Problematic Fuel Gauge???
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: East Northport NY
Problematic Fuel Gauge???
damn! I guess I was lucky enough to get the fuel gauge problem afterall. I read many posts about it and I'm not sure what the real problem is. I live in NY (Northeast) and I have a 2001. My vette has about 15K miles on it and for the first time the other day while on the parkway, the gauge went from 1/2 full to empty. Now, I'm stumped. Is it that I need to have the PCM reprogrammed? Is it a faulty sending unit? A faulty siphon pump? I don't know where to start. It's still under warranty. Has anyone had luck repairing their 2001 with the same problem? I'm looking for a permanent fix, not a temporary one. Also, some followup questions...
> I bought my vette in NJ. I'd hate to have to go back there to have it repaired. Can anyone recommend a really good dealer in NY (Long Island) to have this done? I want someone to take care of my baby, just like I do.
> Side note, I keep getting different opinions on the refill capacity (assume a change in filter too) for an oil change. Is it 6 quarts? Please advise.
Thanks much!
toogood
> I bought my vette in NJ. I'd hate to have to go back there to have it repaired. Can anyone recommend a really good dealer in NY (Long Island) to have this done? I want someone to take care of my baby, just like I do.
> Side note, I keep getting different opinions on the refill capacity (assume a change in filter too) for an oil change. Is it 6 quarts? Please advise.
Thanks much!
toogood
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn NY
Re: Problematic Fuel Gauge??? (toogood2btrue)
Toogood2btrue
I have a 2000 A4 and two weeks ago it happened to me for the third time in 18K miles. I found the dealer repair invoices from the previous two times and plan to take them with me on this trip and do some screaming.
There is a good article in the C5 QFA, but I’m not sure if there is a “permanent” fix. Some people say it’s the type of gas you put in the car, other that it is the sensor/sending unit etc. The first time the dealer changed one sensor. The second time, they changed both sensors and the sending unit. It failed again after 8 months.
Some members said that this is a $700 repair if it out of warranty. I have four more years to go. I hate the fact that every 6 to 8 months I have to schedule a day off to take a $50K car to get the fuel gauge fixed.
I have a 2000 A4 and two weeks ago it happened to me for the third time in 18K miles. I found the dealer repair invoices from the previous two times and plan to take them with me on this trip and do some screaming.
There is a good article in the C5 QFA, but I’m not sure if there is a “permanent” fix. Some people say it’s the type of gas you put in the car, other that it is the sensor/sending unit etc. The first time the dealer changed one sensor. The second time, they changed both sensors and the sending unit. It failed again after 8 months.
Some members said that this is a $700 repair if it out of warranty. I have four more years to go. I hate the fact that every 6 to 8 months I have to schedule a day off to take a $50K car to get the fuel gauge fixed.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: East Northport NY
Re: Problematic Fuel Gauge??? (Hex29A)
Thakns Ioannis. I guess it's not the sending unit or the sensor, huh? my guess is that it's probably the material that is being exposed to the gas. The gas is probably too corrosive on the material. I agree with you 100%.. it's a pain in the butt to have to even worry about such a problem on a $50k car. Of all things, the fuel gauge should not be giving me a problem.. cars had fuel guages since the beginning, what the hell is wrong with GM?? they are trying to be fancy with all their equip and it's causing me more problems than I paid for.
I'm hoping I get more replies to this thread before I decide what to do.
thanks again,
toogood
I'm hoping I get more replies to this thread before I decide what to do.
thanks again,
toogood
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Re: Problematic Fuel Gauge??? (toogood2btrue)
Has happened 3 times in past year.
Last week tank read half full on road trip - parked it and restarted and check guage light was on and tank read empty. Had driven 450 Interstate miles at that point at 28 miles/gallon.
Have not taken it to dealer as it does not seem from the multiple posts that there is a durable fix. Am I wrong?
Last week tank read half full on road trip - parked it and restarted and check guage light was on and tank read empty. Had driven 450 Interstate miles at that point at 28 miles/gallon.
Have not taken it to dealer as it does not seem from the multiple posts that there is a durable fix. Am I wrong?
