Fuel gauge stopped working on my '99 e55 AMG W210
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Newbie
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 9
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From: Amsterdam
E55 AMG
Fuel gauge stopped working on my '99 e55 AMG W210
I got to carry a gas can to my car today for the first time since the 70s.
I hadn't driven my car for a couple days (it's been nice bike weather here lately) and when I got in it I noticed that the fuel guage was close to "F".
It wasn't all the way to "F" and the warning light that I use as an indication to fill up wasn't illuminated. It lit on the bulb test so I figured it would just be a matter of time before it flashed on. It did look lower than were the light usually came on though so I thought it was a bit odd.
I drove a few km around town and as I was leaving my business it idled rough for a second or two. I didn't connect it with the fuel guage. I headed home and about a km away it ran out of gas.
It ran rough for a while until I filled it up, I'm guessing I picked up some or junk in the fuel tank filter or inline filter or water from the tank got into the engine. It seems better now.
It appears that since the low fuel warning lamp works in lamp test that the problem is at or between the sending unit to the dash.
I checked fuses and didn't see one just for the guage but none appeared to be blown.
Do I need a new sending unit or did a connector come loose or did a fuse under the back seat blow?
Does anyone have any experience with this sort of a problem?
Is it a DIY job from the back seat or does that tank have to be pulled?
Any ideas on parts cost if it is the sending unit?
Thanks for your help.
I hadn't driven my car for a couple days (it's been nice bike weather here lately) and when I got in it I noticed that the fuel guage was close to "F".
It wasn't all the way to "F" and the warning light that I use as an indication to fill up wasn't illuminated. It lit on the bulb test so I figured it would just be a matter of time before it flashed on. It did look lower than were the light usually came on though so I thought it was a bit odd.
I drove a few km around town and as I was leaving my business it idled rough for a second or two. I didn't connect it with the fuel guage. I headed home and about a km away it ran out of gas.
It ran rough for a while until I filled it up, I'm guessing I picked up some or junk in the fuel tank filter or inline filter or water from the tank got into the engine. It seems better now.
It appears that since the low fuel warning lamp works in lamp test that the problem is at or between the sending unit to the dash.
I checked fuses and didn't see one just for the guage but none appeared to be blown.
Do I need a new sending unit or did a connector come loose or did a fuse under the back seat blow?
Does anyone have any experience with this sort of a problem?
Is it a DIY job from the back seat or does that tank have to be pulled?
Any ideas on parts cost if it is the sending unit?
Thanks for your help.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 10
210 55
I have this isue in my car some months ago, i remove the sender unit & clean the contacts with an extra fine sand paper (1200) & all works fine again.. maybe is not a solution for a long time but works fine in my car (i made the same job in owr E500 W124 2 years ago & works fine today
Fabio Daniel
Fabio Daniel
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 10
210 55
Hope that help
Fabio Daniel
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 9
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From: Amsterdam
E55 AMG
It took all of 5 minutes to get the sending unit out but when I removed it, the part with the float and the wiper that slides across the circuit board were nowhere to be found.
It seems that it separated into two pieces inside the tank and now I've got a float to fish out of there. Since I didn't see it floating, perhaps the float filled with fuel and due to the extra weight, broke off from the rest of the sending unit when I went over a bump or something?
I went to the dealer to buy a new sending unit and they said they'd have to order it and they'd have it tomorrow. The price was 41 euros. I thought "wow, that's cheap, they're $175 in America". They counter guy put in the order and said, "oh" there's a new part number, maybe we have that in stock". "Great" I said. "No, sorry, it's not in stock, we have to order it". "The price on the new part number is 148 euros."
It seems that it separated into two pieces inside the tank and now I've got a float to fish out of there. Since I didn't see it floating, perhaps the float filled with fuel and due to the extra weight, broke off from the rest of the sending unit when I went over a bump or something?
I went to the dealer to buy a new sending unit and they said they'd have to order it and they'd have it tomorrow. The price was 41 euros. I thought "wow, that's cheap, they're $175 in America". They counter guy put in the order and said, "oh" there's a new part number, maybe we have that in stock". "Great" I said. "No, sorry, it's not in stock, we have to order it". "The price on the new part number is 148 euros."
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 10
210 55
It took all of 5 minutes to get the sending unit out but when I removed it, the part with the float and the wiper that slides across the circuit board were nowhere to be found.
It seems that it separated into two pieces inside the tank and now I've got a float to fish out of there. Since I didn't see it floating, perhaps the float filled with fuel and due to the extra weight, broke off from the rest of the sending unit when I went over a bump or something?
I went to the dealer to buy a new sending unit and they said they'd have to order it and they'd have it tomorrow. The price was 41 euros. I thought "wow, that's cheap, they're $175 in America". They counter guy put in the order and said, "oh" there's a new part number, maybe we have that in stock". "Great" I said. "No, sorry, it's not in stock, we have to order it". "The price on the new part number is 148 euros."
It seems that it separated into two pieces inside the tank and now I've got a float to fish out of there. Since I didn't see it floating, perhaps the float filled with fuel and due to the extra weight, broke off from the rest of the sending unit when I went over a bump or something?
I went to the dealer to buy a new sending unit and they said they'd have to order it and they'd have it tomorrow. The price was 41 euros. I thought "wow, that's cheap, they're $175 in America". They counter guy put in the order and said, "oh" there's a new part number, maybe we have that in stock". "Great" I said. "No, sorry, it's not in stock, we have to order it". "The price on the new part number is 148 euros."
well i hope you solve the problem soon my friend! 
obiusly your problem is the broken sender unit. necessari you need to remove the broken part inside the tank. Maybe you need to unmount the tank removing the "4" 13MM bolts.. its not very complicated.. but you need to take caution with the flamable liquid.. or you can fill your tank step by step & try to fishing te broken part "
hahahahaha i think maybe work" (this broken part can ruin the new sender or touch the new floating, sending you an erroneal tank capasity..Hope that help
Fabio Daniel
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Newbie
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8
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From: Amsterdam
E55 AMG 1999
The antenna's for the car phone that's built into the center console. The color is a dark metallic blue.
There's an Eric Clapton custom shop Fender Stratocaster guitar that comes in "Mercedes Blue", the same shade as our cars. According to Fender, Clapton has a blue MB and wanted a guitar the same color.
There's an Eric Clapton custom shop Fender Stratocaster guitar that comes in "Mercedes Blue", the same shade as our cars. According to Fender, Clapton has a blue MB and wanted a guitar the same color.
