Jacob

I get the sense that this fuel sender problem is a widespread problem on C5's of all years. I am personally aware of problems on a '99 C5, '01 C5, and two '02 Z06 cars.

GM now takes the position that the fuel sender may be adversly affected by sulphur in the fuel. First they reflash the PCM with a software update relating to the fuel level monitoring system. Next they want to add a chemical to the fuel to unstick the fuel sender. Neither of these measures has remedied the problem. The software update did manage to make the fuel guage even wonkier. The guage now registers full until 120 miles have gone by, then drops to 7/8 full. Another hundred miles then the guage drops like a stone to 1/3 full. It is simply not reliable.

I expect as a last resort they will change out the sender. They likely need to change out the sender for each tank, as changing one only has not corrected the problem on my vehicle.

GM seems slow to fix this problem. What is the experience of other members?

Jacob




[Modified by Jacob, 4:49 PM 8/29/2003]

0vetteshop

The fuel tanks and senders were redisigned for the mid 2003 model year (the sensers are relocated)...

Based on my past experience,unfortunately this this will more than likely mean that GM will no longer address the 1997-2002 design :nonod: Late 2002 models have the updated senders and the latest program from the factory,and they still have fuel gauge issues.You can replace the senders,but the potential for future failure is still there if you are installing the same part.

The fuel gauge issue is much like the column lock issue...Both will never go away :rolleyes:

2000^C5

Mine is a 2000 and my fuel sender unit broke, they replaced it a year ago and now the replaced one stopped working also. Piece of junk, and let me guess, they won't fix this one under warranty because my car is 4 years old now right? :mad

JoesC5

My 98 has had the problem. first the dealer said it was the PCM and it was replaced. Didn't cure the problem. Next they replaced the senders. So far, so good, but I don't drive the car enough to really tell if the problem has been corrected. Another GM engineering screwup. If the problem was with the gasoline used in the C5 Corvettes, then how come my other three cars don't have the sender problem or any of my friends and neighbors in their cars. Same gasoline. Remember how GM tried to blame the crappy leather seat covers on us, saying we were not entering/exiting our C5's correctly. and in addition it was because we were wearing bluejeans. What a joke.

$$$frumnuttin'

I had both senders replaced just inside my extended warranty on my 97. I need to know if there is any preventive maintenance I can do now to prevent having to pay through the nose next time. Do those fuel system cleaners work, or some other product? :cheers:

SFVetteman

The easiest fix or preventive maintenance that I know of is to not let the level drop below half. I don't go out of my way to find a gas station when the level drops below half but when I see one I stop and fill up.

$$$frumnuttin'

Ok, but it doesn't make sense to me. If the sender is immersed in fuel all the time why would staying above a 1/2 tank make any difference? Just my keen engineering mind at work again! :jester :jester :jester

tom p

I think he is talkin about gas run-out and not service issues. I too set my trip a-b every time i fill ,and when i get to 200 I fill again!I never had a problem until i ran out of gas one time . Ever since then it has been a guessin game. The gauge has a mind of it's own. There has been many posts on this sender problem so i just never run with less than half a tank! :chevy :chevy

new zealand

2002 corvette with 5000 miles, fuel guage drops like a rock at half full.First time at corvette forum! Is there some type of a callback been issued since new? bob

louzon

If I put cheap gas in my car and can almost bet on the gauge messing up.
Than the next tank gets Mobil, BP or AMOCO and the problem goes away, so this kind of leads me to beleive it is the gas and maybe it does have something to do with sulfur content?
But this does mean GM shouldn't fix this problem the fuel gauge should work with all types of gas sold in the USA. I wonder if any other of their vehicles have this problem?

lt1george

Put some fuel additive BG44K in the tank. This sometimes cures the problems.Save the Wave.>George

Vetish

My 2001 coupe worked great for close to 3 years, but was reflashed a year ago at 17000 miles....then ran out of warranty and had the dash cluster replaced several weeks ago on the replacement warranty company's account....but that didn't fix the problem.

It's going in next week...and I hate to pester the nice dealer that has been working on it. GM has followed up with me in an effort to fix it, though.

It's a real shame that this is happening to so many.....it would be great PR (and cure my indecisiveness to buy a C6) if GM takes care of us properly!

Good luck, all!