Fuel Gauge drops to empty when 1/3 full ?
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 74
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From: Mississauga Ontario
Fuel Gauge drops to empty when 1/3 full ?
My 2001 Coupe runs well but twice last summer the fuel gauge needle dropped to empty and the low fuel warning message flashed. The tank was at least 1/3 full both times this happened.
I stopped the car, turned off the engine. When re-started, the same message and the fuel gauge needle pointed to empty. I filled the tank at the nearest gas station and all was well.
Any ideas as to the cause ? What should I have checked ?
Thank you much for any help !
I stopped the car, turned off the engine. When re-started, the same message and the fuel gauge needle pointed to empty. I filled the tank at the nearest gas station and all was well.
Any ideas as to the cause ? What should I have checked ?
Thank you much for any help !
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 656
Likes: 5
From: Wright City MO
My 2001 Coupe runs well but twice last summer the fuel gauge needle dropped to empty and the low fuel warning message flashed. The tank was at least 1/3 full both times this happened.
I stopped the car, turned off the engine. When re-started, the same message and the fuel gauge needle pointed to empty. I filled the tank at the nearest gas station and all was well.
Any ideas as to the cause ? What should I have checked ?
Thank you much for any help !
I stopped the car, turned off the engine. When re-started, the same message and the fuel gauge needle pointed to empty. I filled the tank at the nearest gas station and all was well.
Any ideas as to the cause ? What should I have checked ?
Thank you much for any help !
Last edited by Slider-01; Apr 25, 2009 at 09:50 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Harrisburg PA
Common problem with the C5; has to do with the float or sender unit (not exactly sure). Go to Wal-Mart or a local auto parts store (O'Rileys, Auto Zone, Pep Boys, etc) and buy some Chevron Techron, put that in the tank and that should eventually take care of it. Seems to come from sulfur in the gas which fouls the float/sensor. BP/AMOCO has Techron in their gas and that will help too. You might want to be sure that you use only Tier 1 gas as most think that makes a difference. I put a bottle of Techron in my 97 about every other tank and haven't had a problem in 2 years with the issue you are having.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Lake Placid Florida
Fuel sender
I had the same problem on my '98 coupe. I drove the tank to as empty as I could safely then poured 2 bottles of the Techron in the tank and left it overnight, then filled up the next day and two applications of that and the problem went away and has stayed away for awhile now. Advance auto parts had a buy one get one free on the Techron, I think it's still going on. The responders above are right it's the sulfur buildup on the sender unit that's the cause and they are terribly expensve to replace at the dealership.
