Flickering fuel gauge issue on 325

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Bamber
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Post Mon Jul 09, 2012 6:37 pm

Just wondering if anyone else has come across the same issue. The fuel gauge was sitting fine at dead on quarter of a tank left but upon driving for about 30mins during my commute this morning and it started flickering all over the gauge. It settled at around 3/4 then dropped fully to empty and hasn't moved since.
I can only presume it will be wiring/earth related or possibly sender/gauge itself. But I was wondering if anyone else on here has come across the same sisue, and what was your resolve?
It's an '88 325i facelift.

Cheers, James
steve_k
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Post Mon Jul 09, 2012 6:40 pm

first port of call is to check the little brass nut on the back of the gauge as that could have come loose or fallen off.

after that all i can suggest is it could be a fault with the level sender, had that on mine turned out to be a bad spot after the car had been stood for nearly a year.
if it's got t*ts or wheels it's bound to be trouble...............prove me wrong.
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Bamber
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Post Mon Jul 09, 2012 6:51 pm

Cool, thanks for that. I'll check that nut on the back of the gauge first then.
I use the car everyday and this is the first time it's done it so maybe it could be something like that.

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TPS
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Post Mon Jul 09, 2012 6:57 pm

I think they're 6mm, if memory serves me correctly.
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Bamber
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Post Mon Jul 09, 2012 7:04 pm

TPS wrote:I think they're 6mm, if memory serves me correctly.
Cool, cheers! I'll grab one before i strip it in case the original has fallen down the back of the dash never to be seen again
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Brianmoooore
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Post Mon Jul 09, 2012 9:31 pm

If you're going to get a nut in anticipation, I'd make it a 4mm one rather than 6! TPS's memory sadly isn't what it once was.
Given that you say the gauge dropped to zero, I doubt if the nut is the problem, though. Pull up the rear seat cushion, find a plug and socket (should be) cable tied to the vent pipe tube on the RH side, and use a piece of wire to short together one of the brown wires and the brown/green wire, with the ignition on and the plug and socket still connected together. This should make the gauge go to full.
If it does, disconnect and short together the two pins of the plugs of the two level sensors one at a time. Shorting the faulty one should bring the gauge back to life, although with an inaccurate reading.
If the gauge doesn't respond to shorting the plug on the seat pan, concentrate your attention on the instrument cluster.
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Bamber
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Post Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:20 pm

Thanks for you reply. I had an auto electrictian chevk it out today, pulled out the back seat and checked all the wiring there. Took the cluster out and no issues like that nut mentined either. But it appears to still flicker all over the gauge during driving.
I will check what you have suggested brian, thanks