Need Help with Code

[Fifty150hs]

So, I searched the forum and haven't found anything on this. I used my Schwaben scanner to check for codes on my 2006 3.0. One of the codes I got was "8D DME: Plausibility, tank fill level." I can't find anything in the Bentley manual that specifically addresses this code other than it lists it as among possible codes. Anyone have any idea what is causing this code? The fuel gauge shows full when full and seems to be operating normally. Low fuel light comes on when it's down to 50 mile range.

[Crowz]

Well the code means "implausible fuel level" even though it says the opposite

Basically the computer isn't buying what the tank sender is telling it.

The sender can go bad but normally its just corrosion and or deposits built up on it in the tank. You can try some techron injector cleaner on it. I have seen this fix some cars. Its not 100% guaranteed but it has been known to work. Cheap fix if it works. Also if it works make sure you change the fuel filter afterwards. Its not a bad idea to change the filter after using techron since it will break lose anything in the fuel system and that will get lodged in the filter.

[Crowz]

Also if you didn't have a check engine light and were just playing around with the scanner and found that code then clear the codes and see if the code even comes back or not. A perfectly fine bmw with no check engine light or anything seeming wrong with it will have codes when checked with a scanner 50% of the time.

So my rule of thumb when messing with a car I haven't scanned before or one that hasn't been scanned in a long time is to ignore most of what shows up on the scanner and just reset the codes and wait and see what shows back up.

Never chase a code without clearing it out at least once. Your wallet will thank you for following that motto.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by Crowz

Also if you didn't have a check engine light and were just playing around with the scanner and found that code then clear the codes and see if the code even comes back or not. A perfectly fine bmw with no check engine light or anything seeming wrong with it will have codes when checked with a scanner 50% of the time.

So my rule of thumb when messing with a car I haven't scanned before or one that hasn't been scanned in a long time is to ignore most of what shows up on the scanner and just reset the codes and wait and see what shows back up.

Never chase a code without clearing it out at least once. Your wallet will thank you for following that motto.

Thanks. I cleared it and it came back. Also ran Techron through a couple of fuel ups ago, so if that was the cheap fix it didn't work. Seems odd the computer doesn't buy what the level sensors is telling it since what it is sending the gauge seems to be accurate. Fuel filter is located in the tank?

[Crowz]

Filter is under the car. Here is a vid of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ3MbtGDYzA

[Crowz]

You can use an ohm meter to test the resistance of the senders in the tank. But what happens with corrosion is the sweeper on the sender basically hits bad spots and sends bad data "resistance" values to the computer or gauge in most cars.

If the spots very small you wont see it on the gauge since it has a delay built into it. But the computer on the other hand reads each signal from it. So it can show empty or a value that is the equivalent to being overfilled (beyond the amount it should be able to read) for a split second thus causing the error code while you wouldn't see the needle even twitch on the cluster.

Removing the sender and cleaning the sensor or replacing it is about the only real fixes. Have you had the fuel pump replaced recently? You could have a wire loose from that possibly.

[upallnight]

Open up the OBC and see what type of reading you have for the gas tanks. You have a left side and right side tank. The left side tank is larger and holds more fuel than the right side. A transfer siphon pump is used to transfer the fuel from the left side to right side.