Crazy gas gauge

6452 Views 19 Replies 9 Participants Last post by NickD, Aug 1, 2013

custer3_5

Discussion Starter · Jul 8, 2013

As I was driving home tonight from work my gas gauge went crazy on me. I knew I had about a half tank left. Within my last 7 miles or so my gauge bounced around from 3/4 to 1/4. It did this till I got home. When I pulled into the driveway and turned it off and back on again it was reading half a tank again. Has anybody had an issue like this before? It's a 2013 lt btw

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jblackburn

· #2 · Jul 8, 2013

May be the beginning signs of your battery cable going bad. Or just a bad connection to the float.

Either way, an electrical issue. It won't be able to be fixed under warranty unless you can make it happen again somehow.

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custer3_5

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 8, 2013

I have to take the car to the dealership tomorrow regardless. Somebody ran into my rear bumper so I need to get a quote on it. I also need to show them the ruber on one of the doors is messed up and on my shifter

custer3_5

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 9, 2013 (Edited)

2

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Red Automotive tire

I had quite a few errands to run today so i didn't get to the dealership till about 3:30. The whole time I was driving the gas gauge was all over the place. I go into their office and they said it would be 2 weeks before they can even look at it. They said they have never heard of it happening and said its prolly electrical. I just hope it's a quick and easy fix. As for the damage that was done to my bumper they said it would be $500 to fix it. Compares to wat some people have paid to fix a little bit of damage I didn't think that was to bad. They said they would just sand it down and repaint it. Here is a few pics

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Chevy Customer Care

· #5 · Jul 9, 2013

Hey custer3_5

If you feel like you need to get this checked out sooner I would be happy to locate another dealer in your area. I would suggest that you request a road test of your vehicle with both yourself and the Service Manager in your car so you can demonstrate the concern you are experiencing. This way, before anyone exits the car, it is perfectly clear what you are referring to. The Service Manager then can provide you with his/her recommendation regarding the concern. Please keep us updated. I hope you are enjoying your summer!

Jackie
Chevrolet Customer Care

obermd

· #6 · Jul 9, 2013

custer3_5 said:
View attachment 16874 I had quite a few errands to run today so i didn't get to the dealership till about 3:30. The whole time I was driving the gas gauge was all over the place. I go into their office and they said it would be 2 weeks before they can even look at it. They said they have never heard of it happening and said its prolly electrical. I just hope it's a quick and easy fix. As for the damage that was done to my bumper they said it would be $500 to fix it. Compares to wat some people have paid to fix a little bit of damage I didn't think that was to bad. They said they would just sand it down and repaint it. Here is a few pics

Two weeks is unacceptable. One of the possible sources of this is a faulty fuel pump and you don't want to be stalled somewhere because the fuel pump has failed. Take Jackie up on her offer. Also, let her know which dealership told you two weeks. GM needs to know this information. Two weeks for the body damage is annoying but not a potential drivability issue.

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custer3_5

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 1, 2013

I'm sorry that I haven't replied to the answers I have got. I have been really busy with my 3 year old our husky and work.

Im gonna go off subject for a minute. There is a seat cover that fits the back seat really well. I only paid 10 bucks for it and it is stain resistant and water proof. Works really well with our son and dog. It is worth every penny.

Now back to the gas gauge. They had my car for more than 30 hours. Not a big deal. I have a second vehicle. They said that they went through all if the wires, fuses, and relays. They said they couldn't find anything wrong. So they said that they were just gonna put in a new fuel pump to see if that helps. To me that sounds like they are not even sure if that's gonna work.

As for the rear bumper I still have no idea what's gonna happen with that. It's probably gonna have to come out of my pocket.

As for the service that I recived there. Well let's just say they need better people skills. That goes for both the service department and the salesmen. Maybe that has to do with my apprence though. I work in a freezer where the temp is between -7 and -20 so I have a beard and fairly long hair.

If you are in SW VA I can tell you which dealerships not to go to. And I could advise a couple that are nice.

Ok I'm done ranting for now. Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

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custer3_5

Discussion Starter · #8 · Aug 1, 2013

I also have a video of my gas gauge but I don't know how to post it from my phone. Can someone tell me how to do that.

obermd

· #9 · Aug 1, 2013

When you posted before my first thought was a faulty sensor on the fuel pump - I've seen those go out before (in other cars) and they really do make the gauge go nuts and even lie to you about how much gas you really have before they finally fail.

Mick

· #10 · Aug 1, 2013

You'll have to upload it to you tube and then link the video here. Be sure you select make available to mobile users.
To upload it, you'll select the video tab (next to the smileys) and paste the video url.
Let us know if you have problems.

