My 320i Cutting Out

[Tlvivo]

Hi Peeps,

I have been dealing with this issue for a few months - it all started when I was on the highway and the car just lost power while i was doing a 120km/h. luckily had enough movement to get me to the yellow lane.

when trying to start the car - it cranks like there is no fuel in the car and there was about a 1/4 tank available. I couldn't find anything else wrong with the car. I asked a friend to bring me 5 lts of petrol - topped up - car started same time. This left me confused - so I figure well must be the petrol filter o r dirty tank, I brought a new filter - brought some tank/injector cleaner. Changed filter - test drove - all seemed good let the tank run low the 1st time - that went well.

But alas on the way back from work maybe 2 weeks after the change of filter - i was on the highway back home this time and what do u know - lost power car switched off stopped. Got a friend to get me petrol again - car started. I have not driven it since. I am going to start it again now, but I need your expert advice what could this be - this happens everytime the petrol is on 1/4 tank... Help Asseblief!

 

[jeff_denning]

Have you had your car diagnosed yet?
Could very well be a fuel sender issue.

Not sure about your car exactly, but in my car I have two fuel sender relays. Once that measures the tank from full to half, and the other that measures from half to empty.

If the secondary one is faulty, and getting stuck and showing a quarter tank - you could just be running out of petrol. Does the car just suddenly stop or is it a gradual-ish process?

 

[Philip Foglar]

How much fuel goes in when the tank is showing quarter? As fas as I know the tank hold 63 litres. My Wife's 320i ran out of fuel with the reserve light on and showing 45km range remaining. So we ensure that the range never falls bellow 100km to play safe - not good to allow an engine to run out of fuel and suck all kinds of muck into the fuel line, let alone air...

 

[XMAX]

It could be that the level sensor is not working properly, hence when the car is showing 1/4 tank, its actually almost empty.

according to your story, and by some deduction, the car runs fine when there is sufficient fuel. So a fuel pump problem could very well be ruled out cos if the pump is faulty, it would behave the same regardless of how much fuel is in the tank.

those injector cleaners are worth nothing in my opinion. if you want to clean the tank, pull if off the car.


for now, drive the car with more than 1/4 tank fuel at all times and monitor the power of the car. is it still losing power, or not. after a few days, if the car is still ok, then I suspect that its the level sensor thats faulty or that relay stuff jeff mentioned.

 

[Chucky]

Have the car diagnosed, could also be a faulty sensor like the crank position sensor, when that goes or is on its way out the car would exhibit similar symptoms.

 

[Tlvivo]

Thanks Guys - have not taken the car for diagnostic yet but I intend to.

XMAX - when the tank is full or empty the car runs normal no power loss issues nothing. On the two occasions I got stuck the fuel range showed 100km's or so, its on those odd occasions where I just don't have time to fill up at that moment and I say at the next petrol station I will do it.

But the two years I have had the car I can remember occasions where my fuel range was 16km and I made it to the next petrol station and the needle was right on the last line of the fuel gauge. That's why I am bit surprised by this behavior.

 

[tarintino]

I have the exact same issue with my 325i e46, tank was on quarter and car cut out at 1am in the morning and guess what - no petrol station in site:argh: - had to call my boet to come rescue me with some fuel.

I'm assuming its a faulty sender unit giving the incorrect fuel level reading and I fixed it by always filling up when the level sits between quarter and half full:bravo:

stupid fix I know but simply havent had the time to take it to be fixed.

 

[XMAX]

@Tlvivo. seems like you have a problem with the level indicator. get that looked at. this problem could occur at any time.


Im not gonna even begin to say that I know things about these cars, but if one applies logic it seems that the other stuff is fine.

I could be very wrong.

just trying to be helpful.

 

[Philip Foglar]

That's why I say, check how much fuel goes in when the tank fuel gauge is showing quarter remaining. I have heard that there is a common issue with fuel level sensors on E46's being faulty or not giving correct readings...

 

[Tlvivo]

thanks guys - let me check that level indicator - i will update...

 

[SNGHALELA]

Thanks Guys - have not taken the car for diagnostic yet but I intend to.

XMAX - when the tank is full or empty the car runs normal no power loss issues nothing. On the two occasions I got stuck the fuel range showed 100km's or so, its on those odd occasions where I just don't have time to fill up at that moment and I say at the next petrol station I will do it.

But the two years I have had the car I can remember occasions where my fuel range was 16km and I made it to the next petrol station and the needle was right on the last line of the fuel gauge. That's why I am bit surprised by this behavior.

 

[SubLoaded]

Thanks Guys - have not taken the car for diagnostic yet but I intend to.

XMAX - when the tank is full or empty the car runs normal no power loss issues nothing. On the two occasions I got stuck the fuel range showed 100km's or so, its on those odd occasions where I just don't have time to fill up at that moment and I say at the next petrol station I will do it.

But the two years I have had the car I can remember occasions where my fuel range was 16km and I made it to the next petrol station and the needle was right on the last line of the fuel gauge. That's why I am bit surprised by this behavior.

Eish, first case on the forum
https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news...auses-life-threatening-complications-18204021

 

[SNGHALELA]

Hallo I can you please assist about what you have found wrong concerning your vehicle after you had addressed your issue

 

[Stephanv]

My question here is... ok apart from the sender unit that might be faulty.

Do you not zero your car when filling up? I know for a fact that i get an X amount of km per tank. This will also give you and indication if your fuel level sensor is faulty.

I guess my question is in valid if you dont fill up with every stop.

:cthulhu: