else can help you as I am confuse.

 

[jarance]

I also enclose a extract for an E36 level sensor for comparison.

The arrow show the level sensor.

 

[moots]

zack...e34 fuel pump and fuel level sender unit are located in the boot.it comes out from the tank together as an assembly.your pic shows the correct location.becareful though.if yr car is the earlier model,the fuel level sender could be brittle (plastic housing)and could break,and you may break the thin float guide wires inside.

 

[zackertashia]

opened d other day n found d 4thin wires but to my judgement al seems still ok..but unsure about d float..what does it look like?

might mine be a problem with the cable s well?man,i dun have any meter device to measure the resistance..darn

 

[zackertashia]

d device within d tank is jus like d pic below..anybody faced d same problem or perhaps can help?

(pic taken from etk)

 

[Iqlima]

http://bmwe32.student.utwente.nl/

From famous e32 DIY , look for Fuel Sender cleaning section. Might help

 

[jarance]

Originally posted by Iqlima@May 23 2005, 07:11 PM
http://bmwe32.student.utwente.nl/

From famous e32 DIY , look for Fuel Sender cleaning section. Might help

yes very good write up. It hidden under engine section.

Watch out for the thin wire when opening the nut as caution by the author..

iglima thank for the link. Now I know where the fuel level sensor is hiding.

 

[zackertashia]

thanx iqlima..thanx very much..seen d thin wire d other day but since i wasnt sure o d wat causin d problem so better stay out o trouble before things got confirmed..sadly d weekend had ended..wil have to wait for d comin weeken to clean d wire..cant wait to fix n have it workin(hopefully) after 2years!

thank god i bump into u guys

 

[zackertashia]

opened my fuel meter..thanx unker jarance for d meter..
sadly when i tested d thin wires there's stil resistance reading on d meter meaning dat it's stil workin fine :cry:
wat else cud b d problem?isit d gauge in d dash?could it b some resistor kaput oredi?did d reset button test but al seems 2b workin fine..

 

[zackertashia]

low on petrol position..(note d meter's needle)

 

[zackertashia]

petrol somewhere near half..

 

[zackertashia]

full..

 

[zackertashia]

with d console cover(d thing dat covers d thin wires)..

empty..

 

[zackertashia]

full..(d console turned upside down so d float guide falls down)..

 

[jarance]

zack, there seem to be three wire from the level sensor. You are testing only the main sensor. I think there is another terminal that you also have to check for the reserve tank indication.

When you plug in the connector, there should be a 12VDC supply on one of the terminals. Check for this supply.

Did you plug in the connector and switch on the ignition (without starting) and slide the float up and down slowly to check the fuel guage. It should response to the change of resistance.

If it does not, then the guage for the fuel sensor is most probably faulty.

To check the fuel guage, open the instrument cluster and check the resistance across the coil of the fuel meter. There should be some resistance reading.