A6 / S6 (C5 Platform) Discussion Discussion forum for the C5 Audi A6 and S6 produced from 1998-2004

Fuel Tank Sender Recall

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Old Jun 27, 2000 | 11:07 AM
  #1  
Jack Orr's Avatar
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Default Fuel Tank Sender Recall

It sounds like a lot of owners will be getting recall notices on the 2.7T, at least. How about the 4.2-?
I don't know. My question is: Didn't Audi start installing a new type of sender at some point? Does anyone know when (date)? Does anyone know if the newer cars will be recalled? And, if there is a cut off- what is the date? My car was built in week 14, I think, and I have had no problem whatsoever. Yet. As a matter of fact, my trip computer is so accurate it is scary. MPG computes to exactly the figure shown by the computer.
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Old Jun 27, 2000 | 11:46 AM
  #2  
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Default Re: Fuel Tank Sender Recall

My fuel gauge on my 4.2 is fairly accurate. Real MPG is usually within 1/2 gallon of that calculated by the computer.
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Old Jun 27, 2000 | 11:53 AM
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Default Re: Fuel Tank Sender Recall

Jack:

This is a complicated issue.

My 1998 A6 had the three new senders installed by the dealer. I have read theTechnical Bulletin by Audi, and apparently the problem stems from the fact that the fuel tank is a complicated shape (there is a drawing in the Tech. Bull.) and because the tank is three-dimensional, there have to be three senders in the tank, instead of the normal one.

And since there are three, they have to be wired in series, not parallel, and therein lies the rub. If one is out, apparently there is no way for the dealer to check which one, so they have to replace all three.

But, as I said, the dealer will replace yours if yours becomes defective. Otherwise, wait for the recall. In either case, it is covered by warranty, and you pay nothing, but lost time.

Finally, if yours goes on the fritz (now how's that for a good technical German word?), and you have to wait until the dealer gets his supplies, just remember that you can get about 300 miles to a tank, and by using your trip odomete, you should be able to run out of gas. Nothing replaces those grey cells between your ears!!!!.....Andras
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Old Jun 27, 2000 | 12:41 PM
  #4  
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Default Re: Fuel Tank Sender Recall

My 4.2 arrived in February of this year. The fuel gauge worked fine for the first 3000 miles, then started acting flaky. The dealer checked serial numbers and determined that the car had the new style senders, and so should not have problems. But it did. After some prodding they took the car apart, and discovered that it had been built with the old parts despite what the build documentation said. They installed the new type senders and things have been fine since--but that's only been a month or so.
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Old Jun 27, 2000 | 01:05 PM
  #5  
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Default Re: Fuel Tank Sender Recall

I have a '98 A6 2.8 and my fuel senders were replaced in Sept. 99, no problems since that time. The description on the work order was part number 2015400002 WDC.
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Old Jun 27, 2000 | 07:27 PM
  #6  
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Default Re: '96 A6Q - Fuel Tank Sender

I have a '96 A6Q and I've noticed that after a fill-up, the tank would read "F"ull for about the first 25 miles. Afterwards, the indicator moved to 3/4. Lately, the reading after a fill-up is only 3/4 and never "F"ull. The indicator seems to drop to 1/4 rather quickly, say 75 - 100 miles and stays there until 200+ miles.

Does anyone now if the problem with the fuel tank sender occurs on pre-'98 A6 models or was the sending unit re-designed in the '98+ model and perhaps my problem is unrelated?

Erik
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Old Jun 27, 2000 | 08:01 PM
  #7  
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Default Andras is right.

The sender that goes wrong most often, used to have a single finger move across a potentiometer (sp ?). The new ones have three fingers and have an 85% success rate.
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Old Jun 28, 2000 | 06:11 AM
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Default Re: '96 A6Q - Fuel Tank Sender

Erik:

I believe that the fuel sender problem of which we are talking concerns mostly the Quattro. Its fuel tank is a very weird shape (you really have to see it in the Technical Bulletin; it almost looks like fallopian tubes and a uterus - no disrespect intended, just one architect's verbal description of what is shown) , and hence the need for the three senders. The shape is due to having to get around the rear differential (i.e., the diff. sits between the two "fallopian tubes"). There should be no similar problem with the FWD non-Quattro, since it does not have a rear differential.

Sorry I can't vouch for the 1996 model, but this is diffenitely a problem for 1998 and later. However, all covered by warranty, so check with your dealer (nicely)......Andras
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