Gas gauge gone goofy.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 605
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From: Perkiomenville PA
Gas gauge gone goofy.
the car seemed like it was running at 1/2 tank for a long time and when I gassed up it took a lot more than 10 gallons. Then I got the dreaded check gauges warning and the fuel gauge read empty. It gradually worked its way up to full then as I drove the car if didn't seem to go down the way it should. Checked the gas cap and it seemed to be ok. I think there have been some posts about this problem but have not done the search. Anyone have a similar problem and what was the fix? Thanks for the help.
:seeya :flag
:seeya :flag
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,630
Likes: 8
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
Re: Gas gauge gone goofy. (nu2gm)
Join the crowd. There are many posts about this problem. Some forum members have had their fuel senders replaced, etc., but only find that the problem re-occurs. I've tried switching brands of fuel and it just comes back. Rumor has it that the sulpher content in the fuel affects the fuel sensors.
Best advice: put in 8 gallons of fuel and reset one of your trip odometers and when you get about 125 miles or so, refuel. When you get the Low Fuel bells and whistles, go to the gas station and refuel. This should get rid of the low fuel indicators, etc. (until the next time).
Best advice: put in 8 gallons of fuel and reset one of your trip odometers and when you get about 125 miles or so, refuel. When you get the Low Fuel bells and whistles, go to the gas station and refuel. This should get rid of the low fuel indicators, etc. (until the next time).
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,277
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From: Litchfield Park Arizona
Re: Gas gauge gone goofy.
Yes, this is a common problem for the Corvettes. I don't know why, but I have learned that when I get in the car and it reads, RESERVE FUEL when I know I have at least a half a tank, I hit the RESET button, and switch to the Fuel Range view. This usually is pretty accurate and I base my next fill up off of that number. When the number gets down to about 20, I fill it up. Of course, this is city driving, if I were on a trip, I would not wait that long. But I don't trust the gas gauge one tiny bit, but like I said, the RANGE indicator has not failed me yet.
Good luck.
Tanya
Good luck.
Tanya
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 128
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From: Haltom City TX
Re: Gas gauge gone goofy. (nu2gm)
Had a similar problem. First time they replaced the entire right pump and sender unit. The second time they reprogrammed the BCM.
Service VME – Erratic Fuel Gauge Operation and DTC P1431 #PI00109
“Owners may comment that the fuel gauge will intermittently drop to empty from approximately half full. This may result from reactive sulfur compounds in some fuels attacking the silver used in the fuel level sender assembly. This causes a deposit to form on the sender card resulting in an erratic voltage signal which is outside the software parameters. When the BCM see this erratic signal it commands the fuel gauge to empty, to inform the owner/driver that there is a question about the amount of fuel still in the tank. The correction is a revised calibration that raises the empty voltage threshold to help eliminate this erratic operation. (Document ID #896508)”
Note this Service VME was generated for my VIN and might not be appropriate for others.
Hope this helps. :)
[Modified by yellow1, 4:06 PM 7/15/2003]
Service VME – Erratic Fuel Gauge Operation and DTC P1431 #PI00109
“Owners may comment that the fuel gauge will intermittently drop to empty from approximately half full. This may result from reactive sulfur compounds in some fuels attacking the silver used in the fuel level sender assembly. This causes a deposit to form on the sender card resulting in an erratic voltage signal which is outside the software parameters. When the BCM see this erratic signal it commands the fuel gauge to empty, to inform the owner/driver that there is a question about the amount of fuel still in the tank. The correction is a revised calibration that raises the empty voltage threshold to help eliminate this erratic operation. (Document ID #896508)”
Note this Service VME was generated for my VIN and might not be appropriate for others.
Hope this helps. :)
[Modified by yellow1, 4:06 PM 7/15/2003]
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 5,266
Likes: 15
From: Syracuse NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Gas gauge gone goofy. (nu2gm)
See this thread for the TSB I got from the dealership yesterday... http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zero...484#1544549484
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 605
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From: Perkiomenville PA
Re: Gas gauge gone goofy. (nu2gm)
Thanks for the information. You guys are great. Plan to call goodwrench tomorrow and it is nice to be armed with the information you provided.
:seeya :flag
:seeya :flag
