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msfixit
New User
Apr 5, 2010, 7:08 AM
Post #1 of 7
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erratic fuel gauge
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98 Chevy Silverado.Erratic fuel gauge.Diagnosed as fuel pump.replaced at a cost of $600.Picked up truck at repair shop,still erratic.Was told that the entire dashboard gauge assembly needs replacing ( $2000).I am being ripped off.Help !!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 5, 2010, 9:31 AM
Post #2 of 7
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Re: erratic fuel gauge
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Arggh! Sorry that happened and too bad for a misdiagnosis of that expense. The entire pump and sender is expensive but should have been tested out (IMO) better than that.
There may be a ground to dash that is the problem and would take some chasing down. Also the plug-end of the truck may be iffy to the pump and gauge and is a problem spot for these in the rust belts.
What type of erratic is it? Wrong or goes to full then empty readings?
I'd go get the old unit if not destroyed or thrown out as it seems that's still good. Find someone who really specializes in auto electrics as I can't believe the $2,000 stuff for a twelve year old truck. Jeez - go used or bet you can get just the gauge end if that's the trouble still to diagnose,
T
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msfixit
New User
Apr 5, 2010, 10:36 AM
Post #3 of 7
(5833 views)
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Re: erratic fuel gauge
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Hi Tom,When you crank the truck,the gauge flickers back and forth.It doesn't usually stay in one place.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 5, 2010, 12:33 PM
Post #4 of 7
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Re: erratic fuel gauge
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I own a 97 of same vehicle and going to go look at gauge when cranking which I just don't recall what it does. Either way, if this is giving you credible wrong readings within usual ranges and then one you believe would like to know just how it fails.
It seems like something isn't grounded to me so far and erratic. Starter motor is the biggest draw on electrical system of all and perhaps any weak links are just not getting their share and I'm thinking GROUND more than power.
There are ground straps all over vehicles to link engine block to body, body to frame, body to dash parts and they are everywhere as needed for things.
You can add ground with clips or jumper cables and alligator jumper clips wire from known good grounded items to others and surprisingly that is frequently the trouble.
Haven't done a gauge on one of these yet but I do think getting back there is labor intensive. Just adding a ground shouldn't be so difficult if that's all it needs. Don't go jumping powered items - just metal to metal that should be ground, should be.
I'll go look now and if I see something on my own I'll edit this or add another post,
T
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msfixit
New User
Apr 7, 2010, 8:40 AM
Post #5 of 7
(5812 views)
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Re: erratic fuel gauge
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Hi Tom.After cranking,it usually settles down,more or less at about 1/4 of a tank,even tho it is full.This truck only has 133,000 miles on it.Thanks for your help.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Apr 7, 2010, 10:44 AM
Post #6 of 7
(5806 views)
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Re: erratic fuel gauge
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That's just a generic idea of what the sender is - just a float much like the back of a toilet except it sends/changes current like a household dimmer switch to a light when higher, lower and all the places in between.
The dash end is merely putting out the amount of light a dimmer would if you fooled with one. In the vehicle it's the approximate fuel level. When car is off the gauge means little in cars.
You test which is the trouble by .... 1. Unplug the gauge and see what it reads with key in run position. If that had no effect on the reading you chase down the connections, grounds along the way and if sure which wire at tank is for the gauge you can very quickly ground it (best done thru a test light bulb and only for a second) to see if it will read full or empty. We already know the gauge is new and behaves like the last one so I'd rule that out right away. It's just not sending the proper signal or amount of ground.
Definitely not just so simple to find where or if the gauge itself is the problem which is possible but I'll venture that it's not the most likely in that it moves at all and can be correct or you think.
It's a pill in most everything to replace just the gauge in the dash but I wouldn't just jump to replacing the whole cluster of things! Not unless this was a flood car or something.
Better diagnosis and this shouldn't be the world.
For now and bet you do, just reset trip odometer so you know how far you have gone since known full - something I do in all cars by habit as if it kept reading full with a few hundred miles on it, it can't be right!
T
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intimadatorsquizz
Novice
Apr 12, 2010, 6:41 AM
Post #7 of 7
(5792 views)
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Re: erratic fuel gauge
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My 1999 Tahoe did the same thing. I took the cluster out and had it rebuilt. The oil leaked out of the fuel gauge motor and it was bouncing all over. Got it back good as new and no more bouncing fuel gauge.
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