Gas Guage

plowtruck · February 25, 2010

I was told there is a ground somewhere on the gas guage that can disconnect and make the gas guage quit working? Mine has the low fuel light on at al times even after I fuel up. Any ideas? Bad sending unit?

Jennabear · February 25, 2010

There is a TSB out, you can have the dealer replace it.

plowtruck · February 25, 2010

There is a TSB out, you can have the dealer replace it.

TSB? abbreviated for? How much is something like that going to cost? Its an 04 I dont have a warranty anymore

Jennabear · February 25, 2010

Technical Service Bulletin. I had my cluster replaced for free, and it was out of warranty, you should be able to as well.

plowtruck · February 25, 2010

Technical Service Bulletin. I had my cluster replaced for free, and it was out of warranty, you should be able to as well.

Ill look into it. Thank you

plowtruck · February 25, 2010

I called the dealer and they said I have to many miles (93k on mine) Its around $300 for a whole new instrument cluster. I have to pull the dash apart and check the numbers on the back to get the right one. Is there another dealership that you guys have had this problem with that says different?

born-to-fish- · March 1, 2010

Do a search on the gas gauge.

Chances are it could be the fuel gauge sending unit, not the instrument cluster. It's an integral part of the fuel pump, and the only way to replace it, is to replace the fuel pump. Not a cheap item, or easy to replace. Mine hasn't been working properly for a year now. Sometimes it reads half a tank, and everywhere in between, including low fuel warning. I've been tracking my fuel used through the Driver Info Centre, and haven't run out of fuel yet. I have an 05 Sierra w/Duramax, I can just imagine what a new fuel pump costs. Good luck with yours.

Hold the phone! Now I just searched on GM parts direct, and the pic shows the sending unit as a seperate piece. I thought it could only be fixed by replacing the whole pump.....???? Sending unit is number 8

knightgang · March 10, 2010

Check O'Reilly Auto PArts of you have one near you. I think we have the sending units for those fuel pumps. They can be replaced seperately. On my 2001, it is about $75 for the sender and float. SHoudl be the same for your '04.

stewy_05 · March 10, 2010

Could be a bad float. Might have a crack or small hole in it that cause it to fill with gas and sink that will cause gauge to read empty. Just a guess, might be something else.

plowtruck · March 10, 2010

Check O'Reilly Auto PArts of you have one near you. I think we have the sending units for those fuel pumps. They can be replaced seperately. On my 2001, it is about $75 for the sender and float. SHoudl be the same for your '04.

How do I determine if my guage cluster is shot and not my fuel sending unit and float? Ive researched some threads on here and people say the guage cluster is faulty and after awhile the rest of the guages will quit working also. All my other guages work fine, my oil pressure back light is out but other than the gas guage reading low fuel all the time, everything else works. Is it a matter of time before the rest go too is what im wondering. Thanks

plowtruck · April 4, 2010

to everyone who had to replace their guage cluster....did all of your guages give you problems as well? Every guage works on my panel except the fuel guage. if the cluster is bad will it make the rest of the guages go haywire? ive looked online and had a hard time findin the fuel guage sending unit. Id rather find one online for a better price than going to the local napa or carquest.

rmck490 · April 4, 2010

Just my two cents but have you scanned for codes? If it's the sending unit, you should get a P-0463 code. Mine wasn't always showing empty however and the code was strored as a history code so it didn't turn on the Service Engine Soon light. Mine would show empty when I filled up but after burning a few gallons it worked. Everytime I would start the truck, it showed empty. Once the vehicle started to move, it would show the correct fuel level.

Replaced the sending unit in my 2000 Silverado and the problem went away. For my truck, there's problems with the harness at the tank I've read and heard about. I bought my unit through Rock Auto for $120 and it came with a new harness. For the $75 unit from O'Reilly Auto parts it may not come with the new harness. Knightgang can answer that.

Hope this helps a little and good luck chasing this problem.

plowtruck · April 4, 2010

rmck- no I havent scanned for codes I really didnt think I had to unless the service engine light came on. my guage reads empty at all times no matter how much fuel is in there, the low fuel light comes on at all times too. the truck runs and drives fine. A few people on here mentioned the float may have cracked and caused gas to sink it to the bottom. Other people say it is a bad guage cluster but im trying to figure out if the rest of the guages go haywire as well. Thanks for the reply

rmck490 · April 4, 2010

You can take it to a dealer or to someone you know that has a scan tool (Tech2 or a Snap-on) and have them read the codes. They can also check the sensor and guage as well.

They can read what the fuel level sensor is reading for the fuel level signal it's sending to the PCM and what the PCM is sending to the instrument cluster. With these tools, they can also send a signal to the gauge to see if it responds to the fuel level input from the scan tool to check the gauge.

I've heard the clusters go out on your year and model but couldn't tell if its everything or just one at a time. If you end up replacing the instrument cluster, I believe you'll need to have it reprogrammed by the dealer for the mileage so write the current mileage down before you replace it.

Racerx29 · August 22, 2011

rmck- no I havent scanned for codes I really didnt think I had to unless the service engine light came on. my guage reads empty at all times no matter how much fuel is in there, the low fuel light comes on at all times too. the truck runs and drives fine. A few people on here mentioned the float may have cracked and caused gas to sink it to the bottom. Other people say it is a bad guage cluster but im trying to figure out if the rest of the guages go haywire as well. Thanks for the reply

Did you ever figure out what happened with your guage? I had the exact same problem happen to me over the weekend. I had filled up my truck, and less than 5 minutes later, the low fuel indicator light comes on & the guage reads empty!!! I was originally thinking that it's the sending unit, but now that I'm reading that my guage cluster could be going. I've had some other issues with indicator lights coming on randomly so maybe that's it.

Any further info?