Gas Gauge, suddenly empty???
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 348
Likes: 3
From: Toronto Ontario
Gas Gauge, suddenly empty???
Driving along, gas gauge goes to zero (I think from around 1/2 full)
But only has done that twice in the last 6 months.
Pulled the error codes, didn't notice anything.
Any idea's what that could be?
thanks in advance
But only has done that twice in the last 6 months.
Pulled the error codes, didn't notice anything.
Any idea's what that could be?
thanks in advance
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
When mine would drop to zero, clearing the code wouldn't work as it remained a "C" current code, but the moment I shut off the engine and restarted, it was happy once again. The techron worked to an extent but still didn't solve it. Looking through the GM TIS website, I found there was a firmware update for this problem. I had the updates put in and the problem was gone. Now I've heard the firmware update may have only been curve/ratio changes and so on rather than a software fix...but it worked for me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 5
From: Overland Park KS
When mine would drop to zero, clearing the code wouldn't work as it remained a "C" current code, but the moment I shut off the engine and restarted, it was happy once again. The techron worked to an extent but still didn't solve it. Looking through the GM TIS website, I found there was a firmware update for this problem. I had the updates put in and the problem was gone. Now I've heard the firmware update may have only been curve/ratio changes and so on rather than a software fix...but it worked for me.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Fl
gas gauge
if you have the 2000, there was a recall on the tank gauge or pump. mine did it on the way to florida. don't recall but believe the pump is not pumping to the other side or tank so you have to keep the one side up, i believe i filled up every 150 to 200 miles, until I got it to a dealer. No real big problem as GM will take care of it. Heck of a felling, driving along one minute with a half of tank, the next empty. Any questions, send me an email.
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Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,732
Likes: 21
From: Napa Ca
Aside for the Techron try not to let the vette sit for an extended time (over a week) with a low or near empty gas tank. That seems to make the problem come back quicker after the Techron (Chevron, Shell V-power, Texaco) fix.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 348
Likes: 3
From: Toronto Ontario
if you have the 2000, there was a recall on the tank gauge or pump. mine did it on the way to florida. don't recall but believe the pump is not pumping to the other side or tank so you have to keep the one side up, i believe i filled up every 150 to 200 miles, until I got it to a dealer. No real big problem as GM will take care of it. Heck of a felling, driving along one minute with a half of tank, the next empty. Any questions, send me an email.
Heck of feeling, so true, the first time I had no clue how much gas was in the car, so thought I lost my fuel on the highway (a friend years ago had a fuel line break on a new car, and that's what happend)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 348
Likes: 3
From: Toronto Ontario
I'm in Ontario, and had issues with my Porsche with Shell (actually a similar thing) it jumps up and down 1/4 tank every now and them (what a PITA!)
For the both cars I use Petro Canada's top fuel, which is 93 I think.
The only higher octane fuel around is Sunoco 94, but very few of those stations around.
Will try the Techron in both cars.
Thanks everybody for the input and idea's greatly appreciated.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
My car already had the update. I had the drop to zero literally over a hundred times, usually twice a week. Clearing the codes always brought it back. Techron always helped me then I switched to Shell V-power and haven't had to add Techron in 4k miles. We don't have Chevron stations here.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
This is a very common problem.. It is caused by the fuel sending units ( 2 of them) accumulating sulfer deposits from the fuel you are using. The sulfer deposits cause the fuel sending units to give erratic readings when you have under 1/2 a tank of gas left.. And yes all fuels contain sulfer regardless of octane or gas quality .. Techron dissolves these deposits. If you wait too long to address the issue the Techron will not work.. In other words the sulfer deposits will accumulate to a point that you will have to replace the fuel sending units in each gas tank..Which is $$$expensive.. I use a bottle of the Techron Concentrate every 3 months.. Chevron and Texaco have the Techron additive in their fuel. I'm not sure if you have these gas stations in Canada.. There are lots of other fuel additives out there, however none of them seem to address the sulfer deposit issues like Techron... Good Stuff
Last edited by David426; Mar 29, 2009 at 12:52 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 348
Likes: 3
From: Toronto Ontario
Thanks!
Just found the part numbers for the both the US and Canadian version.
Here is what I found, and it's what is said above as well:
GM has just issued a TSB
on this problem that applies to ALL GM vehicles and
blames the high incidence of sending unit failures
on high levels of sulfur in gasoline. The sulfur
corrodes the sliding resistor mechanism and
produces erratic and inaccurate gauge readings. To
address this problem, GM has released a FUEL
TANK ADDITIVE.
According to GM TSB #06-00-89-07BB, you should
purchase a bottle of GM Fuel System Treatment
Plus (part #88861011 for GM brand, 88861013 for
AC Delco brand, and 88861012 in Canada) and add
it to your tank at every oil change. The additive
cleans the sulfur corrosion from the sending unit
and prevents new corrosion by laying down a
protective film. The additive also removes engine
deposits."
Just found the part numbers for the both the US and Canadian version.
Here is what I found, and it's what is said above as well:
GM has just issued a TSB
on this problem that applies to ALL GM vehicles and
blames the high incidence of sending unit failures
on high levels of sulfur in gasoline. The sulfur
corrodes the sliding resistor mechanism and
produces erratic and inaccurate gauge readings. To
address this problem, GM has released a FUEL
TANK ADDITIVE.
According to GM TSB #06-00-89-07BB, you should
purchase a bottle of GM Fuel System Treatment
Plus (part #88861011 for GM brand, 88861013 for
AC Delco brand, and 88861012 in Canada) and add
it to your tank at every oil change. The additive
cleans the sulfur corrosion from the sending unit
and prevents new corrosion by laying down a
protective film. The additive also removes engine
deposits."
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 104
From: Des Moines Iowa
