Fuel gauge - stuck 1/4 tank low?

[WTArmstrong]

Not a major issue, but curious: Anyone else have a gas gauge that will never go to "Full", and perpetually reads about 1/4-1/3 tank low? This seems to ONLY affect the physical needle, not the computer itself.

For example: This AM, my gauge was on E. Miles remaining was showing me around 160, after putting about 300 miles on the car since last fill up. In other words, the computer seemed accurate, with a full-tank range of 450-475 miles indicated. But when I filled the tank, it reads just below 3/4. I've only owned the vehicle for a few weeks, but every fill-up has been the same, never going over 3/4 tank on the needle, even if the miles remaining estimate is right around 500 miles.

Not a show-stopper, just mildly annoying, wondering if there's any simple way to "calibrate" the needle itself.

[getty150]

The in-tank level arm...stuck, let's hope. Going to have to go in and investigate....if you want to save $$$

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[andrewwynn]

It's very very unlikely it's physically stuck unless you recently did work remove n replace however it's common for the potentiometer wiper to get weak enough it doesn't properly register.

If you look at test six you can determine if it's left or right side.

I have a DIY repair for the issue:

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...uel-gauge.html

You can use test 21 to reset the OBC including fuel gauge averaging but that thread it shows how to figure out which side is failing and how to repair the float resistance issue which should be your problem and fix.

Watch your test six while driving and whichever side will suddenly change and not from sloshing that's the culprit.

When mine was malfunctioning, I would fill complete tank and it would only read 2/3. I would often only fill 1/2-2/3 so I probably went months in that scenario before i went on a road trip and did complete fills and noticed right away it only showed 2/3 tank leaving the bgaa station but would slowly climb as i drove.

[cn90]

Try a few bottles of Techron FI cleaner and see...

[WTArmstrong]

Thanks all. The fact that the computer seems to be reading correctly, but not the needle made me THINK that the sender was fine, but I'll still run through the test. I've not tackled the fix on an x5, but had to replace a dead float on my e46 years ago, looks like pretty similar fix.

[WTArmstrong]

Andrew - can you elaborate on "Test 6"? Thought your DIY would explain it but didn't see it there . I do have a Foxwell scanner if that helps, just won't have a good chance for at least a week or two to pull the back seat out to take a look at the sender.

[X5chemist]

Test 6 is in the instrument cluster. You'll need to sum the final 6(?) digits to get a code. The code gets you into the cluster hidden menu. Tricky but it works.

[andrewwynn]

Bmw hidden menu. Search YouTube to learn how to get in. Test 6 shows the fuel tank levels in liters.


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