Released in 2001 and produced until 2006, the first generation Mini Cooper was a tremendously successful update on the Mini line that had been in production for decades. A partial collaboration between the Rover Group and BMW, the Mini’s trademark appearance and sleek design has made it a popular automotive choice around the world. A common problem experienced by owners has to do with a faulty fuel gauge.
Noticing that the fuel gauge reads zero is a chilling moment in a drive. How “zero” is zero? Do I have three miles left or one? Can I make it to a gas station? Equally frustrating is having absolutely no idea of how much fuel is left in the tank. When fuel meters malfunction, everyone can feel the stress. When it happens, it comes on suddenly and unassociated with any of the car’s other systems. Basically, if it weren’t for the incorrect empty reading on the dashboard, the car would be in perfect shape.
So what are we dealing with here? Fortunately, nothing that’s going to kill you. Some owners even report that by simply shutting off the engine and turning it back on the fuel reading has returned to normal. Getting into the thornier area of things, it may be that there is a blown fuse, but this would likely be accompanied by other systems not responding. The last most likely cause lies with the tank sensor. If it fails, it would most certainly cease sending information to your gauge, leaving you high and dry regarding the level of fuel.
Recovering the use of your fuel gauge is important, and so you would not be remiss in stopping by a local German auto repair shop to quickly discover whether the problem lies in the fuse box of the tank itself.
Search for a local, independent Mini Cooper repair shop with Mini Cooper mechanics that have dealer-level expertise at a fraction of the expense.