Service Fuel System
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Prairie Village KS
Service Fuel System
2008 Coupe, 33k miles
We had a rough month in March in Kansas City as far as Corvette weather goes. Snowy mess. My car sat around for a month. I had the battery on a maintainer and wasn't able to get out of the driveway until last week.
The car started fine and runs great, but the fuel guage reads empty and the DIC tells me to 'service fuel system'. It was time for an oil change, so I asked the dealer to look at the fuel system issue too. They claim it will be a $3700+ repair with over 20 hours of labor required to drop the tank and fix the issue. Both fuel senders must be replaced according to them.
This seems excessive and I have trouble bringing myself to spend almost $4k when the car runs fine. Any ideas? Am I damaging the vehicle by driving it? The dealership said I wasn't, but also said the problem cannot be solved any other way.
-Ryan
We had a rough month in March in Kansas City as far as Corvette weather goes. Snowy mess. My car sat around for a month. I had the battery on a maintainer and wasn't able to get out of the driveway until last week.
The car started fine and runs great, but the fuel guage reads empty and the DIC tells me to 'service fuel system'. It was time for an oil change, so I asked the dealer to look at the fuel system issue too. They claim it will be a $3700+ repair with over 20 hours of labor required to drop the tank and fix the issue. Both fuel senders must be replaced according to them.
This seems excessive and I have trouble bringing myself to spend almost $4k when the car runs fine. Any ideas? Am I damaging the vehicle by driving it? The dealership said I wasn't, but also said the problem cannot be solved any other way.
-Ryan
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
It's very common for the sending units to get fouled by sulphur and such in the gas, especially if it isn't top tier gas and/or has sat a long time without having stabilizer added.
The typical thing to try, that works more often than not, is to run 2 or more tanks of top tier gas with a bottle of Techron added. I suggest just running Chevron gas and add the Techron but it's your choice. The Techron seems to do just the right cleaning job.
The typical thing to try, that works more often than not, is to run 2 or more tanks of top tier gas with a bottle of Techron added. I suggest just running Chevron gas and add the Techron but it's your choice. The Techron seems to do just the right cleaning job.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Prairie Village KS
Thanks Rick. I run Shell V-Power in the car so I feel like I treat her right. I can't see how trying some inexpensive ideas first could hurt as long as I'm not causing any damage to car by driving it now.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 808
From: West coast CA
If it keeps recurring, you will need to drop the tanks. 20 hrs. seems excessive. I don't know what the book says for R&Ring the level senders, but even I could do it faster than that.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 462
From: Southern Utah
Techron is the best detergent additive in any gasoline. It is in Chevron and Texaco gas. Try a couple of tanks of these with a bottle of Techron and just reset the trip odometer to keep from running out of gas. Worth a try. And 20 hours of labor at $100 per hour is only $2,000, so even with parts, that dealer quote is laughable.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 693
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles CA
my erractic gauge that always read empty for a while after fill up was fixed by dealer reprogramming something. i believe it was maybe programming out one of the two sensors? it was about $90 or something to reprogram, several years ago.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: nashville TN
i am dealing with the same issue and the dealer told me $3500 but they could get it down to about $3100 or $3200 since I just spent $3100 with them already. Is there anybody close to me that has replaced the fuel sending units or knows of someone who can do it? Appreciate the help.
Last edited by fathead533; Apr 4, 2013 at 09:36 PM.
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Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Prairie Village KS
Thank you all for the suggestions. One bottle of Techron, a full tank of V-Power, 20 miles of driving and things are back to prime condition! Amazing how $13 worth of cleaner fixed a $3700 problem according to the dealer! I can't wait for their follow-up call to ask when I'm coming in for service!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
Thank you all for the suggestions. One bottle of Techron, a full tank of V-Power, 20 miles of driving and things are back to prime condition! Amazing how $13 worth of cleaner fixed a $3700 problem according to the dealer! I can't wait for their follow-up call to ask when I'm coming in for service!
Should be a fun conversation.But don't stop with the first bottle of Techron. Do at least 2 tanks worth just to be thorough. Maybe then follow with another one during the summer.
Enjoy.
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 10
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
I've been having the same issue for over a year, I'm currently unable to get the car to pass inspection due to the "Check Engine Light" being on. Seems like when I turn a corner to the RIGHT, fairly quickly,...the fuel gauge snaps on and works for about 2-3 minutes...then back to empty. Once I research this forum last year, I began to ONLY use Chevron Super and I've run at least 5 tank full of Chevron with a bottle of Techron in each full tank. I may try the SHELL V Power gas,...see if it makes a difference.
Anything, I'm missing? My assumption is I should run the gas almost all the way out,..then add the Techron bottle,...then fill it up....
Doesn anyone know of any RELAY, or Circuit System shortages that may come into play here?
2007 C6 Z51
Anything, I'm missing? My assumption is I should run the gas almost all the way out,..then add the Techron bottle,...then fill it up....
Doesn anyone know of any RELAY, or Circuit System shortages that may come into play here?
2007 C6 Z51
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,019
Likes: 2,712
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
But it never hurts to ask...
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,019
Likes: 2,712
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Some gas already contains Techron (Chevron? Texaco? others?), so for a good cleaning job I prefer Shell (another Top Tier fuel) with a bottle of Techron or GM Fuel System Treatment+, which we suspect is just re-branded Techron. There is even a small Chevron logo on the bottom of the GM bottle.
Tolero Apto Victum
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 9,669
Likes: 37
From: Woodlands TX
Some gas already contains Techron (Chevron? Texaco? others?), so for a good cleaning job I prefer Shell (another Top Tier fuel) with a bottle of Techron or GM Fuel System Treatment+, which we suspect is just re-branded Techron. There is even a small Chevron logo on the bottom of the GM bottle.
Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 163
Likes: 2
From: Green Valley AZ
Techron
I have had the same problem. Put about 3 tankfulls with Techron through it and the gauge worked for about 3/4 of a tank. I put another fill up with Techron and then got a Actron 9125 code reader. I cleared the code and the gauge started working right away. The code reader was $50. It sure beats taking it to the stealership.