Fuel gauge drops suddenly to empty...help!
10-30-2005, 12:07 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Fuel gauge drops suddenly to empty...help!
I was driving home when I got a warning message of "low Fuel". The fuel gauge dropped suddenly to "E" from the prior reading of half full. I knew that it was not empty because I had filled the tank and not traveled very far. I stopped the car, turned it off and then restarted it. The gauge returned to half full. For the rest of my trip home the guage was OK. This is the first time that I experienced this problem in the three years that I have owned the car. Any suggestions on what happened and how to fix?
10-30-2005, 12:10 PM
#2
Team Owner
Member Since: Feb 2003
Location: Plano Texas
Posts: 37,329
Likes: 0
Received 12 Likes
on
8 Posts
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
CI-VI Car Show Winner
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
In your area there may be a Chevron or texaco station. Fill up with 93 octain. In many instances this has fixed the problem.
Another 'fix' is to go to an auto supply outlet and pick up Techtron (sp) - a fuel additive. It is the same thing that is in Chevron and/or Texaco gasoline.
Hope this assists.
Another 'fix' is to go to an auto supply outlet and pick up Techtron (sp) - a fuel additive. It is the same thing that is in Chevron and/or Texaco gasoline.
Hope this assists.
10-30-2005, 12:13 PM
#3
Racer
Thread Starter
Thanks for the suggestion. I have always used Exxon/Mobile 93 octane with no problems. Maybe there was a bad batch of gas. Is Texaco gas different?
10-30-2005, 12:18 PM
#4
Race Director
there are 3 possible causes...
1. The sending unit is fouled.... USe a concentrated cleaner like Techron or Chemtool B-12 or BG 44K
2. The ground connection fo rthe sending unit is corroded and needs cleaning.
3. the sending unit is FUBAR.... repalce it.
start with the simplest.... #1. It may take 2-3 tanks with an additive to know if it worked
If this is the probelm switch to a top tier gas...
www.toptiergas.com
Good Luck
1. The sending unit is fouled.... USe a concentrated cleaner like Techron or Chemtool B-12 or BG 44K
2. The ground connection fo rthe sending unit is corroded and needs cleaning.
3. the sending unit is FUBAR.... repalce it.
start with the simplest.... #1. It may take 2-3 tanks with an additive to know if it worked
If this is the probelm switch to a top tier gas...
www.toptiergas.com
Good Luck
10-30-2005, 12:27 PM
#5
Race Director
Member Since: Sep 2003
Location: Now in God's Country, the Big Sky, Montana!
Posts: 13,550
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Cruise-In 7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Happened to me Friday as well. Gonna have to pick up some techron.
10-30-2005, 12:28 PM
#6
Pro
Member Since: Jan 2004
Location: Las Cruces New Mexico
Posts: 748
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by AC54ME
In your area there may be a Chevron or texaco station. Fill up with 93 octain. In many instances this has fixed the problem.
Another 'fix' is to go to an auto supply outlet and pick up Techtron (sp) - a fuel additive. It is the same thing that is in Chevron and/or Texaco gasoline.
Hope this assists.
Another 'fix' is to go to an auto supply outlet and pick up Techtron (sp) - a fuel additive. It is the same thing that is in Chevron and/or Texaco gasoline.
Hope this assists.
Lots of owners have had good luck with this. Others needed to replace the fuel float in the right side tank (if memory serves me correctly). GM has several service bulletins on this 'not all that unusual' problem. There might have been a software patch as well - not sure what that did. Do a search and you'll learn more that you want to on the topic.
Like AC54ME said - Try the techron route first!
10-30-2005, 12:39 PM
#8
Now a CTS-V Owner
Member Since: Oct 2001
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 1,675
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
CI 5-6-7 & 9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08
Haven't had that at all in nearly five (5) years and 38.5K, But I do use at least 93 octane (except when in the West last year).
Lately I have been, almost exclusively using Sunoco 94, with noticeable results!!
Lately I have been, almost exclusively using Sunoco 94, with noticeable results!!
10-30-2005, 05:16 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
This has NOTHING to do with the gas...it's a bad fuel sender unit. Very common with the 99's. I had to have mine replaced last year. Cost me about $900. GM has bulletins on it. Check with your Chevy dealer. Mine would have been covered under a recall except that I had a Mallett conversion done, and they wouldn't cover it. Your VIN may be elegible for coverage.
10-30-2005, 05:19 PM
#11
Instructor
Member Since: Oct 2005
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I dont currently have a vette but my 2000 z71 does it to. It like to do it when I have just filled up and other times sporadicly... I talked to another guy who has a 2000 and his does it as well. It doesnt bother me because 97% of the time it is correct.
10-30-2005, 06:19 PM
#13
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Dec 2004
Location: New York NY
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Where is connecticut when you need him? He fixed the problem a while back on a few vettes and can let you know how to repair the problem.
10-30-2005, 06:20 PM
#14
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Oct 2001
Location: Land of Sky Blue Waters
Posts: 7,230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My '01 would do this very infrequently. The first time it happened, I thought some neighborhood delinquent syphoned my gas. I didn't change gasoline and didn't use Techron. It happened so infrequently, I wouldn't bother spending the bucks to have it fixed.
10-30-2005, 07:15 PM
#16
Race Director
Member Since: Jul 2005
Location: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
Posts: 11,308
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Originally Posted by vermjpv
Haven't had that at all in nearly five (5) years and 38.5K, But I do use at least 93 octane (except when in the West last year).
Lately I have been, almost exclusively using Sunoco 94, with noticeable results!!
Lately I have been, almost exclusively using Sunoco 94, with noticeable results!!
Wow! My friend, you are quite fortunate. Out in the wild west coast we merely have 91 octane. So, definitely, and, regularly add the Chevron Tech II fuel additive to help reduce and clean the sulphur deposits that may accumulate on the fuel pump sending unit assembly to help elliminate the erratic fuel gauge readings (refer to the many GM TSB's regarding this issue). Moreover, regularly perform a manual diagnostics to make sure that you are not coding for a faulty fuel pump assembly unit. Unfortunately, I had to replace mine. However, I continue to practice preventive maintainance by adding the Chevron Tech II (one large bottle) to a full tank of gas. Good luck to you.
10-30-2005, 09:23 PM
#17
Racer
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by hava67-2
This has NOTHING to do with the gas...it's a bad fuel sender unit. Very common with the 99's. I had to have mine replaced last year. Cost me about $900. GM has bulletins on it. Check with your Chevy dealer. Mine would have been covered under a recall except that I had a Mallett conversion done, and they wouldn't cover it. Your VIN may be elegible for coverage.
10-30-2005, 09:37 PM
#19
Supporting Vendor
Member Since: Jun 2005
Location: Marietta Georgia
Posts: 20,644
Received 315 Likes
on
288 Posts
St. Jude Donor '06-'07, '13, '15
Originally Posted by AC54ME
In your area there may be a Chevron or texaco station. Fill up with 93 octain. In many instances this has fixed the problem.
Another 'fix' is to go to an auto supply outlet and pick up Techtron (sp) - a fuel additive. It is the same thing that is in Chevron and/or Texaco gasoline.
Hope this assists.
Another 'fix' is to go to an auto supply outlet and pick up Techtron (sp) - a fuel additive. It is the same thing that is in Chevron and/or Texaco gasoline.
Hope this assists.
Fixed the problem for me..
Jim
