Gas Gauge showing empty after filling tank

[Newkleus]

Purchased fuel yesterday at Costco near my house, which last month was having issues with their premium fuel underground storage tank, and sent a letter to everyone that had purchased fuel that they would cover fuel system issues. I called for clarification and then said it only affected Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Mini Cooper. The result was that the vehicles were completely inoperable, and had to be towed.

Now my check engine light came on early this week and was on for two days before it went off. But yesterday I purchased fuel at the same Costco that was having issues with their premium underground storage tank because I assumed the situation had been resolved because I was able to purchase fuel.

Not after even five minutes of filling my tank completed my fuel gauge showed empty, and my low fuel light came on. After going home and turning off the car, and then turning it to accessory, it showed correctly that the tank was full, and the low fuel light turned off, as I had only driven 3 miles on a full tank of gas.

Now this morning during my commute my gas gauge again showed empty, with the low fuel light coming on, as well as my CEL came back on. Over the course of my 20 minutes commute, the fuel gauge read correctly and edged all the way to the right back to full, and the low fuel light went off. This was in the middle of my driving on the highway.

Timeline:
7/21/2012 Purchased Premium Fuel at Costco
8/07/2012 Received letter from Costco about their premium gasoline UST being missed up
8/13/2012 CEL comes on
8/16/2012 CEL goes off
8/19/2012 Purchased Premium Fuel at Costco. Low fuel light comes on and gas gauge shows empty
8/20/2012 CEL comes on and Low fuel light comes on and gas gauge shows empty
8/22/2012 CEL goes off (upon start-up)
8/23/2012 CEL comes on
8/28/2012 CEL goes off
9/02/2012 Purchased Premium Fuel at Costco

Can this in anyway, shape or form be attributed to bad gas from Costco? I would love to have them pay for any repair that is rightly justified for my car. I am at 103,822 miles.

[Sponsor]

[MEJY1988]

Could be a coincidence, but then again . . .

What code are you throwing? This would help nailing down the problem.

[Newkleus]

Originally Posted by MEJY1988

Could be a coincidence, but then again . . .

What code are you throwing? This would help nailing down the problem.

Have not got the codes read yet, but that is definitely something I want to do.

[Newkleus]

P0460 Fuel Level Sensor "A" Circuit

[MEJY1988]

Originally Posted by Newkleus

P0460 Fuel Level Sensor "A" Circuit

According to the DTC Codes:

P0460 - Fuel Level Sensor Circuit Malfunction The PCM monitors the fuel level input (FLI) circuit for electrical failure. The test fails when the signal moves outside the minimum or maximum allowable calibrated parameters for a specified fuel fill percentage in the fuel tank. Empty fuel tank
Fuel pump (FP) module stuck open
Incorrectly installed fuel gauge
Damaged instrument cluster
CASE GND circuit open
FLI shorted to VPWR
Damaged PCM
Overfilled fuel tank
Fuel pump (FP) module stuck closed
Damaged fuel gauge
FLI circuit open
FLI circuit shorted to CASE GND or PWR GND
CSE GND shorted to VPWR
Monitor FLI PID and FLI V PID in key ON engine RUNNING. FLI PID at 25% fill (with non matching fuel gauge) and FLI V PID less than 0.90 volts [for FLI PID at 75% fill (with non matching fuel gauge) and FLI V PID greater than 2.45 volts] indicates a hard fault.

Maybe some one that has seen this code before can chime in to narrow it down.

Good luck

[Newkleus]

Anyone have any advice with this issue?

[whynotthinkwhynot]

I did it once, but it came back slowly. I don't know what caused it other than I had the key on when I was filling up because I was installing a tune.

[amc49]

I really can't imagine why they would say it only includes expensive cars. I'd be pushing that as in 'tell me more, do you think I'm an idiot?' Push for a reason, if they can make the statement truthfully they will know why, or they are simply lying to you.

I'd be trying to pull some of that fuel and checking for water content if you run legally mandated ethanol in the fuel. Wouldn't the first time ethanol got left in the open and water condensed in it to make plenty of misery.

Or maybe the fuel got out of whack as to solvent content or similar.

Getting a letter and the fuel system screwing up are too coincidental to me. But then I've watched here in Texas while occasionally they mismix fuel and the blame goes everywhere with finger pointing galore. Last time it was Walmart fuel, Walmart was so quick to distance itself from its' supplier it was breathtaking. Talk about throwing someone under the bus.

I'd be asking them if the car knows whether or not it's a Mercedes before it rolls over and dies............................LOL. (not at you of course)

I'd also give THEM a present, no more fuel purchases at Costco. Fuel savings are useless if they are damaging your car.

[Newkleus]

Bought fuel at Costco again this weekend because it was so much cheaper that every where else.

[SilverST05]

I think it might just be a coincidence. You probably just having an issue with your sending unit. They go bad without the pump going bad but unfortunately you have to replace them together as one unit. Usually a couple hundred bucks for the part.