Has anyone had any trouble with their fuel gauge being off by quite a bit? I'm not sure if it has something to do with the ridiculously cold weather, but my guage is pretty consistantly off below 3/4 of a tank. Yesterday, I actually ended up running out of gas (should have been aware of the millaege for the tank), and the guage said I still had nearly a half tank?

Also, does anyone know if the "mileage left" reading on the computer is based on readings from the gas gauge, or is it a seperate measurement? Because, that is off also, reading WAY high for the amount of fuel that I know is left. Any comments will be helpful. Thanks
-Chris

 

Chris,

I rolled off the dealer lot with a faulty fuel gauge sending unit. If I was picking it up in my home city, I would have let them fix it. Anyway, the problem I had was that one of the sending units works intermitently, when I have a freshly full tank, it may show empty. Also when my tank is less than half full -- it may show empty.

My local service has the part in, and I'll be taking my MCS in next week to get that fixed. They were aware of the issue, I was not the first they had dealt with. Given that I have issues with my fuel gauge, I take notice to how it is functioning. I've noted one occasion that it showed 1/4 of a tank and the light was on -- then after the next time I started it car it showed half a tank (which was closer to accurate). Don't trust the range indicator if you think you have a sendign unit problem -- when my tank shows empty -- the range shows "--" and on that one occasion my tank reported 1/4 - the range reflected that, later it reflected closer to accurate.


Hope this helps and you may consider talking to a Service rep.

Cheers,
-Eric

 

Thanks, Eric, I will be speaking with my dealer soon about the issue.
-Chris

 

The computer is taking a reading off of the fuel tank sending unit, but the guage is separately powered.

Yesterday, I was getting my tank filled while my ignition switch was on in the first (accessories) position. I'd had my computer display adjusted for the "range remaining" display and as the tank was getting filled I could watch my range increase on the display...but the guage, since it wasn't powered on, stayed at zero. It was kind of neat in a geeky way to be able to figure out where the data was coming from.

 

That is pretty cool. Thanks for hte update. Still having problems with mine, though it still might be the cold, but I doubt it. I'm giving MINI a call today so I can get it straightened out before too long. Thanks again
-Chris