This happened to me maybe once or twice over a year ago but never happened again. Hope that fixes your issue.

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custer3_5

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 1, 2013 (Edited)

Mick said:
You'll have to upload it to you tube and then link the video here. Be sure you select make available to mobile users.
To upload it, you'll select the video tab (next to the smileys) and paste the video url.
Let us know if you have problems.

This happened to me maybe once or twice over a year ago but never happened again. Hope that fixes your issue.

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

first off thank you for that. And second I really like the signature. Lmao. Anyways I hope this link works.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScENVeOeuJg

H3LLON3ARTH

· #12 · Aug 1, 2013 (Edited)

custer3_5 said:
And second I really like the signature.

Heres how you get a Sig.
http://www.cruzetalk.com/forum/9-ch...um/14079-official-sig-request-how-thread.html

Is the light on indicating its low on fuel it looks like its on.

obermd

· #13 · Aug 1, 2013

My Montana did that. It was a faulty instrument cluster.

custer3_5

Discussion Starter · #14 · Aug 1, 2013

H3LLON3ARTH said:
Is the light on indicating its low on fuel it looks like its on.

For some reason it didn't come on the day that I recorded that. But usually it does. And it does mess with the fuel range too

H3LLON3ARTH

· #15 · Aug 1, 2013

custer3_5 said:
For some reason it didn't come on the day that I recorded that. But usually it does. And it does mess with the fuel range too

These are things you need to bring up with the service writer when you take into your dealer for repair this is useful information to help them figure stuff out.

Reactions: 1

custer3_5

Discussion Starter · #16 · Aug 1, 2013

obermd said:
My Montana did that. It was a faulty instrument cluster.

H3LLON3ARTH said:
These are things you need to bring up with the service writer when you take into your dealer for repair this is useful information to help them figure stuff out.

I wonder if it could be the instrument cluster.
And when I went in I showed him the video and explained it in detail as well as I could.

Reactions: 2

Rusty Shackleford

· #17 · Aug 1, 2013

It's hard to tell from the pic but it looks like just paint transfer on your bumper. You can try a clay bar first. If not look at Autozone and see if they sell Meguiars 105 or 205 polish. If it is just paint transfer you can probably make it look 90% better with some elbow grease and a microfiber towel/polish.

mattjt21

· #18 · Aug 1, 2013

@custer you were saying something about a 10 dollar rear seat cover?

custer3_5

Discussion Starter · #19 · Aug 1, 2013

Rusty Shackleford said:
It's hard to tell from the pic but it looks like just paint transfer on your bumper. You can try a clay bar first. If not look at Autozone and see if they sell Meguiars 105 or 205 polish. If it is just paint transfer you can probably make it look 90% better with some elbow grease and a microfiber towel/polish.

mattjt21 said:
@custer you were saying something about a 10 dollar rear seat cover?

Unfortunately the plastic on the bumper is a little trashed. Dealer said they could sand it down tho.
And the seat cover is pretty awesome. The only thing I don't like about it, the color is tan. But it's stain proof and water proof. It's kinda rough material tho. But my son is still in a car seat so I don't have any complaints from him. I am pretty sure I got it from Walmart. I think pet smart has them too. Just cost a little more.

NickD

· #20 · Aug 1, 2013

What about raising ten kids and having as many as five dogs at a time? Then with as many as ten pups to care and clean up, but nearly as bad as cleaning and feeding 75 cows.

So lets get back to your fuel gauge, totally independent of either the fuel pump, just the fuel sender. And also completely independent of your fuel used, miles left, and instant or average miles per gallon. Also independent of that low fuel light that is a separate thermistor at near the bottom of the tank. When that light comes on, tells you if have two gallons left. Not good for that to come on or even drive with a near empty tank, fuel pump is dependent on gas in the tank for cooling.

In my book a quarter full tank is an empty tank.

With the DIC displays information is fed in by the tach, Vss, and the injector dwell into a computer algorithm. With the fuel gauge, starts off with the sender, can't say much about that, used to be far more reliable self cleaning nichrome wire wound rheostat. That has been replaced by a ten cent thick film resistor with super tiny contact tabs. And far susceptible to moisture and ethanol damage. And to replace it, the tank has to be drained and removed. Could have added a cheap access plate.

And this variable resistance data goes into the BCM with flashram firmware that has a lookup table to improve accuracy, then since this data is digital at this point, converted to analog with an A to D converter, through an amplifier that finally drives the meter.

Yes there is room for error and can be any of these components. Then if you dealer hired a mechanic good at changing mufflers, he may be just a tad too short of knowledge to find the exact cause. But at least should be familiar enough to replace all this stuff. That is how vehicles are repaired today. But heaven help you when the warranty runs out.

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