ML55 Gas gauge sticks
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 309
Likes: 6
From: Central Pennsylvania
1994 S420 RIP (2/8/13), 06 CLS55, 02 ML55, 94 TT Supra, 89 Maserati 228, 911 Porsche Carerra
ML55 Gas gauge sticks
Recently I noticed that when I fill up my 2002 ML55 the gas gauge doesn't go up. Now I know the car is filled because my wallet is now empty, but the gauge doesn't move. It will remain where it was when I pulled into the station. Then without warning or cause (like shaking the car) usually after overnight, the gauge goes back up. Any ideas as to what would cause it.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 309
Likes: 6
From: Central Pennsylvania
1994 S420 RIP (2/8/13), 06 CLS55, 02 ML55, 94 TT Supra, 89 Maserati 228, 911 Porsche Carerra
has anyone replaced a level sensor with any success? I'm trying to determine if this "gauge thing" is a design issue or a sensor dying.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 717
Likes: 1
From: Manassas, VA, USA
2011 VW cc, 2004 ML350
If you go into the non-AMG W163 section and do a search, you'll find this to be a common problem and many of us have done the job. I don't own an ML anymore, but I did and it had this problem at one time of it's life. My dealer wanted $750-$800 to do it, my son and I did it for about $300 or so in parts. The sender is part of the fuel pump assembly and it's in the gas tank, under the left rear seat. It's a pretty tedious job, but not a really technical one. 1-10, I'd rate it as a 6 on my personal DIY scale. Like I said, if you do a search in the regular W163 forum section, you'll find our woes laid out for all to read. Best of luck to you.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 435
Likes: 6
ml55, Ml63, Porsche, C63S ED1
gas gauage stuck
i had this on my ml500 and i noticed i had something to do when i was pumping the gas and turned on the ignition to drop the window or something. Some cars have some wierd glitch when a combination of things (door open, ignition on, certain window rolled down) are done while pumping the gas which causes the meter to get stuck or something.
Driving the gas down to near empty then refilling will solve the problem. Do so by checking the mileage on a full tank which gets me around 225 miles solved the problem.
It has something to do with a calibration getting thrown off at some point. On the older BMW 325is' it was a known bug when you leave the driver's door open and the ignition on, the gas gauge would have failed.
Driving the gas down to near empty then refilling will solve the problem. Do so by checking the mileage on a full tank which gets me around 225 miles solved the problem.
It has something to do with a calibration getting thrown off at some point. On the older BMW 325is' it was a known bug when you leave the driver's door open and the ignition on, the gas gauge would have failed.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 309
Likes: 6
From: Central Pennsylvania
1994 S420 RIP (2/8/13), 06 CLS55, 02 ML55, 94 TT Supra, 89 Maserati 228, 911 Porsche Carerra
Thanks guys for all the input. I'm a newbie here but have had a lot of experience taking care of "old " Mercedes (1965 220Sb, 1972 280 SEL). I truly love the cars and I'm trying to update myself. Again thanks for the assist.
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Super Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 870
Likes: 1
From: East of I-287 South
01 ML55, 91 Supra Turbo, 05 Audi S4
Mine does when I fill it up, but if I put maybe $30 in it will read correctly until empty, something about filling it all the way up makes the needle go directly to empty until I burn 1/4 tank then is works normal again...weird, but mech wants @$800 to fix it 
I just reset the tripometer whenever I put in gas.
I just reset the tripometer whenever I put in gas.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Model 2002 (S500) Ford Explorer XLT 2013
hey guys, i have ML 350 model 2009. only 115XXX Km on it. i am facing fuel guage problem. my ml 350 reads half tank even if the tank is empty. needle doesn't go below the half way mark while the car is started. even above half way mark it does not show the exact reading. i think its related to the sensor the fuel tank if any of you thinks other wise please let me know before i am stolen by the STEALERS :P
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 16
Likes: 7
From: Fairhope, Alabama
2002 ML55 - 459k+ miles; 99 C43 - 300k miles; 2005 C230 Kompressor
Gas gauge.
Recently I noticed that when I fill up my 2002 ML55 the gas gauge doesn't go up. Now I know the car is filled because my wallet is now empty, but the gauge doesn't move. It will remain where it was when I pulled into the station. Then without warning or cause (like shaking the car) usually after overnight, the gauge goes back up. Any ideas as to what would cause it.
