Fuel gauge suddenly dying
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 99
Likes: 3
From: Los Angeles
Fuel gauge suddenly dying
Of course, as if, within 1000 miles of ownership of my 02 Z06, a $1700 rear main seal/clutch job and a $2300 trans rebuild wasn't enough...I am now experiencing a new problem.
A several days ago while driving around with around half a tank, my fuel gauge suddenly went to zero and the low-fuel indicator prompt appeared shortly after. I freaked out and thought my gas tank ruptured or something but it didn't. I pulled into the gas station and filled up a little more until I got to about 3/4 and the fuel gauge began to work again. I then read this was a fairly common problem due to the senders being easily eroded and that techron additive has solved the issue for many people.
I added a bottle of techron and I should also note that I have been using nothing but Chevron gas since the first day I owned the car.
Today while driving around, after the fuel gauge got back to the halfway mark, it did it again.
So I'm guessing my sender is suspect. As I understand it, I have two gas tanks and two senders? the left one is easier to replace than the right, is that correct? Which sender is the one most likely at fault? Where do I start with the troubleshooting?
Thank you!
A several days ago while driving around with around half a tank, my fuel gauge suddenly went to zero and the low-fuel indicator prompt appeared shortly after. I freaked out and thought my gas tank ruptured or something but it didn't. I pulled into the gas station and filled up a little more until I got to about 3/4 and the fuel gauge began to work again. I then read this was a fairly common problem due to the senders being easily eroded and that techron additive has solved the issue for many people.
I added a bottle of techron and I should also note that I have been using nothing but Chevron gas since the first day I owned the car.
Today while driving around, after the fuel gauge got back to the halfway mark, it did it again.
So I'm guessing my sender is suspect. As I understand it, I have two gas tanks and two senders? the left one is easier to replace than the right, is that correct? Which sender is the one most likely at fault? Where do I start with the troubleshooting?
Thank you!
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 187
Likes: 6
From: Lutz FL
Pull codes. That will tell you whether it is left or right.
Very common issue. Mine has not been working for about a year.
The most popular solution is to add Techron to fill-ups with the tank less than a third full. Other solutions involve using Seafoam or Gumout.
The solution which will fix it for sure is to replace the sending unit. Big job on mine because tanks need to be removed in the '04. My shop said if they would do it it would be about $3k and they won't do it.
My solution is to use Trip B to keep track of miles on tank and refill at about 250 miles.
Good Luck!
Last edited by GEMcLean; May 4, 2019 at 08:17 AM.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 675
Likes: 195
From: Green Oak Township, Michigan
On your 02, the fuel pumps are on the bottom of the tanks right by your wheels. Super easy job to do yourself. Or.... if you are like me...You just dont worry about it. And yea.. thats why I would never buy a stick shift car unless the clutch was changed out, and the trans was shifting perfectly.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 441
From: Arizona
These cars get expensive at this age. I’ve spent about $5-6k in the last year fixing things. Fuel tank sending unit should be easy on your ‘02. I think you shop may not know about the location change.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 99
Likes: 3
From: Los Angeles
Thanks for the replies. I pulled the codes and I got P1431 H C....I can't seem to figure out if it's the left or right sending unit.
Also, I am reading something about the siphon jet hose or something being the culprit for symptoms like what I am having. Any chance of that too?
Also, I am reading something about the siphon jet hose or something being the culprit for symptoms like what I am having. Any chance of that too?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 315
St. Jude Donor '15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
Thanks for the replies. I pulled the codes and I got P1431 H C....I can't seem to figure out if it's the left or right sending unit.
Also, I am reading something about the siphon jet hose or something being the culprit for symptoms like what I am having. Any chance of that too?
Also, I am reading something about the siphon jet hose or something being the culprit for symptoms like what I am having. Any chance of that too?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...tank-rant.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,138
Likes: 802
From: Espanola New Mexico
My 97 has done this a few times since I have owned it, I would not start replacing sending units right away, sometimes it takes a couple of Techron additive treatments to correct the problem.
Some forum members have realized that the Techron additive works best if the car sits for a week or so, it won't work if you proceed to drive and use up the treated gasoline right away.
Some forum members have realized that the Techron additive works best if the car sits for a week or so, it won't work if you proceed to drive and use up the treated gasoline right away.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 99
Likes: 3
From: Los Angeles
Thanks for the responses. It sounds like my right sender is most likely suspect. I can try to pour in another bottle of techron and see what happens...when is the best time to pour it in? Right now I have about a true half tank of gas, but my gauge is obviously reading zero.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 675
Likes: 195
From: Green Oak Township, Michigan
Make sure that your main tank..drivers side is full, 10 or 11 gallons. Then pour in the Techron. That way it will go into the passenger tank. Make sure that you use the Complete Fuel System Cleaner. Two bottles wont hurt anything. Now fill it up and let it set for a couple of days. Then drive it and let the stuff slosh around. Put about 250 miles on it and see what happens. If that dont fix it, then you have to go to plan 2....Thats the ..."I wont worry about it plan".. Plan 2 has worked best for me....
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 99
Likes: 3
From: Los Angeles
I poured in a 20oz bottle of techron with almost a half tank of gas and reset the code and my fuel gauge began to work again (I heard resetting the code does this so no surprise here)...but it is in fact reading under the halfway mark...Is this indicative or anything?
Guessing this is possibly an intermittent issue or at least only an issue when I am going from a little past half-tank TO half-tank...
If this happens again while I'm out and about in the middle of my day, does resetting the code get the gauge to always work again so I can have peace of mind driving back home?
Guessing this is possibly an intermittent issue or at least only an issue when I am going from a little past half-tank TO half-tank...
If this happens again while I'm out and about in the middle of my day, does resetting the code get the gauge to always work again so I can have peace of mind driving back home?
Last edited by 1190405; May 5, 2019 at 09:18 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,138
Likes: 802
From: Espanola New Mexico
The sending units in the tanks is a resistor with a wiper contact that is attached to the float, your sending unit has deposits at a certain place on the resistor and that is causing your gauge to read empty. I only use Chevron premium gas but once in a while I have to buy the Techron total fuel system cleaner to remedy the fuel gauge problem.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 99
Likes: 3
From: Los Angeles
Just thought I'd provide an update to post #12. It has been about three weeks since I poured in that 20oz bottle of Techron with a hair over 1/2 a tank and so far so good. My fuel gauge has read under 1/2 half many times without issues again. So far, it seems like the easy remedy has fixed the issue for once in my life.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,405
Likes: 26
From: Whippany NJ
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
NCM Sinkhole Donor
As a workaround:
1) Turn on the ignition but don't start the engine.
2) Press the RESET button to turn off any warning messages. (i.e. door open, trunk open ect)
3) Press and hold the OPTIONS button
4) While holding OPTIONS, press FUEL button four times within a 10 -second period so you can clear the codes manually
5)Press the Reset button until it clears
Fuel guage will return to normal
1) Turn on the ignition but don't start the engine.
2) Press the RESET button to turn off any warning messages. (i.e. door open, trunk open ect)
3) Press and hold the OPTIONS button
4) While holding OPTIONS, press FUEL button four times within a 10 -second period so you can clear the codes manually
5)Press the Reset button until it clears
Fuel guage will return to normal
Last edited by Ikester; May 27, 2019 at 09:07 AM.