Would a bad fuel level sensor keep
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 449
Likes: 47
Would a bad fuel level sensor keep
You from buying what otherwise seems to be a very nice car? I have the opportunity to buy a 2010 3lt coupe with nav, f55, npp, chrome wheels 77k miles for a very good price. Only issue is a bad fuel level sensor.
Opinions? I'm not sure if PO tried techron fix (temporary from what I've read).
Any thoughts welcome
Posted in wrong thread. Moderator please move to general discussion
Opinions? I'm not sure if PO tried techron fix (temporary from what I've read).
Any thoughts welcome
Posted in wrong thread. Moderator please move to general discussion
Last edited by retcav1sg; Aug 25, 2014 at 07:00 PM. Reason: Wrong thread
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 53
From: Tucson Arizona
Go to Edmunds.com and get a value on the car, then contact a chevy dealer and get a price to replace the fuel level sender and deduct that from the Edmunds value. As I recall it runs somewhere around $1,500 to have it done.
If the price you have to pay is less than that you should be good to go if everything else checks out and the car has a clean title and wasn't a rental car. That is a lot of miles for a 2010 so better be a very low price to consider it.
If the price you have to pay is less than that you should be good to go if everything else checks out and the car has a clean title and wasn't a rental car. That is a lot of miles for a 2010 so better be a very low price to consider it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 449
Likes: 47
Price of car is 25K. One owner, Florida car. Follow on question...what are the pitfalls of just putting up with it and not filling the tank all the way up? This would be a third car/weekend fun car. Would not addressing it cause any additional damage? Previous owner says everything works fine as long as you never fill the tank to 100 percent full. He says that as long as you keep it at 3/4 tank or below there are no issues.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 315
From: Bridgewater New Jersey
Price of car is 25K. One owner, Florida car. Follow on question...what are the pitfalls of just putting up with it and not filling the tank all the way up? This would be a third car/weekend fun car. Would not addressing it cause any additional damage? Previous owner says everything works fine as long as you never fill the tank to 100 percent full. He says that as long as you keep it at 3/4 tank or below there are no issues.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 13
From: Pasadena, CA
On the first attempt, there was low fuel pressure. The mechanic admitted he must have damaged the fuel pump when running the fuel out of the tanks.
On the second attempt, one of the new sensors was bad. Filled the car up with gas immediately after picking it up and the gauge showed only half full.
Third attempt everything was working, but noticed one of my axle boots was now spewing grease all over the inside of the wheel.I think they damaged it.
And years later when I was replacing the rear selective ride shocks, I found that they had left off the clips that secure the sensor connectors on the shock stems. They were just resting in place.
Based on what you've shared, I would be willing to bet the car will throw a code or show "Service Fuel System" on the DIC.
when the tanks are over 3/4 full.
Good luck with your decision.
Last edited by Jimbeaux; Aug 25, 2014 at 09:07 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 190
From: Baton Rouge LA
St. Jude Donor '14, '16
The tanks are fairly easy to drop once you know how it all fits together on a manual car, and more difficult with an auto trans in place (we did it on my A4, but I don't know if it would even be possible with an A6).
If you do the work yourself it won't cost more than several hours time and new sending units (may as well replace both while you are in there).
Best of luck!
If you do the work yourself it won't cost more than several hours time and new sending units (may as well replace both while you are in there).
Best of luck!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 449
Likes: 47
To be clear, my concern isn't the price of the repair...it's the invasive nature of the repair and if not done properly, collateral damage to the parts that have to be disassembled and reassembled.
Also, to restate an earlier question, what if I just drive it this way and never fill up past 3/4 of a tank. It's never going to be a daily driver. Are there any problems that could be caused by just ignoring it?
Thanks
Also, to restate an earlier question, what if I just drive it this way and never fill up past 3/4 of a tank. It's never going to be a daily driver. Are there any problems that could be caused by just ignoring it?
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 190
From: Baton Rouge LA
St. Jude Donor '14, '16
To be clear, my concern isn't the price of the repair...it's the invasive nature of the repair and if not done properly, collateral damage to the parts that have to be disassembled and reassembled.
Also, to restate an earlier question, what if I just drive it this way and never fill up past 3/4 of a tank. It's never going to be a daily driver. Are there any problems that could be caused by just ignoring it?
Thanks
Also, to restate an earlier question, what if I just drive it this way and never fill up past 3/4 of a tank. It's never going to be a daily driver. Are there any problems that could be caused by just ignoring it?
Thanks
You'll be fine driving it like that as long as you pay attention to your mileage so that you don't run out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 53
From: Tucson Arizona
Another scenario is to put Techron Concentrate in the tanks when nearly empty and then fill tanks. You can also run Chevron gas in the car that has Techron in the gas itself. I have had good luck with correcting the problem in cars that started having fuel level sensor problems.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
The symptoms sound like a bad sensor in the right tank above 1/2 full. Car sat for a long time with the right tank 1/2 empty and the top half corroded. If you think you can live with it or pay for the labor intensive but not complicated fix and decide to buy the car you can first try the Techron fix. It is a permanent fix for the issue unless you continue to abuse the system with bad gas or letting it sit for long periods with dry sensors. I've had the issue twice in 7 years. I'm not sure what I did wrong the first time but the second I had let it sit with less than half a tank for over a month. Both times I just filled up with Top Tier gas and reset the code and the issue was gone. If you use Top Tier fuel to keep the system clean you don't need the Techron concentrate "repair".
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 627
Likes: 5
From: Frisco TX
If it's anything like my car, you fill the tank full and you'll the guage will go to empty or half and throw a Check Engine Light code and the Service Fuel System message comes on. To avoid this problem then I would only fill to one gallon shy of full. I tried the Techron fix to no avail. After several months of the situation being like I described, it got worse. Not only does it act up when being full, it now does the same thing around 3/8th of a tank full. So I'm thinking the driver's side sensor is now bad as well. Once it throws code, etc. it takes 5 or 6 starts for the CEL to finally go away. It doesn't hurt the car, just an inconvenience. I took it to the Chevy dealership and the quote was $1400 to replace just the passenger side sensor. I have a manual car. Too much for me so I'm tackling the job myself. From everything I've read it's not an easy job. Will probably swear a little and maybe throw a wrench or two but I'll get it done. Told the wife it's in her best interest to go away with the girls for the weekend. 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 449
Likes: 47
Update...Looks like it's going to work out. Friend of the the guy I'm buying the car from worked at the local Chevy store for 25 years and is best friends with the lead corvette tech. Long story, short...the tech is going to fix it off the clock at a substantial savings. Spoke to him at length and learned more about the fuel level sensor than I probably ever cared to know. Pretty confident he'll do it right
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 13
From: Pasadena, CA
Update...Looks like it's going to work out. Friend of the the guy I'm buying the car from worked at the local Chevy store for 25 years and is best friends with the lead corvette tech. Long story, short...the tech is going to fix it off the clock at a substantial savings. Spoke to him at length and learned more about the fuel level sensor than I probably ever cared to know. Pretty confident he'll do it right
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
If you want to check your new tech's real knowledge, read this - http://www.hessh.de/Corvette/FuelTankSystem.pdf
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 462
From: Southern Utah
Another scenario is to put Techron Concentrate in the tanks when nearly empty and then fill tanks. You can also run Chevron gas in the car that has Techron in the gas itself. I have had good luck with correcting the problem in cars that started having fuel level sensor problems.
It is certainly possible that this will fix it.