I hadn't driven my MINI S for the last week, so when I took it for a spin yesterday I checked the gas gauge and it said it was FULL. I parked the car for about 15 minutes. When I started it again the gas gauge was buried to the left on the empty side with the little bright red light glowing. I thought I was in the Twilight Zone! WHAT? Didn't I just see this gauge reading full? I didn't have my "mileage/gas book" in the car so I couldn't remember the last time I got gas.

So I swung into to the nearest petro station and pumped $5 of "off-brand" gas to get me to my regular gas station. Leaving the first station the gauge still said "EMPTY." When I started pumping gas at my regular station the nozzle kicked off after about 1/3 gallon. So then I KNEW I had recently filled it. When I started the MINI again the gauge still said it was empty.

I got home and parked it for a bit. When I turned the key on again the gauge then showed it was full.

Sorry for this long explanation, but I wanted those of you to know that I opened the gas cap several times in this process as to rule out vapor lock, something that I had happen on a Porsche '67 911S I once owned.

So with that, has anyone else had this problem? Or does someone have an explanation for this?

Thanks!

 

I haven't had this problem in the mini but it sounds like there is a short in your fuel gauge sending unit.

 

This might be of assistance: http://www.lonestarminiclub.com/foru...=4062#post4062

 

Had the same problem a few times. Seems to be totally random.
But an interesting side note: When I was trying to reset the service mileage, (from memory -dumb me), I went through a cycle that caused the fuel gauge to do exactly the same thing. Stopped immediately, turned off the key, turned on the key; it worked again. Memory failed again 'cuz I don't remember what I did exactly that caused it. (gotta upgrade that RAM soon!)
Mine's done it on and off for 3 or 4 years now -maybe once or twice a year- and seems to cure itself with no ill effects. Never lasts long; maybe a day or two at the most.
I just figure it's one of Farley's idiosyncrasies like his penchant for collecting rocks on his nose and windshield.

 

My wife's 2006 'S' cabrio does the exact same thing about once a month. The fuel gauge will either "come back to life" within a few minutes, or at the worst it'll be back to normal the next time she gets in the car. It's probably just a glitch in the sender, and the car has lots of warranty left, so we haven't bothered with it yet.

 

Thanks for the link, but as long my MINI is still under warranty, I'll let the dealer fix anyting like this before I need to spend the time on it.

And thanks for the other posts, too. At least I know I'm not lone on this weird problem.

One thing I forgot to add to my main post on this topic was that when I check the "computer" display for the "range" left on the gas in the tank read "---" which puzzled me even more. With that notice I figured I should have been out of gas!

 

Correct me if Im wrong, but I count three times you turned off-restarted the car. I wonder if this has anything to do with the three stop-start cycles that usually reset the SES light?

And my gas gauge does not read accurately, when it lies dead center on half tank, it takes upward of 10 gallons--sometimes less.

 

While you've got it in there for the sender repair, make 'em put on a new fuel filter.

 

Something else: when I mentioned my gas gauge issues to my SA, he said it's a good idea to throw a bottle of Techron or a can of BG-44k (my fave) in the tank every 10k or so to keep the sender "well lubricated" (his words), something BMW approves. Try that in the interim and see what happens.

 

"20 days in the shop in 3.5 years. $7,649 in warranty repairs, inc 2 driver' side CV joints in 3 weeks--on a car with only 26K. The love affair is starting to tarnish."
sequence, you've got to be the most patient human on this planet. Kudo's to you for hangin' on. Mine is at 78K miles and has probably spent a total of 7 days in the shop. (The first couple of years: new front shocks, new CV's, new PS pump, new tranny/clutch), after that -happiness! Nirvana is out there; sometimes it's hard to find.

 

nah, not patient, hell I waited 10 agonizing months for this car back in 2004 when they were so GD hard to get. I just cant figure out how the hell I could privately sell a car with such a documented checkered service history.

 

The first start was after a 50 mile drive where the gauge showed it was empty. I drove 2 miles to the first gas station after the first start. Then drove about 3 miles to the final gas station...that is starting the MINI two times with the gauge reading empty. Then started a third time to get home, STILL with the gauge reading empty.

So with that you're saying when that for every three times you stop and start a MINI it resets the SES light??? And this is the cause of this problem???? Sorry but this is the FIRST time this has happened to this MINI in 17K miles and my wife's '06 with 12K has never done this either. It has to be something other than a "cycle" of stopping and restarting.

 

Also sequence, your "20 days in the shop in 3.5 years. $7,649 in warranty repairs, inc 2 driver' side CV joints in 3 weeks--on a car with only 26K" sounds pretty abnormal for a MINI. Have you contacted MINI direct with these problems? With that many $$$ in warranty repairs I would think MINI would want to get to the bottom of your troubles. And with 2 driver side CV joint replacements in 3 weeks.....what are you doing to this MINI????!!!!

 

Chevron w/ Techron in the black bottle is great stuff. I've used it on my past 3 vehicles.

 

I had the same problem. You'll probably notice that as the tank level falls, the gauge rights itself - that is because there are two sending units in the tank - one that does 0-2/3 and the other that does 2/3-full. Mine was replaced under warranty - bad fuel level sender 2.

 

OP the 3 stop/start cycle is normal to reset a SES light, my first instance of this is when I took my car up to the top of Mt. Evans w of Denver to 14,000 feet and the lack of oxygen messed with some sensor, hence the SES lite coming on. read about the 3 s/s cycle somewhere on NAM, and my MA confirmed yet, so yes after 3 s/s cycles the SES lite went out.

that was just a theory I put out about the possibility that this procedure could reset yr gas gauge. But then you could have a defective sender or head unit...

And as far as contacting MINI Direct: my repairs, except for the recent CV joint issues* have been with problems that are well documented with these cars, so what recourse do I have? It's not considered a lemon under CO lemon laws. Beside, my dealership has been nothing short of awesome in attempting to correct the problems, even theough my SA did mention that this much in warranty repairs is "pretty high" for a 2005 S.

*(my dealer theorizes that when the CV joints were assembled by a BMW subcontractor, they were not greased and lubricated. However, they did not want to cut open the bellows to confirm this or fear of BMW rejecting the warranty claim.)