fuel guage problem

Hi everyone;

We have a 2002 SL1 with 95000kms. We bought it new and recently the original
battery died without warning at a gas station after a fill up. When I got a
boost the odometer rolled back about 30000kms, the fuel gauge (which I had
just filled ) showed 75% and the airbag sensor remained lit. The next day I
took it in to my Saturn dealer to put in the new battery and check things
out. I needed a boost to get it there and this time the odometer and airbag
were normal- the fuel still showed 75% or so. When I got there car back from
Saturn the man there said the computer checked out ok and the weird stuff
might have been attributed to the boost- but the fuel gauge still showed
75%. The trip counter didn't work after I got my initial boost and I did
drive it around for about an hour to charge the battery for the morning; so
I could not be certain of my actual mileage since my fill up. I managed to
drive it over a week before the gauge got to about 25% and the gas price
seemed less outrageous before I refilled my tank, last night. The gauge
showed full so i thought everything was normal.This morning I had to go
somewhere and in the 1st 16kms on the highway I saw the gauge go from full
to 1/2 tank- that's right, 32kms a tank of gas....I slowed down bit ( from
120 to 100kph ) and the gauge stabilized, then started to creep back up ( to
75%) . Now I've done about 150kms, and its starting to show below 75% ( say
70%).

I intend to try to get an idea how much mileage I am getting on this tank
then take it back in to Saturn and have a look at it. I am wondering if any
of you have experienced any similar problems; what is the cause and cure ?

Thank you all in advance

Laz

To bad it didnt roll back to being under warranty

The only things I found that was simular was here
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/archive.../t-132901.html
Its a BMW site and the problems seemed to all involved installing
something. Likely the computer was damaged by a short from people not
disconnecting the battery.

Your battery may of had an internal short and may have damaged your cars
computer. I would have to look at the schematics for your car but I
think the fuel gage level is sent to the ECM or BCM and then to your
dash.

In article >,
says...
> Hi everyone;
>
> We have a 2002 SL1 with 95000kms. We bought it new and recently the original
> battery died without warning at a gas station after a fill up. When I got a
> boost the odometer rolled back about 30000kms, the fuel gauge (which I had
> just filled ) showed 75% and the airbag sensor remained lit. The next day I
> took it in to my Saturn dealer to put in the new battery and check things
> out. I needed a boost to get it there and this time the odometer and airbag
> were normal- the fuel still showed 75% or so. When I got there car back from
> Saturn the man there said the computer checked out ok and the weird stuff
> might have been attributed to the boost- but the fuel gauge still showed
> 75%. The trip counter didn't work after I got my initial boost and I did
> drive it around for about an hour to charge the battery for the morning; so
> I could not be certain of my actual mileage since my fill up. I managed to
> drive it over a week before the gauge got to about 25% and the gas price
> seemed less outrageous before I refilled my tank, last night. The gauge
> showed full so i thought everything was normal.This morning I had to go
> somewhere and in the 1st 16kms on the highway I saw the gauge go from full
> to 1/2 tank- that's right, 32kms a tank of gas....I slowed down bit ( from
> 120 to 100kph ) and the gauge stabilized, then started to creep back up ( to
> 75%) . Now I've done about 150kms, and its starting to show below 75% ( say
> 70%).
>
> I intend to try to get an idea how much mileage I am getting on this tank
> then take it back in to Saturn and have a look at it. I am wondering if any
> of you have experienced any similar problems; what is the cause and cure ?
>
> Thank you all in advance
>
> Laz
>
>
>

In article >,
says...
> To bad it didnt roll back to being under warranty
>
> The only things I found that was simular was here
> http://forum.e46fanatics.com/archive.../t-132901.html
> Its a BMW site and the problems seemed to all involved installing
> something. Likely the computer was damaged by a short from people not
> disconnecting the battery.
>
> Your battery may of had an internal short and may have damaged your cars
> computer. I would have to look at the schematics for your car but I
> think the fuel gage level is sent to the ECM or BCM and then to your
> dash.

Sorry not an internal short, I missed the part about the boost. It was
the boost. Explain how and who boosted your car.


>
> In article >,
> says...
> > Hi everyone;
> >
> > We have a 2002 SL1 with 95000kms. We bought it new and recently the original
> > battery died without warning at a gas station after a fill up. When I got a
> > boost the odometer rolled back about 30000kms, the fuel gauge (which I had
> > just filled ) showed 75% and the airbag sensor remained lit. The next day I
> > took it in to my Saturn dealer to put in the new battery and check things
> > out. I needed a boost to get it there and this time the odometer and airbag
> > were normal- the fuel still showed 75% or so. When I got there car back from
> > Saturn the man there said the computer checked out ok and the weird stuff
> > might have been attributed to the boost- but the fuel gauge still showed
> > 75%. The trip counter didn't work after I got my initial boost and I did
> > drive it around for about an hour to charge the battery for the morning; so
> > I could not be certain of my actual mileage since my fill up. I managed to
> > drive it over a week before the gauge got to about 25% and the gas price
> > seemed less outrageous before I refilled my tank, last night. The gauge
> > showed full so i thought everything was normal.This morning I had to go
> > somewhere and in the 1st 16kms on the highway I saw the gauge go from full
> > to 1/2 tank- that's right, 32kms a tank of gas....I slowed down bit ( from
> > 120 to 100kph ) and the gauge stabilized, then started to creep back up ( to
> > 75%) . Now I've done about 150kms, and its starting to show below 75% ( say
> > 70%).
> >
> > I intend to try to get an idea how much mileage I am getting on this tank
> > then take it back in to Saturn and have a look at it. I am wondering if any
> > of you have experienced any similar problems; what is the cause and cure ?
> >
> > Thank you all in advance
> >
> > Laz
> >
> >
> >
>

The car is under warranty for 100000 kms or 5 yrs. ( we invested in GM's
Extended Warranty ). This might be a good thing, because I called GM's
roadside assistance when the car was stopped at the gas station (I had no
idea at first why the car won't start, and I don't really know anything
about cars) I had to wait about 1hr for the tow truck they sent ( during
which time I was able to see the battery was dead ) and the tow-truck
operator THEY sent gave me the boost ( which resulted in the screwed up
display ).
I'm thinking I've got a case in small claims for any parts or repair.

Laz

"Blah Blah" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> says...
> > To bad it didnt roll back to being under warranty
> >
> > The only things I found that was simular was here
> > http://forum.e46fanatics.com/archive.../t-132901.html
> > Its a BMW site and the problems seemed to all involved installing
> > something. Likely the computer was damaged by a short from people not
> > disconnecting the battery.
> >
> > Your battery may of had an internal short and may have damaged your cars
> > computer. I would have to look at the schematics for your car but I
> > think the fuel gage level is sent to the ECM or BCM and then to your
> > dash.
>
> Sorry not an internal short, I missed the part about the boost. It was
> the boost. Explain how and who boosted your car.
>
>