Fuel Gauge Problems!
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: North Charleston SC
Fuel Gauge Problems!
Last evening my wife and I were returning from Myrtle Beach, SC after a trip with our club. Suddenly the "CHECK GAUGES" lit up on the HUD and dash, "LOW FUEL" on the DIC, and the gas gauges on the HUD and dash both showed empty!!! :eek: I knew we were good on gas since we only had 285 miles on that tankful. Since we were close to home we continued on. I hoped that if we reset the computer that would take care of it. We stopped at the BP station and filled up, it took 12.9 gallons. We started the car and the gauges read FULL! :cool: Great, the computer reset worked. So we drove across the street to get something to eat. After eating we came out to go home, started the car and the gauges showed half full!! :mad So much for the computer reset! On the two mile trip home the gauges increased to three quarters full!! Just went outside and turned the car on and the fuel gauges showed just above half a tank!! :rolleyes: I guess it's time to go to the service department. Anyone else out there have it happen to them?
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,653
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From: North Royalton, OH
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Re: Fuel Gauge Problems! (4DHATR)
Yeah, you'll find a ton of threads on this if you do a search. Myself, I found that switching brands of gas helped, as well as adding a bottle of Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner every so often. The dealer can replace your sending unit if you are still under warranty, but many report the same problem happening even after the fix - and many never have the problem at all! Just stay with the best gas you can get - is BP your regular brand? I found that switching back to BP/Amoco after using Citgo for a while "cured" my sending unit problem (I'm out of warranty). Good luck!
Pro
Joined: Sep 2000
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Re: Fuel Gauge Problems! (4DHATR)
Well, welcome to what is probably the largest, but most certainly the least exclusive, Corvette Club in the country. The club of the C5 owners with WHACKY FUEL GAGES. The WFG's. Have had mine "repaired" twice under the TSB in 18 months and it went WHACKO again last week. I don't think that this time I'm even going to fool with it. Heck, I'm getting used to all the chimes, the flashing HUD and the check guages light and seeing the fuel gage needle below empty. Kinda keeps you on your toes on long trips. You know, the anxiety that comes along with wondering whether or not this time maybe you really have hit something and all the fuel really is leaking out. I'd really miss that jolting adreniline rush. Just think of all the boring miles I'd be stuck driving if I had a reliable fuel gage. Doubt I could stay awake. I'm used to it. Don't want it fixed. Like it the way it is. Who needs a gas gage. Are we men are just gas gage dependent wussies? I hope they don't even put one in the C6. It'd probably just lock up anyway!
[Modified by redriverjohn, 12:52 AM 7/15/2002]
[Modified by redriverjohn, 12:52 AM 7/15/2002]
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 60
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From: North Charleston SC
Re: Fuel Gauge Problems! (redriverjohn)
Well last evening I cleaning our OLDS minivan and Vette. During which I moved the Vette twice. Both times the Gauge read FULL like it should! So I see from your answers this is going to be a flakely, intermittent problem. Just like some of the electronics I worked on when I was in the Air Force. :lol:
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: DFW TX
Re: Fuel Gauge Problems! (4DHATR)
The problem is in the fuel level sensors. There is one each in the left and right tank. The body computer reads both to figure out what to tell the DIC and fuel gauge. The dealer can read codes (at least on the 2000+) to figure out which one to replace. Had mine done a year and a half ago with no recurrences. For some here, this has been a chronic issue however. Good luck!
NAAT28
NAAT28
