Gas gauge not working right
02-03-2006, 08:55 AM
#1
TECH Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Arlington TX
Posts: 5,276
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gas gauge not working right My gas gauge started acting up a month ago. The gauge will read correctly till I get to 1/4 then it just won't work or it will not read correctly. But once I fill up the car it will read fine again. I had a code thrown and it had something to do with the sender unit but I'm not sure what the code number was or what exactly it said I just remember it was for the sender unit.
My question is do I need to replace the whole sender unit or can I just replace the fuel level sender?
My question is do I need to replace the whole sender unit or can I just replace the fuel level sender?
02-10-2006, 09:23 PM
#4
Did you change the sender recently? What brand if so.
Have you changed your cluster at any point of time?
I have never gone down the far just out of fear the gauge could be messed up. The reason why is that when I fill up the gauge goes WAY past F till it almost hits the plastic. So I assume the E position has also shifted over.
Have you changed your cluster at any point of time?
I have never gone down the far just out of fear the gauge could be messed up. The reason why is that when I fill up the gauge goes WAY past F till it almost hits the plastic. So I assume the E position has also shifted over.
02-11-2006, 01:24 AM
#5
TECH Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Arlington TX
Posts: 5,276
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm pretty sure my gauge cluster is fine. I figure starting with the sender would be the best choice. When I get ready to replace the sender I think I'm just getting one from GM.
02-11-2006, 02:11 AM
#6
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SLO, CA
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I had my 93 LT1 sending unit go out twice. I gaureentee you thats it. Handsdown. Sucks, but life goes on as my buddy would say.
Its always a smart choice to go with a New one because the one I got to replace my old was, because it was rusted to **** and didn't have that much money! I got it at a junk yard and that was a bad idea, gas gauge never read right. LOL
anyways sorry for the trouble good luck on the fix
Its always a smart choice to go with a New one because the one I got to replace my old was, because it was rusted to **** and didn't have that much money! I got it at a junk yard and that was a bad idea, gas gauge never read right. LOL
anyways sorry for the trouble good luck on the fix
02-11-2006, 04:11 PM
#7
The GM unit is like in the 600 range. I got one from O'Reily's and it is supposed to be the same brand since AC Delco contracted it out. Just a label change. It is only 300. Just I don't trust my fuel gague with it. The senders are all over eBay. Again thats a risk. 
Trending Topics
02-11-2006, 07:29 PM
#8
Banned
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: 'Merica
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by 2002_Z28_Six_Speed
The GM unit is like in the 600 range. I got one from O'Reily's and it is supposed to be the same brand since AC Delco contracted it out. Just a label change. It is only 300. Just I don't trust my fuel gague with it. The senders are all over eBay. Again thats a risk.
02-11-2006, 09:13 PM
#9
The sad part is that only my pump so out so I probably could have gotten away with just buying a generic fuel pump and keeping the rest of the sender. I just didn't know which to get!! I don't think anyone knows the flow specs on stock so I got a new cheapo one.
02-13-2006, 10:13 AM
#10
TECH Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Arlington TX
Posts: 5,276
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
well I can get a new GM sender for around $300 so that that will work out the same. Should I replace the whole sender unit or just the fuel level sender unit?
02-14-2006, 08:49 AM
#12
TECH Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Arlington TX
Posts: 5,276
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by OnA Fan
That's exactly what I do. Fill up daily just to be sure.
I've got better things to do than go to the gas station every day just to be sure. I rather fix the problem and not worry about it again
02-14-2006, 11:17 PM
#13
I would replace the whole sending unit. I waited until I knew I had about 1/8 of a tank left, dropped that SOB out, and changed the whole unit. I can't remember how long it took but once I had it on the lift, I took out the heat shields, crossmembers, unbolted the tank.... I guess it took 3 or 4 hours.
02-15-2006, 12:35 AM
#14
TECH Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Arlington TX
Posts: 5,276
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by 2002_Z28_Six_Speed
I would replace the whole sending unit. I waited until I knew I had about 1/8 of a tank left, dropped that SOB out, and changed the whole unit. I can't remember how long it took but once I had it on the lift, I took out the heat shields, crossmembers, unbolted the tank.... I guess it took 3 or 4 hours.
Cool thanks for the help
02-15-2006, 01:24 PM
#15
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (16)
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Tulsa OK
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How long has it been broken? I went on a trip to California from Oklahoma. When I got back mine started acting up just like that so I put a couple of tanks of gas from a good station thru it and it fixed itself. Took about 2 weeks. I guess I just got lucky, but if yours has not been broken long you may give it a little bit. I think mine was just dirty from some crappy gas stations I had to stop at.
02-17-2006, 11:26 AM
#16
TECH Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Arlington TX
Posts: 5,276
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mine has been broken for several months now.
Funny story.. The broken gauge saved me some trouble yesterday. I was moving my car into Dallas Autorama yesterday and the gauge showed over 1/4 tank. It has to be 1/4 tank or less to get in. I wasn't sure if it really was over the 1/4 mark but I didn't think it was. The staff guy came up to talk to me while I was waiting on the fire inspector. When he walked up I told him the story about the guage and he told me to tell the fire inpsector. When the fire inspector walked up the gauge wasn't reading anything at all, it was on E. She put the ok sticker on my car and walked off. As soon as she walked off the guage popped back up again to 1/4.
Funny story.. The broken gauge saved me some trouble yesterday. I was moving my car into Dallas Autorama yesterday and the gauge showed over 1/4 tank. It has to be 1/4 tank or less to get in. I wasn't sure if it really was over the 1/4 mark but I didn't think it was. The staff guy came up to talk to me while I was waiting on the fire inspector. When he walked up I told him the story about the guage and he told me to tell the fire inpsector. When the fire inspector walked up the gauge wasn't reading anything at all, it was on E. She put the ok sticker on my car and walked off. As soon as she walked off the guage popped back up again to 1/4.
I don't know why F body fuel gauges work like **** but the gauge in a $10K Cavalier is more accurate. Someone explain that one.
02-18-2006, 01:26 AM
#18
get your sender cheap here. http://jobberonline.biz/GMFuelPumps.html 42.95
you don't need to buy the entire unit,of course the dealer will cornhole you and lie and tell you YOU HAVE TO BUY THE COMPLETE UNIT.never go to a dealer,unless you like getting screwed.
you don't need to buy the entire unit,of course the dealer will cornhole you and lie and tell you YOU HAVE TO BUY THE COMPLETE UNIT.never go to a dealer,unless you like getting screwed.
04-25-2006, 07:25 PM
#19
12 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chesapeake,va and Charlotte,NC
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Does anyone know of any d\aftermarket digital gas gauges, cause i would like mine to be more accurate cause it randomley will stay in the same position for 20 miles, then drop to the real level the next time i start my car
