Fuel Gage

[Abnsteel06vette]

My fuel gage is running wild. It was reading 1/2 tank and when I turned the engine off and restarted the car it was now reading 1/4 tank. I went and filled the tank up and it took 14 gallons. It is the second time it has given me a false reading. With my luck I will take it to the dealer and I know it will not do it then. Any ideas what can be wrong. Thanks and Happy New Year. My corvette is a 2001 C5 Coupe.

Thanks

:cool

 

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
I would first suggest that you check to see if you have any codes in the PCM. Also, I would suggest that you also have the latest computer program for the PCM.
There is an updated program for inaccuate fuel gauges for your 2001 c5.
Please keep us posted, c4c5

 

[Black Bear]

Fuel Gauge

My fuel gage is running wild. It was reading 1/2 tank and when I turned the engine off and restarted the car it was now reading 1/4 tank. I went and filled the tank up and it took 14 gallons. It is the second time it has given me a false reading. With my luck I will take it to the dealer and I know it will not do it then. Any ideas what can be wrong. Thanks and Happy New Year. My corvette is a 2001 C5 Coupe.

Thanks

:cool

This has been an ongoing sporatic problem. The unfortunate part is that GM will not admit that it is a manufacturing defect. We live in Toronto, Canada and just after the New Year, our local paper, the Toronto Star, had a six page spread on this issue. People were running out of gas on the highways/freeways!!!! This is totally unacceptable - safety has to come first. I guess until someone dies, they will do something about it. GM should be ashamed of themselves.

We had the same situation. Brought our Vette into a "reputable dealership" to fix this fuel gauge problem. While the car was in the shop, it was damaged by one of their mechanics; and, to make matters worse, we still have the original problem - a faulty fuel gauge. We are in for the fight of our lives ad ad - they continue to ignore us but we will not go away.

We worked too hard for our Black Bear.

 

[c4c5specialist]

This has been an ongoing sporatic problem. The unfortunate part is that GM will not admit that it is a manufacturing defect. We live in Toronto, Canada and just after the New Year, our local paper, the Toronto Star, had a six page spread on this issue. People were running out of gas on the highways/freeways!!!! This is totally unacceptable - safety has to come first. I guess until someone dies, they will do something about it. GM should be ashamed of themselves.

We had the same situation. Brought our Vette into a "reputable dealership" to fix this fuel gauge problem. While the car was in the shop, it was damaged by one of their mechanics; and, to make matters worse, we still have the original problem - a faulty fuel gauge. We are in for the fight of our lives ad ad - they continue to ignore us but we will not go away.

We worked too hard for our Black Bear.

HI there,
The correct repair for this condition has been out for quite some time. It has nothing to do with a manufacturing defect, than sulfur content within the fuels that are used.
I would be curious to find actual fact on this concern, given that a reprogram fixes the condition.
As for the dangerous part, sulfur concentration is alot different in Canada fuels than domestic fuels.
I would suggest that you have your car repaired by someone who is more familiar with the design, and fix.
Allthebest, c4c5 :eek

 

[Green2000]

On the way home from the NCRS meet in Orlando last night, my fuel gauge suddenly dropped from 1/2 to E and the check gauges light came on and the DIC range indicated nothing (blank). I filled the tank and it took 12 gallons, so evidently it wasn't empty. After refueling, it still reads empty ad the chek gauges light is still on. It is a 2000 convertible 6 speed with 18,000 miles. Anyone else experienced this problem and any ideas??

Thanks!!

 

[Terry Holtz]

>>>>>>>my fuel gauge suddenly dropped from 1/2 to E and the check gauges light came on and the DIC range indicated nothing (blank). It is a 2000 convertible 6 speed with 18,000 miles. Anyone else experienced this problem and any ideas??<<<<<

My 1998 convertable automatic with 48K miles, occasionally has the same problem. I have always kept it fueled with premium gas but in the past I would use premium from anyone. Now I use only BP or Amoco and it does seem to be helping.

