Is this a tech question? Who knows, troubleshooting mabey...

Went to start up the cars today, the 2010 started with no problems (have been in storage since november 1st), no dead battery, no issues. Well when i was sitting in the car i was scrolling through the DIC and sure enough the fuel range indicator was stating "low" when the car has over a half tank of gas in it.

Any ideas?

Send it off to the dealer 1st day of spring or what? Never seen this one before!

 

I wouldn't worry about it at this time. The car's been sitting since Nov, without a Battery Tender? Battery is certainly low, who knows the state of everything else. Drive it, fill it up, reset everything and I'm betting it will all be fine.

 

If you last filled it with a cheaper brand of gas then throw a can of techron additive in the tank. There has been a few threads on this subject in the past. Try a search on it.

 

I agree with trying the Techron

 

Ok, im no genious by any means, but what the hell does a fuel additive have to do with a innacurate or unresponsive gauge? The car has a fuel stabilizer in it for the winter. I dont see this being a "fuel" issue in any way whatsoever. Kinda over it anyways, if it doesnt go away in spring when I pull it out Ill just send it down to the dealer and make them fix it.....

 

The fuel sender in the tank can get contaminated (a coating) by the excess sulfer found in cheaper gas giving the gauge a incorrect reading. The techron will help to remove/disolve this coating on the sender. Many people on here have used it successfully.

 

I always thought that the best way to store a car for the winter is with a full tank with less chance of corrosion. Yes get some Chevron Techron Fuel System Cleaner and run a bottle through with each of you next couple of tanks.

 

let the dealer deal with it.

 

I could not have said this better myself. The C-5 fuel level senders have a lot of trouble with this. Techron usually works just fine.

 

If the sensor itself was indeed corroded then why would the analog gauge work exaclty as it should. Its the digital fuel range readout that is the problem. Now I could see if the level sensor was acting goofy but it is not.

The fuel additive you mention may be great to prevent level sensor corrosion but ive been storing cars for years like this and have never had this issue arrise. Nor have I ever used any additives other then stabil for the winter.

Until someone can explain how the analog guage works as it should but the digital range in the DIC is incorrect is related to corrosion or anything of that nature, im not buying it. It makes no sense. From my understanding the range is calcuated based on fuel tank level and injector flow rate.. Either something wigged out due to slightly lowered battery voltage or there is somthing else going on here.

Regardless... Im not going to worry about it. If its still acting up, it can become the dealers problem come April 1st......

 

My vote is on low battery but i will share some level sender experience...

I used to be a project engineer for the C-6 fuel module. The level sender on the Nov-2003 and newer C6's is more robust than older ones for sure. It has palladium in it for corrosion resistance and so forth. The fuel nowadays is not like it used to be. There are 20+ blends for sale throughout the USA at any one time for various temp, altitude, laws, etc. The level sender has to work for a lifetime in each and every fuel, no easy task. Over time a slight varnish or insulating layer can buildup on the level sender card and create an open circuit. Often times a few swipes of the level sender up and down will clean this off all by itself. So, just drive the car for a few minutes and it will more than likely come back to normal. BTW, the chemical reaction is often times worst in a gas environment, IE with fuel level less than 1/2 way up in the tank.

FWIW, i just park my 2008 and don't worry about it. If i think about it ahead of time i fill it up for the winter. But then again, i know where to get a replacement...