Fuel gauge reads emtpy with full tank!

[kylebigbucks]

98 GMC Sierra 5.7 vortec k1500

 

I recently had a fuel pump put in my truck. I had a mechanic do it. $700 later after the pump was installed the guage didn't work. The mechanic thinks it is a problem with the guage coil or somehting else closer to the guage and not the sending unit (which is also new). The sending unit arm is connected to a rheostat, he basically shorted that and it remained on empty.

 

When the key is initialy turned to start the vehicle the needle will go up to almost a quarter tank and then drop down to compeletly empty...every time. My mechanic is going to look at the cluster later this week but I was wondering if anyone had the same problem or knows what could be going on here.

 

Thanks,

 

Kyle

[elgineddie]

I had this happen on my 2001 Suburban. The dealer replaced the sending unit and it fixed it. Nothing to do with the gauge. In fact, my gauge did the same thing when I would first turn the key and it would jump. I think that's the gauge testing itself. (tell him that's what another dealer told you!)

It's been 2 years and all is working well. There IS the possibility that the one he installed wasn't good.

He's just not wanting to drop it to run any tests. You should be upfront and just ask him if he'll be willing to drop it all again to test things out. If it's a bad sending unit, he'll eat the labor. If it isn't you pay for the time.

 

Just my thoughts.

Ed in Chicagoland