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: East Northport NY
Re: Problematic Fuel Gauge??? (SR1654)
yeah, I kinda figured that. it's too bad indeed. but there has to be some kinda of solution around this. does an aftermarket company sell a component that will do the trick? this is ridiculous...
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 36
Likes: 17
From: Goose Creek, SC, USA
Re: Problematic Fuel Gauge??? (toogood2btrue)
Hey toogood,
I had the same problem on my 98 vette. Finally after 2 visits to the dealer, they replaced the sensors in the tank unit. The part number they used on mine is: 12458243 W-SENDER KI also known as: L1200 SENDER and/or PUMP ASSEMBLY, FUEL (TANK UNIT).
List price 493.50
Labor 104.31
Hope yours is still under warranty.
Good Luck!
I had the same problem on my 98 vette. Finally after 2 visits to the dealer, they replaced the sensors in the tank unit. The part number they used on mine is: 12458243 W-SENDER KI also known as: L1200 SENDER and/or PUMP ASSEMBLY, FUEL (TANK UNIT).
List price 493.50
Labor 104.31
Hope yours is still under warranty.
Good Luck!
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,085
Likes: 31
From: N.J.
Re: Problematic Fuel Gauge??? (toogood2btrue)
I also have the same gauge prob, as many other forum members do also, and i do agree with the other post about cutting corners. This C-5 has way to many probs for a 45-50 thousand $ car. I hav'nt got the gauge prob fixed yet, but plan to do it soon,good luck with your ride. Rob
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Hockessin DE
Re: Problematic Fuel Gauge??? (2GOOD2BTRUE)
Just had a the same problem happen in my 2001 coupe after 3400 miles. Happened twice in 2 weeks! I was ready to schedule a visit to the dealer but now I'm not so sure. I expected they had found a lasting fix by now. :smash:
Oil fill in mine is 7.0 with the filter filled and replaced. They say 6.5 but that only shows half full on the stick due to the redesign in 2001. 7.0 puts it 2 hash lines below the top hole, cold and at the full mark hot.
Oil fill in mine is 7.0 with the filter filled and replaced. They say 6.5 but that only shows half full on the stick due to the redesign in 2001. 7.0 puts it 2 hash lines below the top hole, cold and at the full mark hot.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 10,976
Likes: 21
From: FL
St. Jude Donor '13
Re: Problematic Fuel Gauge??? (toogood2btrue)
There is a PCM reflash for the 2001-02 related to the fuel gauge...The bulletin for the 97-2000 (senders) is basicly updating with 2001 parts ;)
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn NY
Re: Problematic Fuel Gauge??? (C-5 TECH)
Can’t explain it, but this is what happened to me. As you can see from my post above (4/11/02), I had the same problem for the third time.
On Friday, I had my TPIS headers installed, which required the disconnection of the battery. The fuel gauge problem went away after I reconnected the battery.
My gauge was failing consistently, at ½ tank, for the last six re-fuelings before the battery disconnect/reconnect. After Friday, I let the gauge go down from full to empty two times and it looks that it is working. I never got the low fuel warning unexpectedly. When the gauge showed almost empty, and I got the warning, I was able to put the expected amount of gas in order to fill it.
If you want to save a trip to the dealer, you might want to try the battery disconnect / reconnect drill.
BTW, if you have your radio locked, make sure you remember your lock code. If you don’t remember, look at my reply to the “Radio Security Code” message.
Good luck!
[Modified by Hex29A, 10:18 PM 4/15/2002]
On Friday, I had my TPIS headers installed, which required the disconnection of the battery. The fuel gauge problem went away after I reconnected the battery.
My gauge was failing consistently, at ½ tank, for the last six re-fuelings before the battery disconnect/reconnect. After Friday, I let the gauge go down from full to empty two times and it looks that it is working. I never got the low fuel warning unexpectedly. When the gauge showed almost empty, and I got the warning, I was able to put the expected amount of gas in order to fill it.
If you want to save a trip to the dealer, you might want to try the battery disconnect / reconnect drill.
BTW, if you have your radio locked, make sure you remember your lock code. If you don’t remember, look at my reply to the “Radio Security Code” message.
Good luck!
[Modified by Hex29A, 10:18 PM 4/15/2002]
