fuel gage goes to empty when tank is half full

 

I would suggest pulling the codes. Do a search for the steps.

Did you just fill it up, and if so is the cap on two clicks?

This system is called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to assure
that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life of the
vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment. The
CHECK ENGINE light comes on to indicate that there is
a problem and service is required. Malfunctions often will
be indicated by the system before any problem is apparent.
This may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle.
This system is also designed to assist your service
technician in correctly diagnosing any malfunction

This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:

Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.

Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:

Reducing vehicle speed.

Avoiding hard accelerations.

Avoiding steep uphill grades.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see
“If the Light Is On Steady” following.

If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light
Is On Steady” following. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
dealer or qualified service center for service.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. See “Filling Your Tank” in the Index. The
diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been
left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel
cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A
few driving trips with the cap properly installed should
turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See
“Fuel” in the Index. Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you put
the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration
or stumbling on acceleration. (These conditions may go
away once the engine is warmed up.) This will be detected
by the system and cause the light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your dealer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.

 

Jet Jock: I think he's saying the check gages light is coming on, not the CEL.

That light comes on whenever any gauge is in the red zone, including the gas gauge going to empty. Your fuel sender may be starting to go bad. Try running some Techron and see if you can get your gauge to start working properly.

 

You're getting the check gages because the car thinks you're out of gas

The problem is with your fuel gauge senders in the tank. They foul up with excessive sulfur from the gas and stop working. RJ1AZ posted this pic showing the deposits:



You should be able to recover them by running a few bottles of Techron through the tank. be persistent as it may take a while for the Techron to work. At worst you'll need to change the sender unit but it shouldn't come to that.

You may want to switch to Chevron or Shell that have additives to stop the build up.

BTW, fill out your profile. Most of the advice you'll get here is specific to your model year or location.

 

I've had better luck with Seafoam added to the tank. But some swear by Techron

 

Texaco is the other gas with Tecron additive. I wasn't aware Shell did as well, as they advertise some kind of nitrogen additive.

 

I had a similar problem with the gauge going to 3/4 and creeping up to full. That was 3 years ago and the 2nd bottle of Techron fixed it for me.

Chevron use Techron. Forgive the advertising hype but this is what Shell claim. Its not Techron but supposed to be similar. I think the US gas is the same standard. Shell is the only 93 (99RON) I can get in my local area.


Shell V-Power contains Shell's unique Friction Modification Technology (FMT) as used by the Formula 1 Ferrari team in their 2006 racing fuels. This is designed to help the engine turn more freely and improve performance.

Shell V-Power has an octane rating of 99 RON, designed to provide more power and improved responsiveness in many modern cars.

Shell V-Power contains a powerful cleaning formula designed to improve engine responsiveness by removing power-robbing deposits, helping the fuel to burn more effectively.