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98 Silverado gas guage problems
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dplantz
Novice
Sep 2, 2005, 7:29 AM
Post #1 of 5
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98 Silverado gas guage problems
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98 Chevy Silverado, 305 V8 89k miles
My gas guage is terribly inaccurate, it reads 2/3 full even when i know it should be lower. I been driving it using the tripometer and filling up every 400 miles or so. Not sure how to start troubleshooting it. I know Chevys have a history of the fuel pump in the tank going out around 85-125k miles. I had to replace one in a 95 van i had and the mechanic told me this is common with Chevys. Do you think this is related? I dont want to spend approx $525 for a replacement unit to find out that was not the problem. I did crawl under there and it seems the wiring on the tank is in OK order, ( someone told me to check the ground wire) although I cannot really get my hand on the top of the tank to know for sure. Any ideas?
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DanD
Veteran
/ Moderator
Sep 4, 2005, 12:28 AM
Post #2 of 5
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Re: 98 Silverado gas guage problems
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It’s probably the tank unit that’s gone bad and all though it’s attached to the pump assembly I believe you can replace the sender without buying the complete assembly.
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 4, 2005, 7:52 AM
Post #3 of 5
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Re: 98 Silverado gas guage problems
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You should be able to inplug the wire to the sender at the tank - fuel should read empty. It would be a way to improve the odds and wether the sender or dash unit is the trouble.
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DanD
Veteran
/ Moderator
Sep 4, 2005, 10:47 AM
Post #4 of 5
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Re: 98 Silverado gas guage problems
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Actually Tom If he unplugs the fuel tank sender the gauge will (Or should) go to the full mark (high resistance) but if he would ground out the purple wire at the sender the gauge should go to the empty mark.
This is with the ignition in the run position.
A word of caution though if you are going to try and ground the purple wire, do it only long enough for the gauge to reach empty. It should only take a couple of seconds to get there any longer you could cause damage to the cluster due to the high current flow.
Dan.
Below is taken from a GM service manual.
Gauge Description
Fuel Gauge
The fuel gauge is an electrical instrument that measures an electrical current from a variable resistor in the fuel tank. A float controls the variable resistance.
When the fuel tank is full, the resistance is high. Then, the fuel gauge moves to the maximum position (Full) on the gauge face. For diagnostic information, refer to Instrument Cluster System Check .
Fuel Gauge Sender
The fuel gauge sender attaches to the top of the fuel tank. A cam lock ring retains the sender. The tank and the sender uses a seal between them.
The sender has two or three pipes attached to hoses. One pipe is for the fuel feed line. The second pipe connects to the vapor canister. The third pipe is a fuel return line to the fuel tank.
Some senders use a short pigtail connector lead. On other senders, the connector attaches directly to the sender. For diagnostic information, refer to Instrument Cluster System Check
Canadian "EH"
(This post was edited by DanD on Sep 4, 2005, 10:50 AM)
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dplantz
Novice
Sep 6, 2005, 6:22 AM
Post #5 of 5
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Re: 98 Silverado gas guage problems
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thanks for the tips guys, I am currently out of state on business, when I get back I will try these and let you know
-D
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