Fuel Gauge only reading empty
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Fuel Gauge only reading empty
We have a 2000 and on a trip this weekend the fuel gauge will only read empty. When we start the car the needle flips to full at the same time all of the needles flip but then it goes to empty and the Check Gauges light comes on. When it first happened we went about 20 miles and then it worked again but then later that night it went out and it hasn't come back. Is this something I can check or fix or is it a Dealer fix? I really don't know where to start. Any ideas about what it might cost? Thanks in advance for any help.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Start simple. Add a bottle of Techtron (made by Chevron) and see if it helps. This is usually the result of sulfur in the fuel corroding the contacts. The dealer solution will be very expensive so best bet is to see if some of the home remedies will help you out first. Second, stick with the Top Tier fuels if you can. Not sure of all of them, but Shell is one of them. Both a friend and I filled at a Sunoco station a few years ago and within a week were having this problem.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 29
From: Berryville Virginia
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08
The above post is right, you need to add techron or seafoam to lube up your fuel sensor.
To reset your guage hold reset and hit options four times then scroll through the error codes and hit reset them; that should bring back your guage.
To reset your guage hold reset and hit options four times then scroll through the error codes and hit reset them; that should bring back your guage.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
3 possible causes
1. fouled sender.... switch to a better gasoline
www.toptiergas.com and for the next few (2-4) tanks add a fuel system cleaner (Seafoam, Techron, Valvoline Synpower Synthetic Fuel system cleaner, Berrymans B-12 Chemtool)
2. a corroded ground wire to the sender... trace it and check it
3. A bad sending unit.
Approx 75% of the time it is 1.
20% it is 2. and 5% it is 3.
1. fouled sender.... switch to a better gasoline
www.toptiergas.com and for the next few (2-4) tanks add a fuel system cleaner (Seafoam, Techron, Valvoline Synpower Synthetic Fuel system cleaner, Berrymans B-12 Chemtool)
2. a corroded ground wire to the sender... trace it and check it
3. A bad sending unit.
Approx 75% of the time it is 1.
20% it is 2. and 5% it is 3.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 403
Likes: 2
From: Glen Allen VA
My first vette too, had the same problem last month. Seems vettes go through this once or more than once in their lifetime.
I bought Techron (20gallon) from PepBoys, 2 bottles. Wait for the tank to reach almost empty, dump first techron bottle in, fill up with Chevron, Texaco or Shell gas. Repeat once more with second bottle.
I am on my second bottle and the problem went away like a fart in the wind. Also reset the DIC (little window that display Corvette by Chevy) codes related to this. I always use Shell V-power (Top tier fuel) but still got the problem. So was recommended that do the Techron treatment everytime I do an oil-change. Have started this on all my 3 vehicles.
I bought Techron (20gallon) from PepBoys, 2 bottles. Wait for the tank to reach almost empty, dump first techron bottle in, fill up with Chevron, Texaco or Shell gas. Repeat once more with second bottle.
I am on my second bottle and the problem went away like a fart in the wind. Also reset the DIC (little window that display Corvette by Chevy) codes related to this. I always use Shell V-power (Top tier fuel) but still got the problem. So was recommended that do the Techron treatment everytime I do an oil-change. Have started this on all my 3 vehicles.
Last edited by SinghZvette; Jul 2, 2007 at 04:37 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 112
Likes: 3
Had the same problem with mine. I didn't want to let the dealer tear the car apart so I use a bottle of Techron(20oz). Problem solved! This was about a year ago.
I used only Chevron fuel prior to this to avoid the problem. This did not work. I've use Quick Trip ever since I add the Techron once and the problem has never reappeared.
I used only Chevron fuel prior to this to avoid the problem. This did not work. I've use Quick Trip ever since I add the Techron once and the problem has never reappeared.
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