Fuel gauge stopped working on my '99 e55 AMG W210

Mr Natural · 09-01-2009, 08:34 PM

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.

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Fabio D · 09-01-2009, 09:22 PM

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

Mr. Natural · 09-01-2009, 10:16 PM

Thanks for the tip. How did you access the sending unit? Is it under the rear seat or can you get at it through the floor of the trunk?

Fabio D · 09-01-2009, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Natural

Thanks for the tip. How did you access the sending unit? Is it under the rear seat or can you get at it through the floor of the trunk?

Yha! go in the tunk (get your car close to empty tank to remove the sender unit, before made the work) remove the trunk carpet & remove the final cover (3 plastic clips down & 2 metalic brakets up), the gas tank in owr cars go inside the trunk not down the car.. remove them & you can see the snder unit in the gas tank (is white with a black connector) remove the black connector & turn 60° left the unit & you can remove them

Hope that help

Fabio Daniel

Mr Natural · 09-02-2009, 12:25 AM

Wow thanks! Now I've got something fun to do tomorrow. I hope it's just a poor connection.

Mr Natural · 09-02-2009, 05:01 PM

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."

Fabio D · 09-02-2009, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Natural

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."

Damn!! you have a bad luck bro!! hahahahah

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

Mr Natural · 09-05-2009, 10:41 AM

I just bought a small web cam, mounted it on a stick and hooked it up to my laptop. I'm on my way down to the garage to see if I can see it and fish it out.

Fabio D · 09-05-2009, 02:35 PM

Nice solution

hahaha keep informed!

Fabio Daniel

Mr Natural · 09-06-2009, 10:32 AM

The tank's still too full, I can't see through the gas good enough to find the part yet, time for a needless roadtrip.

pinoyk20 · 09-06-2009, 12:22 PM

hey mr natural whats th color of your e55? i think we have the same car color heheeheh

Fabio D · 09-07-2009, 08:53 PM

189 i think! same as mine

blue metal

Natural your car has factory phone/command? you have the roof antenna in your car?

Fabio Daniel

pinoyk20 · 09-08-2009, 02:25 AM

wow we have the same car color! hehe and i have the same antena ehheheheh

Fabio D · 09-08-2009, 10:20 PM

You have the Roof antenna but your car's has phone / command? or only for steticaly view

Fabio Daniel

pinoyk20 · 09-09-2009, 01:40 AM

it use to have it but its not working in my country the dealer removed it. hheheheehhe sorry for jacking the thread

Mr. Natural · 11-06-2009, 10:53 PM

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.

09-06-2009, 10:32 AM	#10
Mr Natural Newbie Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 9 Drives: E55 AMG	The tank's still too full, I can't see through the gas good enough to find the part yet, time for a needless roadtrip. __________________ Last edited by Mr Natural; 09-06-2009 at 10:34 AM.

09-07-2009, 08:53 PM	#12
Fabio D Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 322 Drives: 210 55	189 i think! same as mine blue metal Natural your car has factory phone/command? you have the roof antenna in your car? Fabio Daniel Last edited by Fabio D; 09-07-2009 at 08:55 PM.

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09-01-2009, 09:22 PM	#2
Fabio D Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 322 Drives: 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

09-01-2009, 10:16 PM	#3
Mr. Natural Newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 8 Drives: E55 AMG 1999	Thanks for the tip. How did you access the sending unit? Is it under the rear seat or can you get at it through the floor of the trunk?

09-02-2009, 12:25 AM	#5
Mr Natural Newbie Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 9 Drives: E55 AMG	Wow thanks! Now I've got something fun to do tomorrow. I hope it's just a poor connection.

09-02-2009, 05:01 PM	#6
Mr Natural Newbie Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 9 Drives: 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."

09-05-2009, 10:41 AM	#8
Mr Natural Newbie Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 9 Drives: E55 AMG	I just bought a small web cam, mounted it on a stick and hooked it up to my laptop. I'm on my way down to the garage to see if I can see it and fish it out.

09-05-2009, 02:35 PM	#9
Fabio D Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 322 Drives: 210 55	Nice solution hahaha keep informed! Fabio Daniel

09-06-2009, 12:22 PM	#11
pinoyk20 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: laguna philippines Posts: 445 Drives: 99 model w210 e55 amg	hey mr natural whats th color of your e55? i think we have the same car color heheeheh

09-08-2009, 02:25 AM	#13
pinoyk20 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: laguna philippines Posts: 445 Drives: 99 model w210 e55 amg	wow we have the same car color! hehe and i have the same antena ehheheheh

09-08-2009, 10:20 PM	#14
Fabio D Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 322 Drives: 210 55	You have the Roof antenna but your car's has phone / command? or only for steticaly view Fabio Daniel

09-09-2009, 01:40 AM	#15
pinoyk20 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: laguna philippines Posts: 445 Drives: 99 model w210 e55 amg	it use to have it but its not working in my country the dealer removed it. hheheheehhe sorry for jacking the thread

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11-06-2009, 10:53 PM	#16
Mr. Natural Newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 8 Drives: 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.