Fuel gauge drops suddenly to empty...help!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 420
Likes: 12
From: Long Valley NJ
Fuel gauge drops suddenly to empty...help!
I was driving home when I got a warning message of "low Fuel". The fuel gauge dropped suddenly to "E" from the prior reading of half full. I knew that it was not empty because I had filled the tank and not traveled very far. I stopped the car, turned it off and then restarted it. The gauge returned to half full. For the rest of my trip home the guage was OK. This is the first time that I experienced this problem in the three years that I have owned the car. Any suggestions on what happened and how to fix?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 37,329
Likes: 12
From: Plano Texas
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
CI-VI Car Show Winner
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
In your area there may be a Chevron or texaco station. Fill up with 93 octain. In many instances this has fixed the problem.
Another 'fix' is to go to an auto supply outlet and pick up Techtron (sp) - a fuel additive. It is the same thing that is in Chevron and/or Texaco gasoline.
Hope this assists.
Another 'fix' is to go to an auto supply outlet and pick up Techtron (sp) - a fuel additive. It is the same thing that is in Chevron and/or Texaco gasoline.
Hope this assists.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
there are 3 possible causes...
1. The sending unit is fouled.... USe a concentrated cleaner like Techron or Chemtool B-12 or BG 44K
2. The ground connection fo rthe sending unit is corroded and needs cleaning.
3. the sending unit is FUBAR.... repalce it.
start with the simplest.... #1. It may take 2-3 tanks with an additive to know if it worked
If this is the probelm switch to a top tier gas...
www.toptiergas.com
Good Luck
1. The sending unit is fouled.... USe a concentrated cleaner like Techron or Chemtool B-12 or BG 44K
2. The ground connection fo rthe sending unit is corroded and needs cleaning.
3. the sending unit is FUBAR.... repalce it.
start with the simplest.... #1. It may take 2-3 tanks with an additive to know if it worked
If this is the probelm switch to a top tier gas...
www.toptiergas.com
Good Luck
Pro
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 749
Likes: 0
From: Las Cruces New Mexico
Originally Posted by AC54ME
In your area there may be a Chevron or texaco station. Fill up with 93 octain. In many instances this has fixed the problem.
Another 'fix' is to go to an auto supply outlet and pick up Techtron (sp) - a fuel additive. It is the same thing that is in Chevron and/or Texaco gasoline.
Hope this assists.
Another 'fix' is to go to an auto supply outlet and pick up Techtron (sp) - a fuel additive. It is the same thing that is in Chevron and/or Texaco gasoline.
Hope this assists.
Lots of owners have had good luck with this. Others needed to replace the fuel float in the right side tank (if memory serves me correctly). GM has several service bulletins on this 'not all that unusual' problem. There might have been a software patch as well - not sure what that did. Do a search and you'll learn more that you want to on the topic.
Like AC54ME said - Try the techron route first!
Now a CTS-V Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,675
Likes: 1
From: Central Ohio
CI 5-6-7 & 9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08
Haven't had that at all in nearly five (5) years and 38.5K, But I do use at least 93 octane (except when in the West last year).
Lately I have been, almost exclusively using Sunoco 94, with noticeable results!!
Lately I have been, almost exclusively using Sunoco 94, with noticeable results!!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,369
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From: The line waiting to see Santa Claus stretched all the way back to Terre Haute, and I was at the end, Indiana
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18
This has NOTHING to do with the gas...it's a bad fuel sender unit. Very common with the 99's. I had to have mine replaced last year. Cost me about $900. GM has bulletins on it. Check with your Chevy dealer. Mine would have been covered under a recall except that I had a Mallett conversion done, and they wouldn't cover it. Your VIN may be elegible for coverage.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
I dont currently have a vette but my 2000 z71 does it to. It like to do it when I have just filled up and other times sporadicly... I talked to another guy who has a 2000 and his does it as well. It doesnt bother me because 97% of the time it is correct.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 7,230
Likes: 0
From: Land of Sky Blue Waters
My '01 would do this very infrequently. The first time it happened, I thought some neighborhood delinquent syphoned my gas. I didn't change gasoline and didn't use Techron. It happened so infrequently, I wouldn't bother spending the bucks to have it fixed.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,308
Likes: 1
From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
Originally Posted by vermjpv
Haven't had that at all in nearly five (5) years and 38.5K, But I do use at least 93 octane (except when in the West last year).
Lately I have been, almost exclusively using Sunoco 94, with noticeable results!!
Lately I have been, almost exclusively using Sunoco 94, with noticeable results!!
Wow! My friend, you are quite fortunate. Out in the wild west coast we merely have 91 octane. So, definitely, and, regularly add the Chevron Tech II fuel additive to help reduce and clean the sulphur deposits that may accumulate on the fuel pump sending unit assembly to help elliminate the erratic fuel gauge readings (refer to the many GM TSB's regarding this issue). Moreover, regularly perform a manual diagnostics to make sure that you are not coding for a faulty fuel pump assembly unit. Unfortunately, I had to replace mine. However, I continue to practice preventive maintainance by adding the Chevron Tech II (one large bottle) to a full tank of gas. Good luck to you.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 420
Likes: 12
From: Long Valley NJ
Originally Posted by hava67-2
This has NOTHING to do with the gas...it's a bad fuel sender unit. Very common with the 99's. I had to have mine replaced last year. Cost me about $900. GM has bulletins on it. Check with your Chevy dealer. Mine would have been covered under a recall except that I had a Mallett conversion done, and they wouldn't cover it. Your VIN may be elegible for coverage.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 23,340
Likes: 379
From: Marietta Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06-'07, '13, '15
Originally Posted by AC54ME
In your area there may be a Chevron or texaco station. Fill up with 93 octain. In many instances this has fixed the problem.
Another 'fix' is to go to an auto supply outlet and pick up Techtron (sp) - a fuel additive. It is the same thing that is in Chevron and/or Texaco gasoline.
Hope this assists.
Another 'fix' is to go to an auto supply outlet and pick up Techtron (sp) - a fuel additive. It is the same thing that is in Chevron and/or Texaco gasoline.
Hope this assists.
Fixed the problem for me..
Jim
