1994 LT1 fuel level issue
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 260
Likes: 49
From: Florence ALABAMA
1994 LT1 fuel level issue
Filled the car up Saturday, and have driven 85 miles or so, all in town driving. Gas gauge is still showing EVERY bar, apparently hasn't moved off of full. I've read that changing sending units and pumps in these cars isn't very difficult, but the question is, does this sound like a bad sending unit? I've seen them drop to empty, but never saw one just stay on full. I'm willing to get a new unit if I can be relatively certain this is the issue. All the other gauges work properly, and the car runs great, so I don't really think it needs the whole assembly. I've seen where Mid America offers just the sender minus the pump, so is it fairly easy to remove the pump from the assembly? The car only has 83,000 miles, so if I can get away with just the sender, I'd like to go that route. The whole assembly is around $400.00, and the sender is less than half that.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Pretty typical of Chevy fuel gauges in my experience. My Silverado goes over 100 mile also, before it comes off FULL.
The down side is that the low 1/2 of the gauge goes really fast, relative to the top 1/2. In my truck, I can go 300+ miles on the top 1/2 of the gauge, and only about 150 more miles on the bottom 1/2. 'Vette is similar, though not as dramatic.
If it bothers you, you could pull the sending unit, and bend the float arm so the float is "up" higher which will make the gauge read lower/sooner. This works, but requires a little trial and error to get right.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 260
Likes: 49
From: Florence ALABAMA
Well, it had about 85 miles on this tank on the way home from work tonight. It finally dropped about two bars, so we'll see. I really don't care about buying a sender or pump right now, they are WAY pricey. Just had this car for a couple weeks, and it's my first C4, so maybe I'm overreacting.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
I doubt a new $ending unit would behave much differently. You likely have to bend the float arm on a new one, too.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
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Thats ok at least your paying attention now keep a eye on the temp gauges go by the digital one. I would change all fluids and filters. A good flush by pulling the knock sensors and new front o2's if not allready done. Pull the top of the fan shroud off and clean inbetween.
My 94 fuel gauge is about the same.
Take a good look at all your hoses and vacume lines I can just about guarantee your vacume line going to your brake pedal feels like a dead worm unless it has been replaced I know a easy fix if needed.
My 94 fuel gauge is about the same.
Take a good look at all your hoses and vacume lines I can just about guarantee your vacume line going to your brake pedal feels like a dead worm unless it has been replaced I know a easy fix if needed.
Last edited by antfarmer2; Aug 19, 2015 at 07:50 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 260
Likes: 49
From: Florence ALABAMA
Good advice. I've been in the parts business in dealerships now for almost thirty years; the value of replacing fluids can't be overstated. Car needs a few small things; front tires, front speakers fixed, etc. However, the interior is near flawless, and it runs and drives good.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
Good advice. I've been in the parts business in dealerships now for almost thirty years; the value of replacing fluids can't be overstated. Car needs a few small things; front tires, front speakers fixed, etc. However, the interior is near flawless, and it runs and drives good.
Just in case you don't know NEVER get your opti wet.
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