fuel gage not right!! ran out?

[tigmaned]

well i took my 86 for a ride tonight, and i thought the gage was working?? its either stuck on 1/4 of a tank or my fuel pump is going bad, or fuel filter going bad, or just crap in the tank? i left it on the side of the road, purchased a can, put a gallon in and she started back up, ran crappy for a couple of seconds, then was o.k. till i got her home. i am worring to much and this is just the gage? oor should i pull the hole sending unit out and put a new pump and of course a new strainer? any body else have the gage stuck at 1/4 of a tank before?

 

[tnovot]

Yes, it happened at the time my digital dash was on its way out. After the dash was rebuilt, the gas gauge gave accurate readings.
This might not be the same cause of your problem but I really doubt it could be caused by a bad fuel pump or fuel filter. Why start replacing a bunch of things on a hunch?

 

[jiangtao]

If it's not the dash then it's the fuel pump assembly's gas gauge. I replaced the pump on mine and afterward the gauge read empty.{had half a tank} Turns out either the ground or wires were jacked up. Switched the wires messed with the ground and everything was fine.

 

[tigmaned]

i have already had the dash repaired, and when i got it back it read empty. before and after i got the dash repaired in read empty and the reserve was on. then i tried movin the wires on the tank around and it seemed to be working fine, until last night when i noticed it stayed on 1/4 of a tank, and i slowly sputtered out, ran o.k then and sputtered out, then about 10 miles later die completely. took gas cap off, shuck car some only heard a little splash, so walked and got gas. i will mess with the wires and ground some more and clean the sending unit sent it seems kind of rusty and could be cause of bad ground?

thanks!!

 

[nyernga]

Fyi

It's advisable to not let the tank get below 1/4 too often. The fuel pump uses the fuel as a cooling agent for the motor. If it's not submerged it runs hot and this will shorten it's lifespan.

Len

original info courtesy of Ken

 

[tigmaned]

thanks for the info on the not below 1/4 of a tank, but it was reading 1/4 of a tank. i had one go in a s-10 blazer and man that fuel pump cost me over $400 bucks!

 

[newguy84]

Happened to me with a little over 1/8 tank...won't happen again, never go below 1/2 for me.

 

[rrubel]

Fortunately, a Vette fuel pump is a lot cheaper than a Blazer one... you can get an aftermarket one for under $100 and install it yourself in an hour or so. Been there, done that.
[RICHR]

 

[Ken Anderson]

The high sulpher content of today's gas ruins the resistor in your sender. A new sender w/ GM's new ceramic film resistor, complete with pump and strainer, will be available in the next 2 months. The advice on the pump stays the same.

 

[tigmaned]

rich

hey i was up to Brewster looking for you on friday night and later on this happened. i just took the fuel sending unit out today, the top mounting plate is all deformed from being all rusted out. and the nasty rust covered gasket just fell in peices! the top of the fuel tank is rusty too, but i think it will work fine. i am going to have to drain the fuel tank trying to clean all that rust chips from the sending unit, i can see crap in the tank, i tried my best to keep stuff from going in, but it didn't work to well. anybody got a fuel sending unit there not useing??????
Ed

 

[Vettefan87]

original info courtesy of Ken

Here is the entire thread if anybody wants to read it.. CLICK

 

[tigmaned]

funny i keep getting this advice to keep the tank above 1/4 of a tank? that advice is fine if i knew it wasn't working right?? well i took the fuel sending unit out, and i found out one problem i was haveing, i had a fuel smell well the mounting plate for the sending unit was totally rusted out and all deformed. got a used better one coming, from a out west vette place were they have no winters. new was just to much!!

 

[Ken Anderson]

I know you can't wait, but the used unit will quickly rust too. The new units will be nickel plated and the aftermarket pricing will be VERY competitive (much les than thru GMSPO). You absolutly right about a 1/4 tank-hard to maintain if the sender doesn't work.

 

[tigmaned]

Ken

were did you get a new one from? i wouldn't mind buying new but all the ones i have found were over $300

 

[HotVetteHotBlonde-Wink]

It's advisable to not let the tank get below 1/4 too often. The fuel pump uses the fuel as a cooling agent for the motor. If it's not submerged it runs hot and this will shorten it's lifespan.

Len

original info courtesy of Ken

I learned this the hard way. I was told after it went out on a suv I owned in the past, that after a certain year of vehicles, the fuel pump needs the fuel for the above reason. Which year was it in the past where you could run it allmost dry all the time? anyone know? I forgot what my old mechanic told me.
teresa

 

[Beobachter]

Smae experience just a couple of weeks ago. It was the fuel filter on my 87. Replaced and it is a champion again. Walking in the 100 degree heat for gas is not fun. The filter however is not the easiest RR in the world. Just be patient.

 

[Ken Anderson]

Ken

were did you get a new one from? i wouldn't mind buying new but all the ones i have found were over $300

And that is for just the sender, w/NO pump! The new one I'm talking about won't be available for a couple of months.

 

[Beobachter]

Tigmaned,
Just the filter mounted on the rail near the passenger foot space. Not the Pump. Napa Gold did the trick.

 

[tigmaned]

beo

what part of maryland are you in? i am in Crofton. md
i have a good used sending unit coming from AZ later this week i hope? got a new pump, and all goodies coming from rockauto.com, figure while i got it out time for all new wareable part to go back in.

 

[Beobachter]

Live west of Frederick. Only Corvette in town.
Good luck on the RR.