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Sending unit bad?

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Old Jul 28, 2008 | 09:11 PM
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Default Sending unit bad?

I am driving and my gas gauge goes from full to past empty and my check gauges light turns on my 01 Camaro SS, eventually it will go back up but does this constantly now. At first it didn't bother me as it didn't do it that often but now I'm noticing that it's doing it more and is throwing my gas reading off. Is this the sending unit going bad or can I check something else. If it is the sending unit do I have to buy a new fuel pump and unit or can I buy it separate?
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Old Jul 28, 2008 | 09:31 PM
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The wire could be grounding out, cheaper and easier to fix than a new sending unit. Test the wire at the gauge for continuity with ground while it is reading funny.
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Old Jul 28, 2008 | 09:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Drumer919
The wire could be grounding out, cheaper and easier to fix than a new sending unit. Test the wire at the gauge for continuity with ground while it is reading funny.
How would I do this? Explain a little more please.
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Old Jul 28, 2008 | 09:34 PM
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Do you have a multi-meter?
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Old Jul 28, 2008 | 09:40 PM
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yes sir
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Old Jul 28, 2008 | 09:47 PM
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It should have a continuity setting that, when you connect the leads from the meter together or to 2 different parts of the same circuit, will cause the meter to make a beep or somehow let you know that what your testing has continuity (is the same circuit).

If the wire is shorted to ground, witch will cause false readings on the gauge, it would have continuity with ground since it essentially becomes part of the ground circuit. Like I said though you will need to make sure that the gauge is giving the false reading when you test it otherwise it will not have continuity with ground and therefore pass the test, of course assuming this is the problem to begin with.

Your going to need to pull the gauges and find the signal wire, usually on a GM is it the purple wire at the tank but I don't know about behind the dash, you'll need a wiring diagram to find that out. I guess you could test at the tank, or even easier under the rear seat where the F/P harness comes inside the car.

I'm not really the best at explaining things on the internet but hopefully you can make enough sense of this to help some.
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Old Jul 28, 2008 | 09:49 PM
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cool that gives me some type of idea on what to look at and will probably get help from some buddys.
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Old Jul 28, 2008 | 09:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Drumer919
It should have a continuity setting that, when you connect the leads from the meter together or to 2 different parts of the same circuit, will cause the meter to make a beep or somehow let you know that what your testing has continuity (is the same circuit).

If the wire is shorted to ground, witch will cause false readings on the gauge, it would have continuity with ground since it essentially becomes part of the ground circuit. Like I said though you will need to make sure that the gauge is giving the false reading when you test it otherwise it will not have continuity with ground and therefore pass the test, of course assuming this is the problem to begin with.

Your going to need to pull the gauges and find the signal wire, usually on a GM is it the purple wire at the tank but I don't know about behind the dash, you'll need a wiring diagram to find that out. I guess you could test at the tank, or even easier under the rear seat where the F/P harness comes inside the car.

I'm not really the best at explaining things on the internet but hopefully you can make enough sense of this to help some.
So would you think this is the issue with my gauge going from full to dropping to empty? If not what would be your suggestion.
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Old Jul 28, 2008 | 09:57 PM
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Yeah its a common problem, the sending unit is a very simple thing and doesn't often go bad, it does happen though, but much more often the signal wire will rub a hole in the insulation and cause exactly what your describing.
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Old Jul 28, 2008 | 09:58 PM
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oh so how would you fix that if that is the issue?
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Old Jul 29, 2008 | 07:31 AM
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Replace the wire.
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