Fuel Gauge
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Fuel Gauge
Has anyone ever run into this? I picked up a 1998 Corvette Convertible yesterday. Love it. But........after awhile, the fuel gauge drops to 0 (zero) and the warning "Low Fuel" comes on the display. I know I have 3/4 of a tank of gas in there but it shows empty. Turn off the car and re-start and everything returns to normal again. What gives?
Bernie
Bernie
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 194
Likes: 1
From: Moon, VA
I had the same problem. After six bottles of Techron, 3 bottles of Lucas Gas Treatment, and a BG Fuel Injection service performed at the dealer, the Fuel gauge still fell to empty around 70 miles after fill up. I kept getting a DTC code P1431HC.
The dealer said I needed a new fuel pump/fuel sender (MU1218), and they wanted almost $1000 to fix.
I bought the piece myself for under $200 on Amazon and replaced it myself without having to drop the fuel tank. It too 3 hours, one hour draining gas out of the tank.
If you decide to change it yourself, make sure the car is less than half full, then the right tank will be empty.
The Gauge would read 7/8 Full when full, but now, it reads just past full.
On another note, you may get away with removing the part from the tank, clean the contacts to rid it of the deposits that are causing the resistance to be unsteady. My old unit didn't work very well at all at first, but after cleaning, worked like new. If I have the same trouble again, I am going to clean the contacts rather than to buy another fuel pump/sender.
The dealer said I needed a new fuel pump/fuel sender (MU1218), and they wanted almost $1000 to fix.
I bought the piece myself for under $200 on Amazon and replaced it myself without having to drop the fuel tank. It too 3 hours, one hour draining gas out of the tank.
If you decide to change it yourself, make sure the car is less than half full, then the right tank will be empty.
The Gauge would read 7/8 Full when full, but now, it reads just past full.
On another note, you may get away with removing the part from the tank, clean the contacts to rid it of the deposits that are causing the resistance to be unsteady. My old unit didn't work very well at all at first, but after cleaning, worked like new. If I have the same trouble again, I am going to clean the contacts rather than to buy another fuel pump/sender.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 12,413
Likes: 502
From: Rio Rancho NM
buy the part and change it out lots of how to and pretty simple. Did mine in under an hour(I have pulled it a few times)
new sending unit..
going in ....
Bastard went in finally . took me wayyyyyy longer then it should of but didn't wanna break anything again..Here it's hooked up to the casper harness. looks factory huh?
Cover removed..
Making it rain....
To much rain....
For future reference make sure you have 1/8th tank of gas.. Like it's been said a ton of times..
Coming out..
That a boy..
She's out
new sending unit..
going in ....
Bastard went in finally . took me wayyyyyy longer then it should of but didn't wanna break anything again..Here it's hooked up to the casper harness. looks factory huh?
Cover removed..
Making it rain....
To much rain....
For future reference make sure you have 1/8th tank of gas.. Like it's been said a ton of times..
Coming out..
That a boy..
She's out
