What happened to my fuel!

[okow]

Several days ago while driving my "EML" and "DSC" warning lights came on, immediately felt a loss of power. The power cut was normal as a precautionary measure, hence the car had to go in to the w/shop.From the modic, discovered that the "idle valve", "Float 2" and "Oil level sensor" was faulty.......changed those- Idle Valve - $650- Float 2 - $350- Oil Level Sensor - $350- -Fuel Pump - $500Total $1850Although my repair bill gave me a shock, I was glad that my car was fixed.What upset me was, the very next morning the same symptoms appeared. Damn eml and dsc warning lights came on and power was cut again. This time it got worse, as within a short distance of 10 km, the warning light came on 3 times. (it goes off each time you restart your engine)Well, I sent my car back to the mechanic for reassessment and to trouble shoot much to my mechanics surprise. Now for surprise number 2: I just got my car back and the mechanic said that there was nothing wrong with the parts he changed and everything was working well except for the "oxygen emission" sensor or someting like that....anyway....when I sent my car in yesterday, I filled up with a full tank of fuel ($95) and always set my trip meter to zero and in my usual driving mode, that would read another 500 of so Kms to go. My fuel is now a quarter tank left but the strange thing is, my car had only travelled 75km and the reading was 170km left to go. Could the mechanic have left my car idling the whole night through?...and even if he did, would so much fuel be used up?I trust my machenic and when I asked him (not insinuating that he siphoned out some), he said that he had to test my car....then how come the low milieage? ..and NO, my fuel tank is not leaking.I am confused!

 

[E46Fanatic]

Wah cheap oil level sensor man....

Its a common problem with the fuel float. Sounds like your fuel float is off again causing the readings to go out of whack even through there is ample fuel in the car. Your mech should have fixed that. What intrigues me is that the symptoms in the first visit shouldnt have indicated the oil level sensor or fuel float.

There is likely to be another problem which is causing the engine to loose power and lights come on. For such troubleshooting problems, I tend to trust AB more than 3rd party shops out there as they are more trustworthy.

Get a 2nd opnion also might work.

 

[teejay]

how many floats does the E46 have?

if there are 2 floats, most probably the wires were not hooked up.....
so reading would just be from 1 side of the tank....

 

[okow]

Yes, e46Fanatic and TJ...i didnt think of that happening. My fuel reading could be wrong but in fact the fuel is still full but then again...I only pumped up AFTER changing those parts and I did see my fuel guage registering a full tank as well as the reading of 517kms left to go....
I dont think they touched my fuel sensor in their yesterday's job.

 

[karate70]

yes okow... i also faced the same prob whn i sent it in to check on sumthin n all of a sudden whn i got my car back the tank was quater filled... ask the mechanic n he said they needed to test the car... dont know wat they tested till half the tank gone... but at least the prob was rectified...

but fuel sensor workin find..

cheers

 

[leakwoon]

wahhh...sumthing new to me