C5 Fuel Gage Problem
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
C5 Fuel Gage Problem
This weekend I went on a road trip and for the first time got my gas below a quarter of a tank. The check gages light came on and it displayed Low Fuel. I just put in 3 gallons and reset the gage as instructed in the manual and now the gage shows 3/4 of a tank. Anyone know what is going on ??? My next step is to fill the tank and reset the gage again to see if this clears up the problem.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by jbullitt
This weekend I went on a road trip and for the first time got my gas below a quarter of a tank. The check gages light came on and it displayed Low Fuel. I just put in 3 gallons and reset the gage as instructed in the manual and now the gage shows 3/4 of a tank. Anyone know what is going on ??? My next step is to fill the tank and reset the gage again to see if this clears up the problem.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,394
Likes: 6
From: Melbourne FL
Originally Posted by jbullitt
This weekend I went on a road trip and for the first time got my gas below a quarter of a tank. The check gages light came on and it displayed Low Fuel. I just put in 3 gallons and reset the gage as instructed in the manual and now the gage shows 3/4 of a tank. Anyone know what is going on ??? My next step is to fill the tank and reset the gage again to see if this clears up the problem.
Some have been able to fix this condition by switching to a premium Amoco or Sunoco gasoline. Others have had success with adding Techron fuel system cleaner to the tank. And other have needed to replace the fuel sending units to fix this condion. My car fell into the latter category and needed both sending units replaced before it was fixed.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 855
Likes: 11
Originally Posted by jbullitt
This weekend I went on a road trip and for the first time got my gas below a quarter of a tank. The check gages light came on and it displayed Low Fuel. I just put in 3 gallons and reset the gage as instructed in the manual and now the gage shows 3/4 of a tank. Anyone know what is going on ??? My next step is to fill the tank and reset the gage again to see if this clears up the problem.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,979
Likes: 5
From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
All the information you could ever care to read about this problem is in the C5 General Sticky or there's a link to the info. The sticky is a good place to start to learn about other problems you may have and not even know about yet, and for problems that you'll probably face in the future.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,927
Likes: 3
From: Glendale NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18- '19
Fuel Guage
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[Wicked Weasel]there has been multiple reported problems with the gas guage. My sending unit was replaced in the first 5K miles of owning the car. people suggest some gas aditive that helps clean everything up and make sure you use good gas. the best thing is not to let it get low.
________________________________________ ____________________
It is said that the sulphur content in the gas is messing with the sending units. Before you spend a lot of money, try using a fuel additive. A lot of different brand names are going to come up, I've been using Redline Fuel System Additive. I've tried a few different ones and after reading about someone who used Redline where others had failed, I figured I'd give it a shot. So far......so good.
[Wicked Weasel]there has been multiple reported problems with the gas guage. My sending unit was replaced in the first 5K miles of owning the car. people suggest some gas aditive that helps clean everything up and make sure you use good gas. the best thing is not to let it get low.
________________________________________ ____________________
It is said that the sulphur content in the gas is messing with the sending units. Before you spend a lot of money, try using a fuel additive. A lot of different brand names are going to come up, I've been using Redline Fuel System Additive. I've tried a few different ones and after reading about someone who used Redline where others had failed, I figured I'd give it a shot. So far......so good.
Night Owl for life
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 24,704
Likes: 4,549
From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
a quick bandaid for the problem that has worked for me is to shut the car off and then restart it when the low fuel comes on. your fuel level should then be normal.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 802
Likes: 2
From: North Royalton Ohio
Originally Posted by leaftye
All the information you could ever care to read about this problem is in the C5 General Sticky or there's a link to the info. The sticky is a good place to start to learn about other problems you may have and not even know about yet, and for problems that you'll probably face in the future.
As a newbie, there is a lot to learn grasshopper. Get addicted to this forum as we are and your "enlightenment' will come soon.
Actually they are great cars, they have a few quirks and shortly you'll find the problems you report have been discussed in great length.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 245
Likes: 40
From: Hollister, California
It's the sulphur and poor quality fuel. Shortly after experiencing my fuel gauge problems I changed to Union 76 fuel. That was close to 3yrs ago and 19k miles. No problems since and I didn't have to change the sending unit.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Thanks, everyone for the input. I have just filled up with Union 76 High Performance (been using it for about a month) and reset the fuel gage as instructed in the manual. I will be using some Techroline as a fuel additive to see if this clears the problem.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
From: Virginia Beach Va
I have had this problem and it still occurs every now and then. I learned that if I fill up with one or two tanks of Chevron (Premium Of course) the problem stays away for several months. Unfortunately the nearest Chevron is 80 miles from me so if it happens when I am unable to get to a Chevron I buy a bottle of Techron from any auto parts store and fill up. Sometimes it takes two bottles to clear the problem. From what I know the sending unit is a pain to change and costs a fortune at the dealer ( I could be wrong). The only other advice I've recieved that makes sense is to steer clear of Shell gasoline. It is very high in sulphur content. Hope this helps.
1st Gear
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
My fuel gauge works fine when it gets just below 1/2 tank if I fill full it reads empty,low fuel,check gauges.Its driving me nuts putting in $20 worth so the gauge will work.have used tetron other additives no help.2004 c5 vert
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Texhron or Seafoam is your friend
Hi sulpher content will cause our C5 gauges to go to zero with a full tank of gas. Had a sender replaced under warranty and had the drop to zero gauge problem occur about a year and a half later. Add a 20 oz bottle of Techron with the tank below 1/2 full and fill it up. Might have to do this 2 or 3 times. Want it below half so the Techron gets into both tanks and hits both sending units.
Seafoam also works. Just don't use both at the same time.
Sometimes I don't have a problem for years sometimes just a few months.
Techron has 2 for 1 sales at Autozone and Advance Auto from time to time. Get yourself a few 20oz bottles and keep them on the shelf for when your gauge acts up.
Seafoam also works. Just don't use both at the same time.
Sometimes I don't have a problem for years sometimes just a few months.
Techron has 2 for 1 sales at Autozone and Advance Auto from time to time. Get yourself a few 20oz bottles and keep them on the shelf for when your gauge acts up.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 252
Likes: 2
mine was doing exactly the same thing, I changed to chevron and it helped but still weird, what has done to the trick "not 100% but really close" is to turn off the car, reset the ECU by taking out the fuses *don't remember which ones* and look for the fuel fuses and do the same, put everything back together and fuel gauge should be better 
