Another Gas Gauge Zeroed
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 337
Likes: 1
From: Mechanicsville Md
2002 coupe and I've been dealing with this issue for a while. I understand my problem is most likely a clogged jet pump. My gage goes to zero after traveling about 28 miles enough to burn a gallon of gas. Enough to trigger the PCM to zero the gage because the left tank is lower than the right. Shut the car off and the fuel in both tanks will equal due to gravity. Once the PCM determines that there's less gas in the left tank than the right it warns you there's a problem by dropping the fuel gage and giving you the check gages light. I would have hoped that GM or somebody would come up with a better fuel transfer design by now. Plan to change my right jet pump when it gets warmer. I don't thing heating a garage with kerosene heaters is a smart move when draining a gas tank. Good luck and be careful.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 1
From: Port Charlotte FL
I've been having this problem as well on my 97. I admit I usually keep my tank under 1/2 for weight reduction, and when I went to fill up completely last week for a long road trip, the gauge read full until I traveled about 30 miles like stated above then went to zero. Traveled about 250 miles on the interstate, stopped, restarted the car and the gauge read a notch under 3/4 tank. The trip back the gauge worked fine all the way down to 1/4 tank when I arrived home. The next day i went to put in more gas, and it brought it up between half and 3/4 tank, then after traveling about 30 miles again the gauge zero'd out. I never even though about the possibility of running out of fuel because I knew I had more then enough fuel in the tank(s). If I keep having this issue is it possible that I can run out of fuel "prematurely"? It seemed to go thru fuel ALOT quicker once it was under the 1/2 tank mark even though I was averaging the same mileage.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 1
From: Port Charlotte FL
Hmmm interesting, thanks. I may pickup some techron tomorrow and fill up both tanks. I know the early model C5's have noisy fuel pumps, but I also noticed when at a stoplight with my blinker on I could hear the pump "cutting in and out" as the flasher flashed. Found that a bit odd, sort of like how the headlights dim when I use the power windows. The car runs fine though and battery has proper voltage etc (Optima red top).
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 363
From: Midland TX
I have seen a lot of conflicting posts about whether or not the tanks level out when the car is turned off. If that is the case, does the right tank refill through the jet pump orifice only? If there is not a check-valve going from right to left, would they not equalize when the pump is nor running?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 363
From: Midland TX
Looks like I got lucky and managed to postpone the inevitable recurring sender replacement. After 2 tanks w/Techron added, no improvement, so I finally hit it with a BG44/Techron/Seafoam cocktail a few days ago and that apparently freed everything up for a while.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,146
Likes: 203
From: Edmonton Alberta, Canada
I would change gas stations...I always have issues with a Shell station with not one but all three of my vehicles (03 Vette, 04 SSr, 05 GP) and it takes at least two tank full of other fuel to rectify problems. Believe it or not!!
