fuel gauge reading empty when tank full
 

hello please help i have a e36 323i with this problem. when i bought the car last month what i was not told the fuel gauge was stuck on 1/4 of a tank so i first thought was the fuel gauge was stuck as it stayed the same with the ignition off so i bought some new ones done the test you do by holding the reset button with the key half turn and all move fine so they work. but now the fuel stays empty with the tank full so i taken out the left hand fuel sender and found a wire had broken off the sender unit so replaced it with a new one and still no reading. i was told to short the connection out as it should send the gauge to full but no joy. so is seems i have no power going to the sending units as i tried both each side of tank. could it be a fuse i checked all the ones in fuse box by the engine and all look fine so are there more fuses in the car i cant fined please help?????????????

I had a problem with the gauge staying on empty despite the tank being full when my car ('95) was new, long, long ago. Took it to the dealer under warranty and the technician told me it wasn't all that uncommon a problem. Strangely enough the solution he gave didn't involve the gauge or the sending unit or anything like that, it was merely to remove a fuse (can't remember if it was #11 or #31 or whatever, but obviously it did have something to do with the gauge) and leave it out for 10 minutes. Reinsert, and then check to see if the needle on the gauge has moved. Repeat if necessary.

Sounds crazy, but it worked for me, and haven't had the problem since. Now your problem may be different given the description you've provided, but you may wish to give this a try.

hello mate will def give that a try as i have just seen on other forums this same problem has been down to that so hope will work but do you know if the fuse box by the engine is the only place i can find fuses??? will also let you know how i get on

Right, on left-hand side drive models it's up by the firewall on the driver's side, probably the same place on UK models. Again, I can't recall which no. fuse it is, but check your owner's manual or the chart under the fuse box lid.

yep thats the one then cheers bud :)