coupeguy2001

2001 6 sped base coupe
Fuel gauge went to empty while driving.
Is it the sender unit or a ground?
After it went to empty, occasionally it would realert me that it was empty.
I had just got about 10 gallons at a Giant gas station, and drove to a restaurant about a quarter mile away, the car sat for about an hour, then about half hour after driving, bing! check gauges message, gauge drops to zero, and DIC says check gauges then low fuel.
Reset it, gauge stayed at empty, Dic went back to oil pressure readout, but red check gauges light stayed on.
Next day, gauge worked perfectly.
Any body got a definitive answer?

mike venth

I understand that the ethanol junk puts a film on the sender sometimes!! Most CF folks put in some textron fuel additive, maybe couple times and it has helped.. Also check the ground connection behind the (R) rear wheel.. hope this helps
mike v

oh1vette

Run down to about 1/4 tank or little less and add a bottle of TECHRON for 20gals before fueling.....do this for a couple fill ups ��

TXWMH

This just happened to my 99 coupe, no low fuel warning but the analog gauge shows empty.

TXWMH

I just went back out to the garage see what the issue was, it seems to be working fine now but I guess I'll expect for it to happen again.

FYI, the last tank I filled it up with was at Costco. That might be one reason.

Vetteman Jack

As mentioned above, try a bottle of Techron in your next few tanks of gas and see if the sending unit returns to working order. Many have had success with it in cleaning deposits off the sending unit.

If it doesn't help, you may need new sending units installed.

zachaeous

Hi, I have a 2001 coupe also. I had the same problem as you. I tried the techron chemical to no avail. I ended up replacing the right hand jet pump with a new one. It was a complete unit w/new sending unit with it. Upon removing the old unit I tried a little experiment with it, I set in on my tailgate and leveled it so that I could apply techtron directly on the actual gauge unit. I let it soak on the blackened surface of the gauge and it seemed to not loosen or breakdown the coating. I then used lacquer thinner on it and it did start to cut the coating and with a little rubbing the surface looked the same as the new one I installed. If I had it to do over I would remove the right side unit and clean the surface with thinner and reinstall. I think it would be good as new. My gauge works as it should after that replacement, although I had the dealer do a tsb reflash about the sensitivity of the gauge also. It was a easy job to change the unit, the only hard thing was dealing with the gasoline. Hope this helps.

jackthelad

Have you had the GM recall designed to fix this problem installed? It's a computer reflash. It fixed my crash to zero problems - has not happened since it was done maybe 9-10 years ago now.

Dirty Harry

I have a 2003 and have always ran high tier gas in it. High tier meaning , Chevron W/Techron, Texaco W/Techron, Exxon. The sulpher content in all the cheap brands of gas, RAce Track, Murphy Oil, Velero etc. will ruin a sending unit in a Corvette. I had this issue with my 2002 and after they replaced the 6th sending unit while it was under warranty I finally ran across a GM Mechanic that told me why. Never use the cheaper brand gasolines unless you want to have this issue with sending units.

David Shiel

a Top Tier fuel. It is all I use. But, I also run Techron in all my cars. Usually with every other fill

I am by far no expert and have received invaluable assistance from Dadaroo and Bill Curlee.

esch

Ditto of what David Shiel and Dirty Harry have said.

I had that problem years ago with cheep gas. I use better branded gas along with techron or AG from time to time and I have not seen this issue in years.

Bon Air

Friend of mine had same problem (04')... don't really know but could old gas cause trouble as it sits for long periods.
He's not a real car guy but could use a little advice.
I have two C4's both run fine.
Bon Air

NealB

more info: My son has a Honda and he called me one day and said his gas gauge was wonky. I asked if he had just filled up with Shell. He said yes. Told him to run that tank out and buy a different brand next time. He did and gas gauge healed itself. Supposedly Shell has higher sulfur content too.

Also, I worked for a thrill ride company that had 8 C5 Z06s. The closest gas to them was Shell. They always had gauge issues until they bought a tank on a trailer and filled it at Costco. No more issues after that.

So I guess it depends.

slsnider423

I have a 2003 Z06 with about 42K miles on it. I noticed that the fuel gauge was reading fuel changes very slowly.....like when I filled the tank, the gauge took forever to read full. Then yesterday, the gauge stayed at empty when I started the car - the dash warning light came on, and the Low Fuel warning came up. I drove the car for a few miles, and I could see the gauge needle slowly rising. I stopped at an auto parts store and shut the car down of course. When I came back and started the car, the fuel gauge needle immediately jumped to full.

Is this situation consistent with the problems you folks have had? I'm going to try the Techron route and see if it helps!

Smokin Joe

Mine did this a couple of times when new 15 years ago. It never did it again.

IMXCITD

i am going thru the same thing on my frc. happened to my coupe and dads coupe also....had to have the sending units replaced in both of those vettes.

PEETYZ

I had issues with mine and used techron and Shell V power a few cycles. Mine is not 100% all the time but its pretty darn close. Sometimes when I fill it completely it will say about 7/8th tank then a few mins later will show completely full It does not do the fall to zero issue any more however.

Keep quality gas in it and it will help.

pmr2000

I tried Techron 2 or 3 times putting in BP 93 for 2 months no luck...actually ran the car out of gas trying to run it down to 1/4 tank.

I am trying the BG44K Fuel System cleaner power enhancer next...some say that works.

Interesting on 97-02 is it DIY job to pull and clean a sender or replace? Is it always the right side that goes?

mike venth

Had the same symptoms as most of the above, fuel gauge off, on, slow, etc....
When i used Techron, Seafoam, others,, there was some improvement.. Then I found a local station that had hi-octane 93 with-out methanol. Pricey $$, but run several tanks with the Techron at full strength..Took awhile... But all has been good for couple years now.
I now use Techron after every oil change (5-to7K-mls) and Seafoam every 5 tanks. Hope this will help....
mike v

LoneStarFRC

Yes. If you're going to remove, I STRONGLY recommend you don't waste your time trying to "clean". Replace the assembly.


"Always"? No, BUT the right side has generally proven to be the most problematic.