coh2000

After filling my C5 with gasoline, the gauge started showing ‘E’ and I got a message ‘low fuel’.
It then showed about half and shortly afterwards shows nearly full before showing ‘E’ again.
All of this happening within a 10 minute period.
Is this an indication of a faulty guage or something else?

knewblewkorvette

Put a bottle of "Techron" fuel cleaner in it. If one bottle doesn't fix it, put another bottle in the next tankfull.

coh2000

I have used that before but not to correct any type of problem, and only a couple of times a few years ago.
I'll get some and try it.
Hope it works but worth a try.
Thanks for your response.

torchredmadness

have had our car for about three years now and the fuel gauge has done the same thing you are referring to from day one. After about five miles it returns to normal. Have tried the Techron fix with no luck what so ever. I don't worry about it now. I believe the gauge reads correctly once it returns to normal.

sparcnz

I reported this same problem about a year ago. Did the Techron thing in a few tanks of gas and never was able to get it to cure it fully.
Some days it works fine, others it faults, but it seems that when the tank is over 1/2 full the reading is good.
would be helpful and interesting to know how the fuel sensor works? I am guessing it is not a float type, but some other type. I am sure someone can enlighten us, Please?

Failing that, I would be willing to remove the sensor/sender and have it overhauled if needed?

I do drive the car in this state, but not happy too as I like to know what fuel I have in the car.

Cheers Kevin.

zeevette

I encountered this common problem almost 12 years ago, and have since used nothing but Chevron fuel. No further issues since, and it's a 19k garage queen.

K9Leader

This is a common C5 problem, related to sulfur build-up on the in-tank sensors. Using a top-tier gasoline (with detergents able to clean or help keep clean the sensors) and occasionally some Techron additive is the standard solution. Replacing the sensors will solve the problem for a while but eventually it will happen again.

Mine typically does it when I have been driving for about an hour and the tank is around 2/3 full. Needle flips to E, warnings go off, and it freaks you out the first time it happens. Restarting the car puts it all back to normal or just drive for a while - between 30 minutes and an hour - and it flips back to accurate reading again.

I use top-tier gas (usually Shell or Exxon - no Chevron in my area) and put Techron in about every couple of months. Sometimes it will be months between incidents and I think I've got it solved . . . and then it happens again. Oddly, it does not happen on extended road trips - 2,900 miles in Spring 2012 and 2,000 just last week.

I just live with it - it doesn't happen very often and fixing it would be pricey, especially for a fix that is only temporary.

K9Leader
Red cars are faster. They did a study.

Vetteman Jack

Do the Techron treatment again - sometimes it takes a few bottles to show any results.

DDaaryl

Techron is magic, fixed mine within two miles

mstromquist

Same here but it's only been 8 years. After a couple months of using nothing but Chevron and a bottle of techron every fillup until it cured the problem, it hasn't returned. I only use Chevron gas without the techron bottle now if there's a station where I'm at. If I can't find a Chevron I add the techron bottle to the tank.

coh2000

Oddly, after letting the car sit for a week, the funky behavior of the fuel gauge disappeared for the next week and a couple of hundred miles.
I had already purchased Tetron additives and so I added one to a half tank of gas (still no problem) Then, on the next half tank I added another one and filled with Chevron gas. Now the problem is back, and the red msg 'Check Gauges' is appearing. I still have 4 bottles of the additive, so I will continue to add one at each half tank fillup.

coh2000

Yes, the small bottle... all they had at the store.
I'll add 2 at the next half tank fillup. Thank you much.

coh2000

Update on my fuel gauge which still doesn't function right.
I have run about 6 bottles of Tectron through the tank.
The results are:
When I fillup, the gauge acts weird... show empty for a while, half full for a while, a little more or less that half full, etc.
But, after I drive and burn off about a half gallon of gasoline, the gauge doesn't act up again until my next fillup.
So, looks like a sensor?

coh2000

I need to go lookup the procedure.
The last time I did it, the codes flashed faster than I could jot them down. I think there is a way to stop on each one before proceeding to the next one. Need to find that and I will do it.
Thanks.

coh2000

Thank you 8VETTE7,
I'll pull the codes tomorrow.
Appreciate your help.

bikeriderga

You need to use Techron for a few tanks and then use Chevron or Texaco fuels that have Techron in it.
Common problem with the C5s. I had the same issues in my coupe, but have never used anything but Chevron or Texaco in my Z06 and of course no fuel gauge problems. If you cannot use Chevron or Techron, I would buy a case and use every other fill up.

I cannot remember which codes will be thrown when this happens, but do a DIC check and you should see some codes thrown when this happens. Write down the codes and if it happens next time, clear them and the gauge will start functioning again.

When you find them, post back on the forum so we can mark these codes for others with the same conditions.

BTW, just noticed 8Vette7 gave you this advice.

The Rabbi

Mine would fall to empty around 1/2 tank. Tried Chevron, no help. Finally had both fuel pumps replaced, they just go bad. Sensor part of pump. Started above 70k miles.

coh2000

Here are the DIC codes:

10-PCM
P1433 H
28-TCS
U1000 H
40-BCM
No codes
58-SDM
No codes
60-IPC
B0516 H
U1016 H
U1064 H
U1040 H
U1176 H
U1088 H
U1160 H
80-RADIO
U1064 H
U1096 H
U1016 H
99-HVAC
B0361 HC
B0367 H
AD-LDCM
No codes
A1-RDCM
No codes
A6-SCM
No codes
B0-RFA
No codes

I reset all codes but I noticed that the one below kept showing up again
Until the 3rd or 4th time I tried to reset it and 99-VAC show no codes now.
It showed 1st as HC, then later it showed as H only and I finally got it to show as no codes.

99-HVAC
B0361 HC

slvr bulit

I ran techron for years, it helped so did re-setting the codes and cleaning the ground wire on the drivers side fuel cell. But sooner than t
later you are going to have to replace the fuel pumps. I did mine at 100,000 miles when I did the clutch.

<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/user/dan1967/media/corvette/newfuelpump_zpsa075aa0a.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e143/dan1967/corvette/newfuelpump_zpsa075aa0a.jpg" border="0" alt="new fuel pump photo newfuelpump_zpsa075aa0a.jpg"/></a>

9d8vet

I have used about 2 tankfull of treated with techron gas and the going to Eempty went away but now when I fill the car it doesn't go to full it goes to 3/4 is there a way to change that has anyone fixed that problem?Is it hard to ajust the float on a 1998?