Gas gauge goes to empty

[dcmargush]

1999 2500 silverado has always given me some issues with the gas guage, but it has recently really acted up. I can fill the tank full. And when I start the engine the gauge reads empty. I put the truck in drive and it is still empty. I then slide the slector back to N or P and the gauge will read.

 

You can then be sitting there idling in P and the guage will just drop, and once again, sliding into N or D will bring it back

 

?

[gmcjoe]

Very common issue on the 99-01 trucks. Bad fuel sending unit.

Costs about $220 from your local auto parts store.

Easiest way is unbolt and slide the bed back a foot or so and swap it out

[dcmargush]

Ouch.....I have heard the Fuel pumps go bad too. Should you do both at the same time?

 

Any special tools needed?

[GM-Tech]

Just for laughs, you may want to try this. This SUPPOSEDLY cleans off the sulfur deposits on the fuel level sensor that causes this problem. It's a cheap fix if it works, and no great loss if it doesn't.

 

I have not had any personal experience with this so all I can say is, what have you got to lose.

 

-----------

 

GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS, Fuel Sending Unit Corrosion and Fuel System Deposits #05-00-89-078 - (Nov 9, 2005)

 

2006 and Prior All GM Cars and Trucks

 

2003-2006 HUMMER H2

 

2006 HUMMER H3

 

2006 and Prior Saturn (Canada Only)

 

2005-2006 Saab 9-7X

 

GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS

GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS, P/N 88861011 (for U.S. ACDelco®, use 88861013) (in Canada, 88861012), is now available.

 

Added Benefits and Uses

The PLUS portion of GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS is the addition of a filmer additive that, when used regularly, can protect fuel system sending units from the corrosive effects of certain sulfur contaminants found in some of today's gasoline.

 

Sulfur contamination can disrupt electrical continuity of certain fuel sending units and lead to erratic or false fuel gauge readings. With scheduled usage, GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS protects against the effects of harmful sulfurs in gasoline.

 

You Get Four Benefits

One bottle of GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS added to the fuel tank at each oil change:

 

• Cleans -- Sulfur corrosion from fuel gauge sending units.

 

• Prevents -- Harmful sulfur components from attacking sensitive fuel system electronics.

 

• Protects -- By coating metallic surfaces of the fuel system.

 

• Removes -- Engine deposits left from use of poor quality fuels.

 

GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS will replace the original GM Fuel System Treatment, P/N 12345104 (in Canada, 89020804). The original formula may still be available for a limited time, and provides the excellent Fuel System Cleaning aspects of the new product without the filmer.

 

Parts Information

Part Number

Description

 

88861011 (for U.S. ACDelco, use 88861013)

 

(in Canada, 88861012)

GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS

[dcmargush]

Well it is definetly worth a try.

 

thanks

[gmcjoe]

Ouch.....I have heard the Fuel pumps go bad too.  Should you do both at the same time?

 

Any special tools needed?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

They come as one unit

 

FWIW, my fuel pump lasted over 140K miles

[GM-Tech]

Ouch.....I have heard the Fuel pumps go bad too.  Should you do both at the same time?

 

Any special tools needed?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

They come as one unit

 

Actually, the fuel level sensor is available separately. Here are the part #'s for the various sensors that are available. It's quite a bit cheaper than the entire module.

 

-------------

 

Part Number

Description

Application

 

-------------------------

89060635

Sensor Assembly, Aux Tank, Rear

 

2001-2003

 

360364 0353, Cab/Chassis, Reg. and Ext Cab

 

with LQ4 or L18 and minus NQZ (with aux fuel tank)

-------------------------

 

 

 

-------------------------

89060636

Sensor Assembly, Main Tank, Side

 

2001-2003

 

360364 0353, Cab/Chassis, Reg. and Ext Cab

 

with LQ4 or L18 and without K53 (robust fuel system)

-------------------------

 

 

 

-------------------------

89060637

Sensor Assembly, Main Tank, Side

 

2000-2003

 

159259 0636, C/K, Long Wheel Base Utility

 

with LM7 or LQ4 or LQ9 or L18 and without K53 (robust fuel system)

-------------------------

 

 

 

-------------------------

89060638

Sensor Assembly, Main Tank, Side

 

2000-2003

 

157 06, C/K, Short Wheel Base Utility

 

with LM7 or LQ4 or LQ9 or L18 and without K53 (robust fuel system)

-------------------------

 

 

 

-------------------------

89060640

Sensor Assembly, Main Tank, Side

 

1999-2003

 

100200300 034353, C/K, 2 Dr, 4 Dr and Ext Cab Pickup

 

with LU3 or LR4 or LM7 or LQ4 or LQ9 or L18 and -- K53 (without robust fuel system)

 

2004

 

100 0353, C/K, 2 Dr and Ext Cab

 

with LU3 and without K53 (robust fuel system)

-------------------------

 

 

 

-------------------------

89060642

Sensor Assembly, Main Tank, Rear

 

2000-2003

 

259 0636, C/K, Long Wheel Base Utility

 

with LM7 or LQ4 or LQ9 or L18 and without K53 (robust fuel system)

-------------------------

[gmcjoe]

Good info, for quite some time they weren't that willing to sell them seperately

[divejoe]

Just for laughs, you may want to try this.  This SUPPOSEDLY cleans off the sulfur deposits on the fuel level sensor that causes this problem.  It's a cheap fix if it works, and no great loss if it doesn't.

 

I have not had any personal experience with this so all I can say is, what have you got to lose.

 

-----------

 

GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS, Fuel Sending Unit Corrosion and Fuel System Deposits #05-00-89-078 - (Nov 9, 2005)

 

2006 and Prior All GM Cars and Trucks

 

2003-2006 HUMMER H2

 

2006 HUMMER H3

 

2006 and Prior Saturn (Canada Only)

 

2005-2006 Saab 9-7X

 

GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS

GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS, P/N 88861011 (for U.S. ACDelco®, use 88861013) (in Canada, 88861012), is now available.

 

Added Benefits and Uses

The PLUS portion of GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS is the addition of a filmer additive that, when used regularly, can protect fuel system sending units from the corrosive effects of certain sulfur contaminants found in some of today's gasoline.

 

Sulfur contamination can disrupt electrical continuity of certain fuel sending units and lead to erratic or false fuel gauge readings. With scheduled usage, GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS protects against the effects of harmful sulfurs in gasoline.

 

You Get Four Benefits

One bottle of GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS added to the fuel tank at each oil change:

 

  •  Cleans -- Sulfur corrosion from fuel gauge sending units. 

 

  •  Prevents -- Harmful sulfur components from attacking sensitive fuel system electronics. 

 

  •  Protects -- By coating metallic surfaces of the fuel system. 

 

  •  Removes -- Engine deposits left from use of poor quality fuels. 

 

GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS will replace the original GM Fuel System Treatment, P/N 12345104 (in Canada, 89020804). The original formula may still be available for a limited time, and provides the excellent Fuel System Cleaning aspects of the new product without the filmer.

 

Parts Information

Part Number

Description

 

88861011 (for U.S. ACDelco, use 88861013)

 

(in Canada, 88861012)

GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I tried to find this fuel treatment but my GMC or Chevy dealers didn't even know about it. I gave them the part number and the computer system didn't recognize it. Is this something brand new? Can I get it online?

Thanks!

[GM-Tech]

The bulletin just came out last month, so I imagine the stuff is pretty new. It might not come up in their catalog, but they could probably call in and see if it's available.