A6 Quattro Fuel Senders

[Mercbenz]

Does anybody know how to get to the tank senders on a Quattro, there is an inspection cover in the boot but nothing under it, one mechanic said the drive shafts and back axle has to come off.

Any solutions would be appreciated,

Thanks

[Mercbenz]

I think I have worked it out, after several hours searching the internet, I found a guy replacing them on a S4, the sender units are located behind cover plates under the rear seats, I had a quick look and sure enough an inspection plate on either side of the car. Now all I need to do is locate the said parts and go about fitting them myself, saving around £600 that Audi wanted....

[sparker]

Mercbenz,
Hopefully you have managed to fit the sender units now. If not and you need any advice, I replaced mine a few months back so I may be able to help. Did find it a bit of a fiddle getting the drivers side pump out but all do able at home.

[Mercbenz]

Hi Sparker,

Not done it yet, still contemplating paying Audi £300 or diy for £110, the first quote I got was £625 ouch, just goes to show shopping around pays off. It looks a bit awkward to unscrew the retaining rings, how did you do it.
What year is your Quattro?


Thanks

[sparker]

Hi,

£625, what planet are they from!

It's a 2006 allroad 3.0tdi. I have a few pointers. This is what I did.
As you know the tank senders (2) are found under the rear seat below the two covers with 3 screws.
First make sure you have got less than half a tank, as fuel will spill out if there is more.
I first marked the retaining ring so I could tell how tight to put it back on. I ended up just replacing the driver side sender but this is the most fiddly. Have lots of paper towels around for soaking up any spillage. Remove the electrical connector.
The two pipes slide off the pump easily (they have retainers but you will see how the pipes come off) not much fuel comes out of these. Try to get these pipes out of the way, the pipes are a stiff plastic and I found that it was these being in the way that made removing the unit more difficult.
No, Audi special tool, so I used a piece of wood and a hammer (crude but it worked) to tap the ring undone. It was tight but I found tapping one side then the other worked. Start with light blows then increase until it starts to move, then keep tapping one side then other until you can turn it by hand. There are kind of ratchet clips on the side of the ring to stop them undoing themselves but I didn't try and move these away they still allow the ring to undo as they are.
Once undone lift out the pump unit complete with sender, as I say a bit of a fiddle but it goes back easier than it comes out. Remove the wiring plug and the unit is free to come out of the car. Swop the sender and reverse the process.

ps. The pump is in two half's with rods and springs to allow it to float in the tank, if the two half's slide apart getting it out don't worry it slides back together easily and can only go one way, but obviously don't drop anything in the tank as fishing in fuel won't be nice.
Time for this, half an hour.

I hope this helps you and others who might need to fit new senders, it all saves a few pound notes and this is a common problem on this model.

Steve

[Mercbenz]

Thanks Steve, Two points, how did you know it was that sender and not the other side and did you fit new seals.

Thanks

Paul

[sparker]

Hi Paul,

Luck! It was an intermittent fault but while the gauge wasn't working I tapped the retaining ring on the driver side to see how tight it might be and the gauge instantly started to work again. You could try to fit that side first, see if the gauge works again. You might be lucky and save a bit more money. No, I didn't change the seal but that probably would be a good idea.

[Mercbenz]

Cheers Steve, I will have a go next week and let you know...

[daveb99]

Seems I have the same problem with my 2007 A6 2.7 TDi quattro (Avant). I've had it for 4 months and it has been faultless, but today the fuel gauge (and range on the DIS) reads zero.

I'm thinking of replacing one (or both) of the sender units - or getting my local independent specialist to do it for me, depending on cost.

I have a few questions:

Can anyone provide the correct part numbers for the driver & passenger side sensors?
What's the easiest way to remove the rear seat bench?
How can I test the sensors to see which one is faulty (I assume both have to work for the gauge in the cluster to provide a reading) ?
Will replacing them fix the 'internmittent' nature of this known fault, i.e. are the replacement ones perhaps an uprated part which is not prone to failure?

Thanks in advance,
Dave

[sparker]

Seems I have the same problem with my 2007 A6 2.7 TDi quattro (Avant). I've had it for 4 months and it has been faultless, but today the fuel gauge (and range on the DIS) reads zero.

I'm thinking of replacing one (or both) of the sender units - or getting my local independent specialist to do it for me, depending on cost.

I have a few questions:

Can anyone provide the correct part numbers for the driver & passenger side sensors?
What's the easiest way to remove the rear seat bench?
How can I test the sensors to see which one is faulty (I assume both have to work for the gauge in the cluster to provide a reading) ?
Will replacing them fix the 'intermittent' nature of this known fault, i.e. are the replacement ones perhaps an uprated part which is not prone to failure?

Thanks in advance,
Dave

I can answer some of these,

Don't know part no. for the 2.7. My 3.0tdi driver side sender cost £53.58 inc.
Bench seat base is easy. It's clipped in at the front. A sharp tug up on the front of it behind the driver side seat then the same on the passenger side will free the front. Then lift it a little and push it back toward the rear of the car to unhook it at the back.
I don't know how to test the sender but if it's not working at the moment, try removing the metal covers under the seat and with the key in the ignition, give the driver side unit a sharp tap, see if the gauge springs into life, if not, try the other. I was lucky to find out which one was faulty doing this, the vibration got it working again.
Replacing the senders will almost certainly fix the intermittent fault. Mine was the same and it is a well known problem with them.

Hope that helps
Steve