Fuel gauge

[BaldGuy]

Anybody have this problem?<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>
When I fill the tank right up, sometimes the needle will not move of empty, when I've done about a 100 miles or so, it will register as normal after a engine off and restart.
The Stealership say its a dodgy float assembly in the tank, is this true???
If so, I feel a warranty claim coming on!!!!

 

[Simon]

Wheelie,

Just to let you know, I had this problem briefly about six months ago, then it went away of it's own accord and has been OK since.

 

[V12]

Yep, fuel tank sender unit A.K.A fuel float sensor...they always go wrong, we sell LOADS, and have loads of customers that cant work out the problem...

 

[SPS]

i have a similar problem on the c200,the gauge will register empty after filling the tank.Initially, i thought this was due to overfilling the tank.SO NOW I NEVER FILL THE TANK TO THE BRIM and this appers to help ,but it is obviously a common fault-surely with 56k on the clock,merc could have done better.Apparently there are two separate tanks and 2 sender units as per the haynes manual and access is from underneath the car-the sender units are expensive when compared with the merc 190e model,where access is from the top of the tank and the sender unit is reasonably priced.

 

[fuzzer]

This is why its wise to know how much your car can do on a tank of fuel. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

I never trust the gauge , its a rough guide , but , should not be taken as being true.

Ohh , this will explain why mercedes do that cleverly designed fuel cannister for the spare wheel .

 

[BaldGuy]

Well I'm having the tank sender unit replaced in a few weeks on warranty along with all of my rear suspension being rebuilt again with new bushes to stop all the clonking!!!!

 

[GrahamC230K]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Ohh , this will explain why mercedes do that cleverly designed fuel cannister for the spare wheel .</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Yeah, I saw that in the brochure.

Anyone got one?


</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Well I'm having the tank sender unit replaced in a few weeks on warranty along with all of my rear suspension being rebuilt again with new bushes to stop all the clonking!!!!</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Did you have this problem before the 18's?

 

[Shude]

I lasted for 6 months without a fuel gauge in my vauxhall astra, I knew it would do about 400 miles on a tank so I just reset the trip every time I filled up.

Just to add, I was once told it's clever not to let the tank go down to less than an 8th or so, apparently the fuel helps to keep the sensors/motors/pumps/whatever cool on some cars. &nbsp;Dunno how true that is...

 

[fuzzer]

And the driver cool too . I don't know if it bothers anyone else , but that low fuel light seems to burn into your eye and thats all you can look at

 

[BaldGuy]

Graham,

Yes I did have the problems before my 18's.....

Greg

 

[Shude]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (fuzzer @ Sep. 22 2002,18:48)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">And the driver cool too . I don't know if it bothers anyone else , but that low fuel light seems to burn into your eye and thats all you can look at</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I have the same issue with my BAS/ASR warning light, it's been on since March or something, it's three times bigger than the low fuel light and it's just as bright, even if you turn down the cluster brightness...

 

[tosborne]

I have had exactly the same problem on my 1999 C240 Elegance!

When the tank was full, the gauge would sometimes work, or sometimes read zero (with that awful orange warning light burning my eyes!). After driving a 100 or so miles the gauge would start to work fine.

I spoke to a couple of dealers and this appears to be quite a common problem on the W202- it's the fuel sender units.

I am having mine replaced at the moment. Even without asking, the dealership in Milton Keynes said that they had spoken to Daimler-Chrysler(UK) and that they would pay for the cost of the parts and 50% of the labour.

So, the cost to me was £86, rather than £350 which it would have been without the subsidy!

Annoying that this would happen at all, but quite pleased MB realised the problem and are prepared to pay (something) toward fixing it!

 

[rirhill]

The problem I sometimes have with mine is after filling the gauge reads just under the line of full. After sometime then it will slow rise to full.

Regards
Ian

 

[Lust4Life]

Mine reads 3/4 when brimmed and has 10-12 litres left when the light comes on

 

[V12]

Replacing your fuel tank sender unit will fix 99% of petrol gauge related problems.

get on with it guys...