Member Since: 21 Feb 2011
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 52
Fuel Gauge shows empty!!
Just waiting for the witty comments to say 'go and put some diesel in it'
Funny thing is that is just what I did before the ominous warning chime and then the fuel gauge went from full to empty.. I know the D3 isn't great on fuel but I think I should be able to do more than 2 miles before a full tank reads empty.
Not just the file gauge but the range also started to drop pretty quickly..
So stopped the car, turned off the engine, restarted went through the system checks and full tank again. Another 1/2 mile down the road and same thing again...
Have any of you guys had this before, did a quick search on here but couldn't find anything.
I think it could be that she is not used to having a full tank and has just confused her...
6th Jul 2012 8:47 pm
swoodley
Member Since: 21 Feb 2011
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 52
Just did another search and have a few things to look at..
Worn wires.. Sender unit, sensor jobby...
6th Jul 2012 9:24 pm
swoodley
Member Since: 21 Feb 2011
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 52
Well I have looked at the wires under the of wheel arch which are fine.. No bare wires...
Strange thing now is the gauge sometimes reads empty, half full or full.
What made it worse is the car died this evening, engine just cut out brakes are really rubbish without power!!!!
Switched it off and then restarted, and felt really lumpy!!!
Connected to a friends fault code reader and no errors... I'm starting to think it is the fuel pump.. Was really lumpy leaving friends house until got to a hill, gauge went to full, engine felt normal.. Floored it on the next straight bit of road and was off like a rocket left my wife's mini standing...
Had a read on here and still think it is fuel pump related..
At least it is still under a warranty.
29th Jul 2012 10:24 pm
Bushwanderer
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
Hi swoodley,
I think that your blaming the fuel pump is incorrect.
I suspect that your engine cut out because the ecu thought that your fuel tank was empty - due to a signal issue (and, therefore, to protect the engine).
I think that you need to trace the signal from the fuel tank.
Best Wishes,
PeterThe Bearded Dragon
30th Jul 2012 5:04 am
Dave T
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 6902
Does it slowly go up after a few miles? Mine will start out low but goes up and after maybe 10 mins will read normal then perhaps go walkabout for a while. I am hoping that it may be because my battery is on the way out but have a suspicion that it is more likely the sender unit, looking at the drawing there appears to be two in the tank, or a least it is in two electrical parts.
The range disappears as it is connected to the fuel gauge system so that should be expected. I make sure I rest my odometer at every fill now
I'd be interested to hear what yur outcome is when you are sorted.Joined the BMWX5 45e group
1994 Defender 90
2015 RRS Corris Grey/Black roof
2016 D4 Graphite Santorini Black
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30th Jul 2012 7:04 am
swoodley
Member Since: 21 Feb 2011
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 52
Well the car has been with the local indy since Monday. They have confirmed that it is the sender units within the tank.
So now just waiting for the replacements.. luckily still under warranty...
8th Aug 2012 2:02 pm
bigcarpchaser
Member Since: 13 Oct 2007
Location: Camberley
Posts: 2270
Ahaaaa it's yours is it? Mine is in today, service and MOT, fingers crossed Welcome "Lola"
8th Aug 2012 3:46 pm
swoodley
Member Since: 21 Feb 2011
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 52
Yep, is mine, has been there all week and really missing not having it...
At least it has saved me a week of fuel usage....
9th Aug 2012 11:06 am
bigcarpchaser
Member Since: 13 Oct 2007
Location: Camberley
Posts: 2270
It's in safe hands, they're a good bunch in there.Welcome "Lola"
9th Aug 2012 2:11 pm
Dave T
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 6902
So how did they diagnose the problem? What other checks did they do? What is the fix just a sender or a whole tank? Did hey need to remove the tank? Can I ask costs, pm that if you want. I have a problem with mine going walk about and the connectors in the wheel arch are fine so looking for a bit of help.Joined the BMWX5 45e group
1994 Defender 90
2015 RRS Corris Grey/Black roof
2016 D4 Graphite Santorini Black
2012 D4 XS Orkney Grey
2005 D3 S Maya Gold
Convoy for Heroes 2011
9th Aug 2012 7:25 pm
swoodley
Member Since: 21 Feb 2011
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 52
I also checked the wiring in the front wheel arch before sending it to the Garage, mine was also fine (was hoping it was going to be a cheap fix).
From what the garage has told me so far they checked, the wiring from the tank and replaced a small amount of cable, but this did not resolve the problem. Then checked both sender units which were reading different levels, they managed to fix this but the fuel gauge was still reading zero. Went back and looked at the fuel senders which were again reading different levels. They contacted land rover to see if the front sender could be replaced as you need Mr Gadget arms to get to it. If they couldn't change it then would have been a new tank. But both senders within the tank are being replaced. I think they also plugged in a reader to check for fault codes.
The tank has to come off so they can get the inspection cavity at the top.
Can't give you an exact on the price at the moment as still haven't picked up the car, but the warranty company is paying around £330 of the bill, so that will cover the labour to actually fit the parts and the parts, but I will have to pay the labour for the diagnostic.
The cost of the parts according to TLO's site are around £55 each.
If I had known it was the senders from the outset I think I would have attempted the job myself as the parts are not that expensive. Just would have taken me a whole weekend to change them.
Hope it helps.
Steve
10th Aug 2012 9:18 am
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
in case you are interested :
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Duncan
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If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
10th Aug 2012 9:35 am
swoodley
Member Since: 21 Feb 2011
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 52
For second there you had me really worried... I thought it was a picture of my car!!!!
10th Aug 2012 9:39 am
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
I bet your heart sank for a moment ??Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
10th Aug 2012 9:47 am
Dave T
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 6902
Duncan, the top picture, is that what is inside the buff cover in the bottom?Joined the BMWX5 45e group
1994 Defender 90
2015 RRS Corris Grey/Black roof
2016 D4 Graphite Santorini Black
2012 D4 XS Orkney Grey
2005 D3 S Maya Gold
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brakes are really rubbish without power!!!!
left my wife's mini standing...
