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Fuel Guage Erratic

jhm

By jhm
in Ask A GM Technician

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jhm Senior Enthusiast

jhm

Posted
Posted

For a few months my fuel guage has acted strange. Sometimes after filling up it will show empty, other times I start the engine and it shows empty UNTIL I put it into drive or reverse. Other times it will move around before settling in the right level. I am thinking could something in the cluster (electrical) be causing this. I dont want to move the bed and replace the pump/sending unit then still have the problem. Any techs ever see this?

Trash Enthusiast

Trash

Posted
Posted

I have a 99 Silverado doing the same thing, not sure if its electrical or just the float stickin'. Does it when its full, after i use 1/4 then it seems fine, same as you though low fuel light when full, when you drive away its ok.

jhm Senior Enthusiast

jhm

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I have a 99 Silverado doing the same thing, not sure if its electrical or just the float stickin'. Does it when its full, after i use 1/4 then it seems fine, same as you though low fuel light when full, when you drive away its ok.

I been setting the trip odometer when i fill up. I dont trust the guage now. Just dont want to spend $$$ for new pump,float if it is not the problem. I was thinking of pouring some Techron in the tank to see if it cleans the float assy.

Trash Enthusiast

Trash

Posted
Posted

I had tried running Marvel Mystery oil in the tank for a couple of tank fulls thinking same but didn't help, worth a shot though, may help you, doesn't hurt.

parshal Enthusiast

parshal

Posted
Posted

I took a 900 mile trip this weekend. On one fillup, the gauge stayed at full for 155 miles and then took about five minutes to go to empty. I stopped, turned off the truck and started again and it stayed at empty. The "distance to empty" showed ---. I stopped the truck for about two hours and it's been fine ever since (500 miles) and two fillups. Very strange.

michigansilver03 Enthusiast

michigansilver03

Posted
Posted

I had a similar problem, it turn out to be a sulfur build up on the float. I use fuel injector cleaner in the tank and it dissolved it. I add it every 3 months and problem has never come back.

parshal Enthusiast

parshal

Posted
Posted

Talked to my buddy who's a mechanic for Chevy. He said the instrument cluster needs to be reprogrammed. He said he's seen it more than a few times.

BuckFeverZ Senior Enthusiast

BuckFeverZ

Posted
Posted

I'll almost guarantee it's the sending unit. I had the EXACT same symptoms you describe in my '99. Dealership determined it to be the sending unit. I lived with the problem until I traded it in since I didn't want to pay the dealership what the wanted to fix it.

jhm Senior Enthusiast

jhm

Posted
  • Author
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Talked to my buddy who's a mechanic for Chevy. He said the instrument cluster needs to be reprogrammed. He said he's seen it more than a few times.

Did he tell you how that is done and what it cost? I would try it before replacing the fuel pump if it was reasonable money wise.

jhm Senior Enthusiast

jhm

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I'll almost guarantee it's the sending unit. I had the EXACT same symptoms you describe in my '99. Dealership determined it to be the sending unit. I lived with the problem until I traded it in since I didn't want to pay the dealership what the wanted to fix it.

I wouldnt pay to change it out for the sending unit alone, of course if the pump was bad that would be different. I plan to keep this '01 another year or 2 so I could live with watching the trip odo as a back up.

parshal Enthusiast

parshal

Posted
Posted
Did he tell you how that is done and what it cost? I would try it before replacing the fuel pump if it was reasonable money wise.

 

No. Mine's still under warranty so I didn't think to ask.

jhm Senior Enthusiast

jhm

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Did he tell you how that is done and what it cost? I would try it before replacing the fuel pump if it was reasonable money wise.

 

No. Mine's still under warranty so I didn't think to ask.

 

Since you have an '09 and mine is a '01 it is probably different setup. Thanks for the info though, I can ask the dealer about it. Knock on wood, it hasn't acted wierd for a day now. Think I will put some Techron in for the next few fills and see if it helps, can't hurt.

:(

C & A s Dad Senior Enthusiast

C & A s Dad

Posted
Posted
Did he tell you how that is done and what it cost? I would try it before replacing the fuel pump if it was reasonable money wise.

 

No. Mine's still under warranty so I didn't think to ask.

 

Since you have an '09 and mine is a '01 it is probably different setup. Thanks for the info though, I can ask the dealer about it. Knock on wood, it hasn't acted wierd for a day now. Think I will put some Techron in for the next few fills and see if it helps, can't hurt.

:withstupid:

 

 

 

JHM, the Techron is absolutely the first step. Use the 20 oz bottle and run it at 1 oz per gallon. Do this for 2 tanks and if it is simply a sulfur build up you will be good to go and will be out about $20.00. If it does not work, you will have the cleanest injectors and combustion chambers in town.

 

Be sure and get pure Techron and not Chevron's fuel inj cleaner (with Techron).

 

We sell this product and see it work for this issue in many cases.

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