Yesterday on the way home from Cars & Coffee, I filled up my car for the first time. According to my receipt, I put in 12.7 gallons. This morning when I went out to go to lunch, I cranked it up and the fuel gauge is missing 4 bars. The computer tells me I have 252 miles to empty. I SWEAR it read right yesterday, but.... where did nearly half a tank of gas go?

I'm new to Minis, so.... is this a common problem? Is the sensor already going bad or something? Or has someone siphoned out half my tank in broad daylight? Where'd my gas go?

Edit: Would help to tell you what I have.... 2010 Cooper S, picked up a little over a week ago used, 11,500 miles on it.

 

To determine if you are getting a false reading, you could fill again. If it takes several gallons (more than you could have possibly used) then I would question where you left the car parked. Check the gas flap after you lock.

Did you happen to notice if all of the carrots were lit after filling?

 

I think they were, but I'm not 100% sure. The gas station was only like 3/4 mile from my house, so I didn't have much time to pay attention to it :(

 

Nearly impossible to siphon fuel from a modern 1980's + car... lock or no lock. Anti siphon springs won't even allow a drinking straw get into the tank. If someone steals gas these days they punch a hole in the tank and drain it.

 

Ferris Buellers Day off comes to mind...........

Find a new hiding place for your keys

 

And this morning it's reading fine again. I went out, cranked the car, fuel gauge goes to full... checked the computer and it says Range 450.... so.... what happened? Is this an early warning that I have a sending unit or some sensor going bad?

 

Houston, we have a problem (you said it yourself).

 

NOT what I wanted to hear :( I wanted to get rid of my Subaru after fighting electrical gremlins in it for a year or so. I guess if I wanted a car without electrical issues, I shouldn't have bought German/British though, eh? :p

Will keep an eye on it and if it does it again, will call the closest dealer. I bought the car used from a Mazda dealer, so I DOUBT there's much they can do about it.

 

should still have MINI warranty on it if is a 2010, i'd think, worth calling a MINI dealer with your VIN to check.

 

Not to pick on the OP or rain on anyone else's parade, but I am constantly amazed at the number of people who purchase a "pre-owned" or used vehicle and are surprised when it has an issue or two, especially when it's purchased from a sales outlet other than the manufacturer's dealer. In some cases cars, especially newer ones with low miles, are on a lot because someone else was getting rid of their "problem child". In my mind any and all used vehicles are a crap shoot. We just one week ago purchased a very nice 05 Nissan Titan 4x4 pickup truck at a reasonable price based on age and mileage. The Carfax checked out. It was a two owner truck with all appropriate service and repair records at a local dealership. To make a long story short, I just returned from the local Nissan dealership following a service appointment for a "Check Engine" light that came on 24 hours after we got the truck home. Total damage, once all the parts come in and all work completed will be about $1300. In addition to the CEL issue which requires parts and labor to the tune of $550, they also found a drive belt that needed to be replaced (maintenance item) and a leaking high pressure power steering hose. Such is life. Vehicles have parts that fail, some sooner and some later. Hell, the Chrysler Sebring convertible that I sold a couple months ago had started to develop intermittent low oil pressure, hence purchasing my 11 MCS. At least I was honest and disclosed the potential issue and also adjust my sales price accordingly. End of rant.