Fuel Gauge?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Langhorne PA
Fuel Gauge?
2002 vert 5000 miles. Fuel gauge has become erratic below 1/2 full and on my way to work registered dead empty, no range left. Almost wet my pants as I was stuck in traffic and thought it might had been a false high before I got on the road and was reading right now. Only took 12 gallons and I am back to full. I have read the posts regarding the type of gasoline effecting the reading, but I am under warranty. Have they changed the sending units to correct the sensitivity to bad gas or should I just be careful of what gas I use? My recollection was I went to a Texaco station on that tank that I never use.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: Midland MI
Re: Fuel Gauge? (BobbyD)
Join the club. Had my 2000 in two weeks ago to get the erradic fuel sender replaced. Just the other day one of them failed again so last night the car went back to the garage. I wonder what excuse they will tell me this time around. :mad :mad :mad
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,607
Likes: 1
From: San Francisco CA
Re: Fuel Gauge? (BobbyD)
I have a '99 and the fuel guage didn't start giving me problems until the car went out of waranty :U
Since I don't have a lift to make the job of replacing the sender easier, I've elected to try to live with the problem rather than cough up the coin to replace it. Since hearing that the replacement senders are not necessarily troublefree, I'm more determined than ever to try to coxist with the problem.
I'm doing this by trying to keep the take more than half full, when practical. If I'm less than half full and it happens, I find a place to stop the car and turn the ignition off and then restart the car. This resets the guage :rolleyes:
Since I don't have a lift to make the job of replacing the sender easier, I've elected to try to live with the problem rather than cough up the coin to replace it. Since hearing that the replacement senders are not necessarily troublefree, I'm more determined than ever to try to coxist with the problem.
I'm doing this by trying to keep the take more than half full, when practical. If I'm less than half full and it happens, I find a place to stop the car and turn the ignition off and then restart the car. This resets the guage :rolleyes:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,738
Likes: 644
From: Lincoln, CA
Re: Fuel Gauge? (SFVetteman)
Same here now. I've been driving around with the Check Gauges Light on for several days now. Resets no longer works.
Anyone know what this will run to have repaired? How about doing the job my self. Anything special needed?
I've got to say that this is my very FIRST car to have Gas Gauge Problems :mad
Some of the other BS things I can live with but I NEED a Gauge that WORKS.
Anyone know what this will run to have repaired? How about doing the job my self. Anything special needed?
I've got to say that this is my very FIRST car to have Gas Gauge Problems :mad
Some of the other BS things I can live with but I NEED a Gauge that WORKS.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 993
Likes: 5
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Re: Fuel Gauge? (BobbyD)
BobbyD,
I had the same problem with my 1999 C5 coupe - fixed under warranty.
Welcome to the world of common C5 problems that Chevrolet has taken years to fix (or ignore).
1999 White C5 Coupe
I had the same problem with my 1999 C5 coupe - fixed under warranty.
Welcome to the world of common C5 problems that Chevrolet has taken years to fix (or ignore).
1999 White C5 Coupe
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Aurora IL
Re: Fuel Gauge? (SFVetteman)
Just went to the dealer yesterday regarding this same issue. I have a 98 that is out of waranty and having fuel gage problems. This is what the dealer told me. I asked the dealer for a quote and waranty on for this ( I has a mustang. Ford has warantied some of the parts for life when replaced.) Well, I recieved a quote of $1200.00 and was told there is no waranty. The mechanic I spoke to also mentioned that there is a bulletin on this and both sensors would need to be replaced. Not sure exactly what he meant by bulletin, but G.M. is definitely aware of this problem and doesn't really seen to be doing much about it on the consumer end.
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Aurora IL
Re: Fuel Gauge? (Nekbyter)
I really dont know. Not too savvy on the legal side of things. Think about this. This might be the best case senario for someone who is out of waranty. Spend the $3600 to get this fixed 3 times. Knowing the faultiness of this part it will probably fail more than 3 times. At this point claim lemon law or contact the BBB. Now do whatever it takes to get the dealer to buy back or cut an unbelievabe deal for a new Corvette of the present year. One of 2 things will happen. You'll either get a new Corvette every few years, or G.M. will realize how much money they are losing and finally address the issue with a plausable fix.
Don't know if this whole scenario would really work. I'm just venting and getting really tired of trying to guess how much or how little gas I really have.
Don't know if this whole scenario would really work. I'm just venting and getting really tired of trying to guess how much or how little gas I really have.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
Re: Fuel Gauge? (labguy2776)
I've had the same problems. I was using "cheap gas", tried Texaco, still did it. I switched to Exxon and have not had problem re-occurr. I'm not saying it "fixed it" but sure seems like it. I heard that high sulphur in gas causes it.
I still reset trip odometer every gas fillup just in case, you can go by mileage and distance, in case it acts up.
I still reset trip odometer every gas fillup just in case, you can go by mileage and distance, in case it acts up.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 2
Re: Fuel Gauge? (Oldvetter)
I had the same problem....the dealer replaced the right sending unit under warranty about 18 months ago....no problem since.....this is a very common problem with the older fuel sending units.
[Modified by HIGHRPM, 4:54 PM 6/21/2002]
[Modified by HIGHRPM, 4:54 PM 6/21/2002]
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 232
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From: Tracy Ca
Re: Fuel Gauge? (BobbyD)
I used to have the problem when i got my 98, lasted for about 4 months, i always use Chervron gas, the problem went away, i also used fuel cleaner a couple times. just my 2 cents :yesnod:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 134
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From: Langhorne PA
Re: Fuel Gauge? (Jerryk)
I'm still under warranty. What is involved with fixing it, namely, what do I have to be worried about that the dealer might screw up? I'm shocked to read it is a $1200 fix! I guess I better consider the extended warranty after all, if a little gas sending unit fix is $1200.
