L322 fuel gauge fault.

[stutab]

Hi all, done a search and nothing came up.

My boss has got a 2008 L322 TDV8 Autobiography. He was driving quite happily today with 1/4 tank of fuel showing on the gauge then engine konked out due to no fuel. Turned the key and no go, tank is empty. Anybody had this before or know how to fix it.

Will be better to tell him how to fix it after taking the **** out of him for running out of fuel, again

 

[2.0_hippo]

Fuel sensor ??

 

[stutab]

That is my thought. Stired the rubbish off the bottom of the tank when he ran out last time. I have known fuel gauges fail on fuses but as its not mine didn't want to go poking about pulling fuses or panels off.

 

[Saint.V8]

If previously any work has been done on the in tank pump, and the battery was disconnected with the key still in the ignition ( even if not turned), the fuel level calibration could be out as the ECU remembers the previous sensor value, and when jiggled about and moved during pump work, when you power it back up again, the level reading could be wrong!

 

[donp38]

saint. so how do you fix that?

 

[Saint.V8]

saint. so how do you fix that?

TBH - No Idea.....when I was researching how to do my ITP, all that was said was to avoid at all costs disconnecting the battery with the key in the ignition....

Re-reading RAVE (as attached) - it is actually the gauge needle that is memorised on battery disconnection and not Sensor Position as I original posted....

Not sure how you reset, no doubt there must be some option using Diagnostics!!

 

[stutab]

Thanks for that. His battery went flat in the winter but his fuel gauge has been working fine. He new he was empty last time he ran out and the only reason he ran out was the fuel station was shut so thought he could get to work. Told him to fill it to the top in an attempt to reset the maximum level and see what happens.

 

[Bryantimmins]

I have a slightly different ,possibly related ,new problem with a 2010 vogue which I picked up yesterday with 1/3 fuel in tank . I filled her right up and was surprised to see the gauge still showing 1/3 full. I looked for a big puddle thankfully none appeared. Has anyone else cleared a frozen gauge fault or might it be a sunk float in the fuel sensor ?

 

[sirchatalott]

My L322 has a similar problem it never shows less than a quater full but actually runs out of fuel (diesel) with the guage showing a quater full ie the amber light never comes on and the guage never drops to empty. Has anyone found a way to recallibrate the guage? The guage shows full when I fill the tank.

 

[2.0_hippo]

New tank fuel sender I think

 

[matt1987]

There is a bulletin on fuel tank reading error and you have to open tank and cut out connectors and put a bullet connector, now if you car has had this bulletin carried out there is a chance that a wire has been caught and not allowing the sender arm full travel. Also if you check the resistance of the senders on 1k ohms on a dvom reading they should read no lower than 50 and no more than 1000 if my memory serves me right, it's been a while since I carried out the bulletin tho. Hope this helps

 

[Eminence grise]

My 2005 L322, supercharged, ran out of fuel a few years ago with the gauge showing a third full. By amazing luck it was only half a mile from home at the end of a 150 mile trip! So not far to walk for a can of petrol. Accessing the fuel tank via the two round hatches under the rear seat I discovered the sender and pump weren't visible and groping around in the then full tank proved fruitless. Apparently sender and pump are one assembly; the dealers fitted a new assembly, not cheap of course, which cured the problem.
BUT lately I've run out of fuel a couple of times when the on screen "range to go" has shown 24 and 35 miles although the gauge needle appears true (fuel gauges have always been only crude indicators). I usually top up fully when the tank gets down to about a quarter full. Being a belt & braces man I've always carried a can of petrol.
I wonder of there's any way of recalibrating the range indicator.

 

[myfirstl322]

I haven't read the this lengthy post so maybe it's been said....or maybe I'm wrong, but if the tank is saddle shaped then the pump housing would have a dual role, to pump fuel and also be a transfer pump, ie. to transfer the fuel from the non pumped side of the tank, this could be the root of the reading anomaly.
Seen it on other cars, car runs out of fuel but still 1/4 full.
Add a couple of gallons and it starts up again.