Fuel Gage on EMPTY
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
Fuel Gage on EMPTY
I have a 2002 C5. Today while driving and knowing that I had about 3/4tank of gas, the gage is showing Empty and Check Gages light came on. I have been using Chevron gas with Techron.
Any Idaes of what is going on?
I was told that I could reset it somehow.
Does anyone know of the code?
Any Idaes of what is going on?
I was told that I could reset it somehow.
Does anyone know of the code?
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 286
Likes: 36
From: Scituate, MA
this happened to me a year ago....
What happened to you happened to me except I have a high mileage car, (at that time I was at about 92,000 miles or so,) and I had about 3/8th tank when all the warnings came across the DIC.
It was a Friday night, researched the hell out of it, and most info pointed to bad gas, likely with a high sulfur content. I went to the closest auto parts franchise and got the 20 oz. bottle of Techron fairly early before playing golf the next day. Poured it in prior to hitting the links. Came back after 18, and was going to put some Shell premium to finish off the fix- Turned on the car, the gas gauge came right back, and its been fine ever since.
I had bought too many tanks of cheap gas in a row, and it gummed up the sender in the tank.
Best always,
Bluemill
It was a Friday night, researched the hell out of it, and most info pointed to bad gas, likely with a high sulfur content. I went to the closest auto parts franchise and got the 20 oz. bottle of Techron fairly early before playing golf the next day. Poured it in prior to hitting the links. Came back after 18, and was going to put some Shell premium to finish off the fix- Turned on the car, the gas gauge came right back, and its been fine ever since.
I had bought too many tanks of cheap gas in a row, and it gummed up the sender in the tank.
Best always,
Bluemill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
Per Joeflyer: The TSB for the fuel-gauge problem is 010604022. It's a computer update.
Had that done to mine maybe 9-10 years back. Has not re-ocurred since. Used to happen regularly, Techron or no Techron.
Also see: www.chevroletproblems.com/tsbs/Corvette/2000/
Look under fuel system, other.
Had that done to mine maybe 9-10 years back. Has not re-ocurred since. Used to happen regularly, Techron or no Techron.
Also see: www.chevroletproblems.com/tsbs/Corvette/2000/
Look under fuel system, other.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 86
Likes: 1
From: Pinellas Park Florida
02-06-04-010A is I believe the latest TSB on this issue. It covers the sulfur issue as well as recommending the PCM update. This fuel level system will default to zero when it cannot make sense of the data coming from the level sensor. This can happen either from sulfur coating of the sending unit or from chemical reactions caused by certain sulfur compounds inducing voltage on the sending unit. This issues should not be present with the use of top tier fuel, which you are already using. The PCM update desensitizes the strategy that causes the fuel level to read zero. I feel the PCM update is probably the best course of action based on the information given.
But, most of the fuel level issues are erratic and intermittent in nature. Is the fuel level still reading zero continuously? If so how far have you driven and have you added fuel since it happened?
But, most of the fuel level issues are erratic and intermittent in nature. Is the fuel level still reading zero continuously? If so how far have you driven and have you added fuel since it happened?
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 660
Likes: 16
From: Tustin California
It may be your jet siphon pump in the passenger tank. Try the techron for a few tanks and you may be lucky. If you have the first generation fuel system the jet pump is not too hard to clean. If you have the second generation system, then you have to drop the tank. Good luck, Rod
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 203
Likes: 31
From: Baltimore MD
I have an 02 and had this happen once at the 3/4 fuel level also.
There is a cross over between the right and left tanks a little below the 3/4 level, which will keep the tanks equalized above the 3/4 level. Below this, and the jet siphon pump will keep the left side tank at a higher level than the right by design.
IF the PCM detects the right side tank higher than the left, it sets the fuel gage to empty.
When mine set, I had just driven through a series of S curves, and my theory is that the right side received fuel from centrifugal force through the cross over.
When the car sits, the two tanks will equalize through the jet siphon pump. If you fill completely up, the cross over will equalize them. Both actions should clear the alarm if the right side tank "somehow temporarily" (and the fuel sensors and jet siphon pump are not defective) got higher than the right. In my case, I let the car sit for a few hours, and the issue was cleared.
It has never reoccurred.
There is a cross over between the right and left tanks a little below the 3/4 level, which will keep the tanks equalized above the 3/4 level. Below this, and the jet siphon pump will keep the left side tank at a higher level than the right by design.
IF the PCM detects the right side tank higher than the left, it sets the fuel gage to empty.
When mine set, I had just driven through a series of S curves, and my theory is that the right side received fuel from centrifugal force through the cross over.
