E39 1997 Fuel Indicator

[dale]

That day I was stranded by the road side just because of a false reading on my fuel indicator. At first I thought it was the fuel pump since the fuel indicator was indicating slightly more than 1/4 tank. Called Nick (Rawang) and a tow truck (RM120). At the workshop, Nick confirmed that there was nothing wrong with the fuel pump but the fuel indicator, so my question is can the fuel indicator: a. be repaired/rectified, b. change just the fuel indicator or c. do i have to change the whole instrument cluster/panel.Bavarian Auto has no stock so i'm living with an imaginary offset fuel tank, where 1/4 tank is equivalent to an empty tank for me.

 

[jarance]

dale,

1. When you fill the petrol tank to full, how many litre is required?
2. When the tank is FULL, what is the indication on the instrument panel?
3. When the tank is 1/4 full, did you get an amber light at the fuel guage?

If you can answer the above, maybe we can help you to troubleshoot better.

 

[safrul]

Are u using shell?

 

[jarance]

Are u using shell?

care to explain how his problem is related to using a certain brand???

 

[BeemerSTER]

Try to replace the petrol float for the lower tier - since it indicated 1/4 fuel left.(for E39s there are 2 floats, upper tier & lower tier). Damage will be about RM300 with labour. Remove back seat and replace the float on RHS(behind driver). About 30mins job if workshop has in stock.

Good luck....

 

[safrul]

hehe jarance, guess what...my chevy optra used to have float problem. Ask the service center they said the float is dirty. But its not the kind of dirty,..the oil dirty type...its like some kind of additive layer at the float.

They advice me NOT TO USE SHELL and try use others. At first, i tak percaya..i change to other shell pump...still the same. Then one day i fedup already.... switch to mobil and use it for 2 weeks.... then...solve....no more fuel indicator error. !! strange but its true !! Now even my E36 also i use mobil and i get more accurate gauge reading. http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/forums/member.php?u=21

 

[dale]

Still the same topic

dale,

1. When you fill the petrol tank to full, how many litre is required?
2. When the tank is FULL, what is the indication on the instrument panel?
3. When the tank is 1/4 full, did you get an amber light at the fuel guage?

If you can answer the above, maybe we can help you to troubleshoot better.

Thank you for being very responsive guys,
Jarance:
I will privide u with that info but as for #3. I don't get any amber light when i experienced that flame-out.

 

[dale]

Still the same topic

Try to replace the petrol float for the lower tier - since it indicated 1/4 fuel left.(for E39s there are 2 floats, upper tier & lower tier). Damage will be about RM300 with labour. Remove back seat and replace the float on RHS(behind driver). About 30mins job if workshop has in stock.

Good luck....

Yeah BeemerSTER, the mechanic did mentioned that it could be the float. Finding time to send in my car there

 

[jarance]

Thank you for being very responsive guys,
Jarance:
I will privide u with that info but as for #3. I don't get any amber light when i experienced that flame-out.

If you need about 65 litres to fill to full tank at the 1/4 then your float is most probably got stuck since you did not get the amber light.

If you got the amber light, then the problem is due to fuel needle offset.

You need to open up the fuel sender and check the float. Replace the float if it is broken. I am not sure whether you can get the float seperately but can buy from potong shop.

here is a picture of the fuel sender.

-

 

[jarance]

hehe jarance, guess what...my chevy optra used to have float problem. Ask the service center they said the float is dirty. But its not the kind of dirty,..the oil dirty type...its like some kind of additive layer at the float.

They advice me NOT TO USE SHELL and try use others. At first, i tak percaya..i change to other shell pump...still the same. Then one day i fedup already.... switch to mobil and use it for 2 weeks.... then...solve....no more fuel indicator error. !! strange but its true !! Now even my E36 also i use mobil and i get more accurate gauge reading. http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/forums/member.php?u=21

safrul, thank for the information. As for me, I have use Shell almost all the time and I have not encountered any problem with sticky float. The old problem that I faced is that the wire for the fuel sensor/sender was found broken when I went over a high bump. Replace the wire with a longer wire and have not had any problem since.

 

[safrul]

well jarance...

maybe if one day u see ur float going nuts, instead of go and clean the float, why not just use other than shell for about 2 week. then use shell back lah..

 

[jarance]

Ha..ha.. yes.. will certainly follow your advise when that day come.. LOL

 

[Bishop]

Had the same problem with my 99 model.
The amber light was on but the countdown meter still had about 60+km left and the needle was not at E yet... was on the way to Projet but ran out of fuel about 500m before the station...

Called unker Yazid, luckily he ask me to put fuel in else have to pay for tow truck...

Seems to be ok now...

 

[dale]

.

....

Seems to be ok now...

Your "OK" means now the amber light will come on at the exact "E" indication? Which I can deduce that the problem before was due to a "sticky" float?

 

[willy5]

A friend had same problem with the indicator, it was a sticky float. The mechanic cleaned it up and reinstalled problem solved. BTW he only uses Shell, so I don't know if this is a coincidence ....

 

[safrul]

hahahha...same issue...use shell then float will get sticky because of their additive.

some joke from the workshop la...shell use this sticky additive so that when we drive, we didnt notice the petrol level drop...so...u think more miledge and jimat lah...until u start then u know..

nway, tell ur friend try change to something else and see the different.

other people in this club having same problem?? and also using shell?

howbout people who have sticky problem but not using shell..

A friend had same problem with the indicator, it was a sticky float. The mechanic cleaned it up and reinstalled problem solved. BTW he only uses Shell, so I don't know if this is a coincidence ....