 

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
After resetting the code in the DIC, I would simply have the reprogram done.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[Green2000]

Thanks for the info. What is involved in reprogramming? Is this a dealer visit or can a specialty shop do it?

THANKS!!!

 

[loverboy]

I had the same problem and the dealer told me to use a prodect named Gauz. I don't now if it is spelled that way, but that's how you say it. It is a fuel injector cleaner/stabalizer. This product is sold at any of your local GM dealers and cost about $14.00 canadian. What you do is put the full bottle in an empty tank and then fill the car up right to the top. This worked for me and haven't had that problem since. Try doing that and let me know if it works. GOOD LUCK!

 

[c4c5specialist]

Thanks for the info. What is involved in reprogramming? Is this a dealer visit or can a specialty shop do it?

THANKS!!!

HI there,
This is a dealership only process.
Allthebest, c4c5 :eek

 

[bluecoupe]

I had the same problem dropped to E from 1/3 tank. The new program worked for me. Took service 15 minutes to do. Did it while I waited. It was painless.

 

[bsouth]

Same problem

My fuel gage is running wild. It was reading 1/2 tank and when I turned the engine off and restarted the car it was now reading 1/4 tank. I went and filled the tank up and it took 14 gallons. It is the second time it has given me a false reading. With my luck I will take it to the dealer and I know it will not do it then. Any ideas what can be wrong. Thanks and Happy New Year. My corvette is a 2001 C5 Coupe.

Thanks

:cool

My 99 had the same problem. But I live in the desert in Calif. I am 80 miles from the closest gas station and my fuel gauge drops to empty. I can't live with this. So I (being a mechanic) did my own checking and found the problem in the sending unit. Not the best way to spend a day, but I had no choice. I replaced the sender, problem solved. That was almost one year ago. Hope you have already got the problem solved.

 

[schmaltzr]

I had the same thing happen to my 2000. The first time was in the middle of nowhere on Vancouver Island Canada on vacation. It scared me since it was 50 miles to the nearest building. I had 6 gallons of gas left in the tank. Both sending units supposidly had to be replace for $1300. I was told by another thread to use Techron (Chevron Gas additive) to help prevent this. The gage works okay now.

 

[danl72]

I think we all have had the same problem. I got my sending unit replaced but now i am have rhe problem come up again. I guess i will have to get the other sending unit replaced.

 

[vettenuts]

I never had the problem until last fall and then both I and a friend with a 2000 started having the problems at the same time. I am very suspicious that when they switched to the "winter" fuel blend this was the root cause.


C4C5Specialist - When they do the re-program, does this re-program change any other parameters like the timing or fuel maps? Wondering if someone had a special setup in their PCM if the re-program for the fuel gage would wipe it out.

 

[c4c5specialist]

C4C5Specialist - When they do the re-program, does this re-program change any other parameters like the timing or fuel maps? Wondering if someone had a special setup in their PCM if the re-program for the fuel gage would wipe it out.

HI there,
Usually, yes, the reflash will undo any aftermarket programming. This is the single biggest reason why it is never recommended to have an aftermarket program.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[bossvette]

I just bought a 97 that is doing the exact same thing, what should I ask for at the dealer. I am going to purchase autotap soon can I do it with autotap; I really hate to pay someone to do something I can do myself.
Thanks
Craig sr

 

[MsSchroder]

Will the PCM reprogram that is part of the Column Lock recall also take care of this fuel gauge problem?

 

[Terry Holtz]

Just an up-date. My 98 Vette has not had any fuel gauge problems in months. Perhaps the steering column fix by the dealership (around that time) had a program repair to the fuel gauge problem thrown in without telling me. I have had to use cheap gas lately (because of my remote location). Or perhaps even the cheap gas has been up-graded recently.

 

[c4c5specialist]

Yes, the updated CL recall, 04006A will have the updated fuel systems calibration already in it.
Allthebest, c4c5