When the car sits, the two tanks will equalize through the jet siphon pump. If you fill completely up, the cross over will equalize them. Both actions should clear the alarm if the right side tank "somehow temporarily" (and the fuel sensors and jet siphon pump are not defective) got higher than the right. In my case, I let the car sit for a few hours, and the issue was cleared.
It has never reoccurred.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
The only time the siphon jet pump operates is when the main fuel pump (in the left tank) is actually operating.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,347
Likes: 857
From: MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
I have a 2002 C5. Today while driving and knowing that I had about 3/4tank of gas, the gage is showing Empty and Check Gages light came on. I have been using Chevron gas with Techron.
Any Idaes of what is going on?
I was told that I could reset it somehow.
Does anyone know of the code?
Any Idaes of what is going on?
I was told that I could reset it somehow.
Does anyone know of the code?
Cheers,
K
.
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,034
Likes: 1,156
From: Oregon
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
Entering On-Board Diagnostics perform the following steps:
1. Turn ON the ignition switch, with the engine OFF.
2. Press the RESET button to acknowledge any warning messages present.
3. Press the OPTIONS button on the Driver Information Center (DIC) and hold.
4. While holding the OPTIONS button press the FUEL button 4 times within a 5 second period.
5. System will first enter automatic display mode followed by the manual display mode.
Manual Display DTC Mode:
DIC Button Function When In Manual Mode
1. FUEL Previous DTC
2. GAGES Next DTC
3. TRIP Previous System
4. OPTIONS Next System
5. E/M Exit Diagnostics
6. RESET Clear DTCs
1. Turn ON the ignition switch, with the engine OFF.
2. Press the RESET button to acknowledge any warning messages present.
3. Press the OPTIONS button on the Driver Information Center (DIC) and hold.
4. While holding the OPTIONS button press the FUEL button 4 times within a 5 second period.
5. System will first enter automatic display mode followed by the manual display mode.
Manual Display DTC Mode:
DIC Button Function When In Manual Mode
1. FUEL Previous DTC
2. GAGES Next DTC
3. TRIP Previous System
4. OPTIONS Next System
5. E/M Exit Diagnostics
6. RESET Clear DTCs
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 194
Likes: 1
From: Moon, VA
My Fix
Hi,
I had the same problem with my 2001 C5, with 59K miles. After fill up, it would only go up to 7/8 full, then after about 100 miles, the gauge would go to zero, with an idiot light coming on. After resetting the code, sometimes it would come on again with 3/8 tank, with same codes.
I took it to the dealer, and they said I needed to bring it in with the gauge on empty and the CEL on. They have a scanner that is more specific. They said I needed a new right side sender, which they quoted at $1200.
Instead, I tried the Techron therapy several times, with no success, so I ordered the part on Amazon, and did it myself. In 1997-2003 C5's, the sender can be replaced without dropping the tank. All you have to do is remove the RR wheel, and it is mounted on the side of the tank, in the fender well. It took me an hour to replace.
No lights ever since.
Hope that helps.
I had the same problem with my 2001 C5, with 59K miles. After fill up, it would only go up to 7/8 full, then after about 100 miles, the gauge would go to zero, with an idiot light coming on. After resetting the code, sometimes it would come on again with 3/8 tank, with same codes.
I took it to the dealer, and they said I needed to bring it in with the gauge on empty and the CEL on. They have a scanner that is more specific. They said I needed a new right side sender, which they quoted at $1200.
Instead, I tried the Techron therapy several times, with no success, so I ordered the part on Amazon, and did it myself. In 1997-2003 C5's, the sender can be replaced without dropping the tank. All you have to do is remove the RR wheel, and it is mounted on the side of the tank, in the fender well. It took me an hour to replace.
No lights ever since.
Hope that helps.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 642
Likes: 11
It may be your jet siphon pump in the passenger tank. Try the techron for a few tanks and you may be lucky. If you have the first generation fuel system the jet pump is not too hard to clean. If you have the second generation system, then you have to drop the tank. Good luck, Rod
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 286
Likes: 36
From: Scituate, MA
That's good news Doc!
If, or should I say, when, the sender does really go it's nice to know you don't have to go nuts with dropping the whole rear axle assembly, etc. I'm up at 102,000 miles so anything is inevitable!
Enjoy your rides!
Bluemill
Enjoy your rides!
Bluemill
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 660
Likes: 16
From: Tustin California
Riversidedan1, I was referring to the two types of fuel systems used in the C5. The first 6 1/2 years they used a tank system that was easily accessible for changing/cleaning the pumps. After that the C5 used a fuel system that required dropping the tanks to get at the pumps and sensors. Maybe I should have said "first or second type" instead of generation. Rod