Fuel sending unit symptoms
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 15
From: Mechanicsburg PA
Central PA Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Fuel sending unit symptoms
Had faulty fuel readings for a while... and investigated into possible solutions. During that time... also had symptoms like fuel starvation; stumbling, burping, coughing, and stalling. Sounded like a fuel pump, filter, or a fuel pump regulator. However... was not too happy shelling out over $300 for a reman sending unit/fuel pump.
Pulled out the sending unit and saw a few aspects worth noting.
Knew the sending unit was bad... the float (where it was attached to the pivot) was deteriorated and worn beyond repair... and the pick-up screen sock was completely blocked. That gave me an idea.
Eckler's had a sending unit - without pump at a much lower price... $169.99 including tank gasket, bushing plate, and new sock plus S/H.
https://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corv...1989-1996.html
Swapped out the old pump and transferred it to the new sending unit with the supplied sock with assistance from the FSM (which paid for itself already).
Works like a champ... once again with an accurate reading and steady fuel pressure once more.
If by chance the fuel pump was shot as well (it wasn't) had a plan B... there is AC Delco OEM available for $49.99 on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-AC-DELCO...=mtr#vi-ilComp
With combined costs.... still a significant cost savings over the anticipated expenses over $300.
[Mid American was a quite a bit more expensive, tho... $399.99]
Pulled out the sending unit and saw a few aspects worth noting.
Knew the sending unit was bad... the float (where it was attached to the pivot) was deteriorated and worn beyond repair... and the pick-up screen sock was completely blocked. That gave me an idea.
Eckler's had a sending unit - without pump at a much lower price... $169.99 including tank gasket, bushing plate, and new sock plus S/H.
https://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corv...1989-1996.html
Swapped out the old pump and transferred it to the new sending unit with the supplied sock with assistance from the FSM (which paid for itself already).
Works like a champ... once again with an accurate reading and steady fuel pressure once more.
If by chance the fuel pump was shot as well (it wasn't) had a plan B... there is AC Delco OEM available for $49.99 on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-AC-DELCO...=mtr#vi-ilComp
With combined costs.... still a significant cost savings over the anticipated expenses over $300.
[Mid American was a quite a bit more expensive, tho... $399.99]
Last edited by Bandit's C4; Aug 9, 2012 at 12:38 PM.
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Thanks for the information.
So the crappy sock was causing the variation in fuel pressure - interesting.
Is the fuel gauge "linear" now (when gauge shows 1/2 tank, it's really 1/2 tank)?
So the crappy sock was causing the variation in fuel pressure - interesting.
Is the fuel gauge "linear" now (when gauge shows 1/2 tank, it's really 1/2 tank)?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 15
From: Mechanicsburg PA
Central PA Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
After 300 miles driven - would only show 1/2 full... which was the big red flag... and took 14 gallons to refill.
Now after replacement - the first drop (from fill-up) is after 70 miles. After 125 miles driven - shows 3/4 full.
Good enough for me.
Last edited by Bandit's C4; Aug 10, 2012 at 10:12 AM.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
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From: Anaheim CA
I put in one of those units when they first became available. They seem to be all stainless steel, so it's a very nice unit.
The only real problem I had was that the space between the pump and the output tube was too great and the pulsator wasn't long enough to reach. I replaced the pulsator with some submersible fuel line and things have been peachy since then.
[EDIT] I want to note that I got one of the very early versions of this unit (they sent me an email announcing the new product and I bought it immediately), so they might have fixed the gap between the fuel pump and the supply pipe since then.
The only real problem I had was that the space between the pump and the output tube was too great and the pulsator wasn't long enough to reach. I replaced the pulsator with some submersible fuel line and things have been peachy since then.
[EDIT] I want to note that I got one of the very early versions of this unit (they sent me an email announcing the new product and I bought it immediately), so they might have fixed the gap between the fuel pump and the supply pipe since then.
Last edited by Cliff Harris; Aug 11, 2012 at 01:21 AM. Reason: Added note about later versions.
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