C5 Gas Gauge Issues
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
C5 Gas Gauge Issues
I know I have seen numerous dicussion concerning aftermarket products that can added to hopefully correct / clean faulty gas gauge sending units in the C5. My 2002, you can rest assured, when the gauge gets to about 3/8 full, the gauge will go to empty and until I fill the tank, it rides on empty.
Please advise what you have used to fix the problem.
Thanks
Please advise what you have used to fix the problem.
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 23,234
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From: All that glitters is Gold - Hockey Is CANADA'S game
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Check to see if it is a code being thrown by the computer
Last edited by Zilla; Sep 2, 2007 at 01:05 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
Put in a bottle of Techron. Change your gas to a Top Tier (Shell is one). Use a second bottle on the next tank full if you have to.
Sulphur in fuel does it. Replacing fuel senders just postpones it. Top Tier gas will keep it clean.
Sulphur in fuel does it. Replacing fuel senders just postpones it. Top Tier gas will keep it clean.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: All that glitters is Gold - Hockey Is CANADA'S game
Cruise-In VI Veteran
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
#1 cause sulfur build up on the sending unit from using gas with insufficient detergent package....
Use a good fuel system cleaner like Techron fuel system cleaner ( NOT the injector cleaner) , Seafoam.
Berrymans Chemtool B-12, Valvoline Synpower fuel system cleaner for a coule tank fulls and switch to a top tier gasoline www.toptiergas.com
#2. corroded ground for the sending unit
#3. bad sending unit
Use a good fuel system cleaner like Techron fuel system cleaner ( NOT the injector cleaner) , Seafoam.
Berrymans Chemtool B-12, Valvoline Synpower fuel system cleaner for a coule tank fulls and switch to a top tier gasoline www.toptiergas.com
#2. corroded ground for the sending unit
#3. bad sending unit
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 940
Likes: 0
From: Surprise Arizona
Bottom line...try Techron first...then if all else fails, look into replacing the sending units...unless your car is nearing the end of a warranty, in which case, you might want to go ahead and replace the sending units just in case they really are defective.
Good luck!
Last edited by zTrek; Sep 2, 2007 at 12:02 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I know I have seen numerous dicussion concerning aftermarket products that can added to hopefully correct / clean faulty gas gauge sending units in the C5. My 2002, you can rest assured, when the gauge gets to about 3/8 full, the gauge will go to empty and until I fill the tank, it rides on empty.
Please advise what you have used to fix the problem.
Thanks
Please advise what you have used to fix the problem.
Thanks
Try the techron fix before you go to the significant expense of dropping the tanks to replace the sensorsIts worked for many of us and it cleans up the sensors/fuel system so its good preventative maintenance.
Advanced
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
From: Sterling VA
Which Level Sensor?
It appears there are two float level sensors in the tanks. One in the Left and another in the Right tank.
When I fill my tank I show Full for about 30 miles and then the DIC Red Alerts with the gas guage showing zero fuel left. When the fuel level drops to about 1/3 the DIC Red Alert goes away and the fuel guage will start working again.
I believe it is the right level sensor that is causing the problem as the fuel system empties the right tank first and then uses the contents of the left tank last.
Or I am just going to have to pull both tanks and replace both float level sensors?
When I fill my tank I show Full for about 30 miles and then the DIC Red Alerts with the gas guage showing zero fuel left. When the fuel level drops to about 1/3 the DIC Red Alert goes away and the fuel guage will start working again.
I believe it is the right level sensor that is causing the problem as the fuel system empties the right tank first and then uses the contents of the left tank last.
Or I am just going to have to pull both tanks and replace both float level sensors?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 2
From: Port Orange Florida
Cruise-In III Veteran
STP or Techron works fine
When my gas gage stuck I put in a can of "STP TOTAL FUEL SYSTEM CLEANER" in the tank and filled up. Gas gage works just fine now. I don't know if "TECHRON" is about the same stuff or if it is different. From what I have read on this forum is that either will save you from having to replace a stuck float inside of the fuel tanks.
Ronnie
Ronnie
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 70
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From: Bellefonte PA
Mine did that last night. I was on a road in the middle of nowhere and suddenly my fuel guage was pegged below "E". I knew I had to have had more gas than that, but figured maybe I was just putting my foot into it more than i thought. 
Then a warning for "low washer fluid" came on too, even though I hadnt used any of it for a couple days. I finally make it to a gas station and the problem corrects itself, and I have a little over a 1/4 tank left. I was kind of confused. After reading this thread, maybe i'll try some fuel system cleaner.
Then a warning for "low washer fluid" came on too, even though I hadnt used any of it for a couple days. I finally make it to a gas station and the problem corrects itself, and I have a little over a 1/4 tank left. I was kind of confused. After reading this thread, maybe i'll try some fuel system cleaner.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 0
From: Deerfield VA
St. Jude Donor '07
Mine did that last night. I was on a road in the middle of nowhere and suddenly my fuel guage was pegged below "E". I knew I had to have had more gas than that, but figured maybe I was just putting my foot into it more than i thought. Then a warning for "low washer fluid" came on too, even though I hadnt used any of it for a couple days. I finally make it to a gas station and the problem corrects itself, and I have a little over a 1/4 tank left. I was kind of confused. After reading this thread, maybe i'll try some fuel system cleaner.
Then a warning for "low washer fluid" came on too, even though I hadnt used any of it for a couple days. I finally make it to a gas station and the problem corrects itself, and I have a little over a 1/4 tank left. I was kind of confused. After reading this thread, maybe i'll try some fuel system cleaner.
John
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,409
Likes: 136
From: PHOENIX, AZ Yes, it's true. You are a good woman. Then again, you may be the Antichrist.
It appears there are two float level sensors in the tanks. One in the Left and another in the Right tank.
When I fill my tank I show Full for about 30 miles and then the DIC Red Alerts with the gas guage showing zero fuel left. When the fuel level drops to about 1/3 the DIC Red Alert goes away and the fuel guage will start working again.
I believe it is the right level sensor that is causing the problem as the fuel system empties the right tank first and then uses the contents of the left tank last.
Or I am just going to have to pull both tanks and replace both float level sensors?
When I fill my tank I show Full for about 30 miles and then the DIC Red Alerts with the gas guage showing zero fuel left. When the fuel level drops to about 1/3 the DIC Red Alert goes away and the fuel guage will start working again.
I believe it is the right level sensor that is causing the problem as the fuel system empties the right tank first and then uses the contents of the left tank last.
Or I am just going to have to pull both tanks and replace both float level sensors?
My fuel gauge is still acting up, despite the last four fill-ups being with Chevron plus a bottle of techron. It seems that when I first start up, the gauge will alternate between "E" and 1/2 full (with a full tank). After driving a bit and sloshing the gas, it will show full OR empty. When it goes to empty, I can jerk the steering wheel to slosh the tanks and the gauge will go back to full. Never stays there though. 
Has anybody had their sending units changed? How do you tell if you need to replace one or both?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,431
Likes: 3
From: Iowa City Iowa
Techron
Had the same issue- I filled tank and put in a bottle of techron. Next fill I added a bottle of GM Fuel System PLUS to the tank. Not cheap as it's $25 for the GM PLUS- however, all is well and cheaper than changing sensors, etc, out of tank. Good luck, Ron