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Erratic Fuel Gauge

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Old Jun 24, 2016 | 09:33 PM
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Default Erratic Fuel Gauge

I noticed the fuel gauge jumping around while driving today. What causes this? Is there a simple fix? Thanks folks!
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Old Jun 25, 2016 | 08:02 AM
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Originally Posted by JetstreamGS
I noticed the fuel gauge jumping around while driving today. What causes this? Is there a simple fix? Thanks folks!
I'll throw in. Likely the sender unit in the fuel tanks. Not a very simple solution. There will be lots more replies coming.
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Old Jun 25, 2016 | 08:56 AM
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I would first try a bottle of Techron in the tank. Lots of reports that it will fix it.
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Old Jun 25, 2016 | 11:26 AM
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If you have some miles on your car, more than likely the sender will look like the bad one in post #5, in the link below. The passenger side usually wears out first.

Link here;
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ification.html

Last edited by extrapilot; Jun 25, 2016 at 11:26 AM.
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Old Jun 25, 2016 | 08:51 PM
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That's symptomatic that your fuel sender unit located in your passenger side fuel tank is going out. eventually it will drop to zero and throw a code.

now as to the fix --- some have obtained temporary relief by dumping Techron into the tank.... but this is best a temporary fix. This is a big job to replace the sender unit as it requires dropping the tanks... even harder if you have an automatic. I do suggest if you have the job done, you replace the fuel pump in the passenger tank ( it will be easy to replace it when the tanks are dropped to get to the sender )
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Old Jun 25, 2016 | 09:31 PM
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Originally Posted by EVRose
I would first try a bottle of Techron in the tank. Lots of reports that it will fix it.
double dose it, this was a common problem/fix for C5's worth the try first unless your in a hurry to drop the tanks
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Old Jun 25, 2016 | 10:54 PM
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Old Jun 26, 2016 | 07:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Jake5670
Got that right!
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Old Jun 26, 2016 | 09:39 AM
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Filled up yesterday and went for a drive and it was fine. Car only has 6000 miles what would cause sender to fail so prematurely?
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Old Jun 26, 2016 | 09:51 AM
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I should have been more specific. What I noticed is at times the gauge would read slightly less then half tank. Then it would read slightly more then half tank. Eventually it would stabilize. It's not like it would jump all over the place. I don't run it low on fuel so it doesn't concern me enough to drop the tanks if the sender is indeed faulty lol. But I guess that gives me an excuse to do a fuel system. Hmmm...
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Old Jun 26, 2016 | 11:03 AM
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Originally Posted by JetstreamGS
I should have been more specific. What I noticed is at times the gauge would read slightly less then half tank. Then it would read slightly more then half tank. Eventually it would stabilize. It's not like it would jump all over the place. I don't run it low on fuel so it doesn't concern me enough to drop the tanks if the sender is indeed faulty lol. But I guess that gives me an excuse to do a fuel system. Hmmm...
I've seen this happen a few times. The ECU has to digest the two signals from each tank and make a determination as to what level the gas gauge should read.
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Old Jun 27, 2016 | 12:45 PM
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Originally Posted by JetstreamGS
I noticed the fuel gauge jumping around while driving today. What causes this? Is there a simple fix? Thanks folks!
i had a 2001 that would do that about twice a year. Never did figure out what caused the problem. it was strange the way it would come and go.
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