gas guage

rasal · July 27, 2004

When the gas tank is completely full or almost empty on my 2000 Silverado the gas guage reads zero. When full, at times, the guage will start at zero and slowly, very slowly, build up to full. Guage works as programmed between 1/4 tank and almost full. Has anyone else had this problem? Is it a guage problem or a fuel sensor problem?

Any help and advice would be appreciated.

import_fighter · July 27, 2004

more than likely its your fuel sending unit.its a common problem on the nbs trucks.

99-2door · July 27, 2004

more than likely its your fuel sending unit.its a common problem on the nbs trucks.

Remove the bed and pull the unit. The thing that sucks is you can only buy the pump and sending unit together as an assembly. I have 3 assemblies that the pumps are good in but the sensor is bad.

DEV1ST8R · July 27, 2004

I've got the same problem here! Chevy needs to do a recall on the sending unit.

99-2door · July 27, 2004

I've got the same problem here! Chevy needs to do a recall on the sending unit.

Not gonna happen......

Recalls are only mandatory on defects that pose a safety hazard. Not on crappy designs.

chris_kucia · July 27, 2004

Has anyone replaced their sensor themselves?

I'm curious what the defect is. Is there any chance that the sensor is repairable, or that its just gunked up?

I haven't seen this particular one, but most GM vehicles seem to have wire coiled around a plastic or ceramic piece and a copper arm that slides along the coil to vary the resistance sent back to the gauge.

mazingo · July 27, 2004

the fuel level sending unit is littler mor then a low voltage resistor. sort of like a reostat. but usually once its gone it gone. there was a news program about a gas company that had let some high sulfur gas got to stations on accident. it was causing fuel guage malfuntions. Possible you might have gottan some (think it was amaco not sure) but theywere replacing the sending units for free. should be able to do a search and find out.

chris_kucia · July 27, 2004

I can't help wonder if some fine emery paper on the coils and pickup might solve the problem, at least for awhile.

Of course, regardless of how you approach it (drop the tank or yank the bed) getting to that sensor is no easy feat.

In my old, beat-up S-10, I cut a hole in the bed and installed a marine hatch for access. Of course, once I did that, I never needed to access the sensor or fuel pump again.

Even though my truck is four years old, I hate to cut it up like that, even though it would probably be worth it in the long run between the sensor and the fuel pump, which will likely eventually go too.

99-2door · July 27, 2004

Everytime this subject comes up some one wants to cut a hole in the bed.

I would never buy a truck that I saw that done to. That has bubba written all over it.

tmf6902 · July 27, 2004

the fuel level sending unit is littler mor then a low voltage resistor. sort of like a reostat. but usually once its gone it gone. there was a news program about a gas company that had let some high sulfur gas got to stations on accident. it was causing fuel guage malfuntions. Possible you might have gottan some (think it was amaco not sure) but theywere replacing the sending units for free. should be able to do a search and find out.

It was shell.....it happened to mu wife's malibu....from the time she called shell the the time she had a new fuel sending unit, it was about 10 days.....shell cut a check straight to the local chevy dealer for the fix....$875 bucks....it was nice to see someone else paying for it.

Z71GA · July 30, 2004

I had this happen on my 97 Jimmy. The dealer was trying to sell me the whole unit. I kept pushing the point that the sending unit comes off so it must be replaceable, well he finally came up with the part "ACDelco ACD#25314231 or GM#253141231 at just under $100 it came with a new O ring. Just keep pushing for the sending unit only. They have it.

Good Luck.

rasal · July 30, 2004

Z71GA

Thanks for the info. I have already located the part on line. Now to determine if it is compatible with the 2000 model. Anyone know if this is so?

chris_kucia · July 30, 2004

rasal,

I found this P/N on the board somewhere, I think:

25345176

It's some sort of sender kit. I don't know if its a replacement sensor, a repair kit, or what. It's $60-75 from the discount GM Dealers. Maybe one of the GM guys on the board can find out what this specifically is?

2001 4.8 Silverado · July 30, 2004

Yeah I have a 2001 I fill up goes to full then when driving down the street it goes to empty and the light comes on. hit a bump in the street or turn a corner it goes back to full. it's crazy GM needs to do a recall on this problem.

tguthrie · September 16, 2004

I have a 99 and 1/2 that has the problem. GM won't own up to knowing about the problem, let alone fixing it. I had a serious run in with a regional customer service rep who did not know about the ABS issues, the electric window motor failure rate, or even the DTR lamp being constantly out on the 99-02 trucks. I offered to send him to a website about the ABS probs and he refused. I am going to run this truck into the ground but it is my last GM truck until Ford or Dodge has a chance to shaft me.