gas meter goes berserk

[stepside2k1s10]

when I start my truck, the gas meter goes back and forth rapidly between empty and full(rapidly as in once or twice while the engine is cranking) while the motor is turning over, then it goes to what is really in the tank. I'm thinking it is just interference from the spark plug wires and it is messing up just the gas meter. Anyone else notice this?:confused:

[XxInFaxX]

mine will do the same...dont know why, did it since i bought it from obi...*shrug*

[stepside2k1s10]

guess that's good news, as long as I'm not the only one who sees this.

[stumpy]

This happens in our 2000 gmc savanna 1500 series van, its the sending unit, which is in the fuel pump, which means you are going to have to replace it. Our pumps has got louder and now I believe its hesitating when I get on it because the pump is getting weaker and can't supply enough fuel on demand. About 300 bucks for the pump, more for labor, thats gonna be a nice bill.

[super67chevy2]

If you want to change the unit its pretty simple, Your Going to have to remove your bed though. Just remove your bed and find the unit (Which is on top & in the gas tank) and there is a ring around it holding down on the gas tank. use a screw driver to pry the ring away from the side tabs of the unit and just unhook the fuel and vapor line (there will be 3) I marked my lines which there is really no need. Then pull out the old unit, replace with the new. Be sure to line it up right in the tank, thats what took me so long. Button everything up and you should be done. Removing the bed isnt that bad (Just 8 Bolts and some grounds, dont forget to take out the tail lamps) also you'll have to remove the 3 phillip head screws from the gas tank filler. I belive Delphi (Which provides parts for new GM vehicles) make a nice replacment part cost me about $286 bucks though. But on the brightside I didnt pay jack for labor.

[stepside2k1s10]

looks like I got a weekend project ahead of me, now I can put the empty space in my backyard (used to be a little kiddie fort for one of my younger brothers) to good use. How many hours would you guys estimate this will take me?

[freeky192]

mine does the same thing but it never tells me what is actually in the tank i am saving my $300 and just resting my miles every time i fill i know i can go 300 miles on a tank and still have a little left in the tank so as soon as i hit 280 miles i look for a gas station. I guess i fix it when the pump goes bad knock on wood that wont happen ever.

[super67chevy2]

Well, if you really know your way around the s-10 it shouldnt take to long. If you have an impact wrench and a long extension that would help with the bed bolts. Its always good to invite a few buddies over to help out, they cant take over wrenching if you get tired or help lift off the bed. If you can get everything to go along well, and you know your s-10 im going to say 2 hours. But if you've never taken a bed off or changed anything real major, take the weekend off. it took me about 4 hours my first time, because I tried to take it out the through the bottom (Big mistake). Then I just said screw it and hit it hard again the next night. I had to tighten everything up that i had loosend, then take my bed off. It sounds like alot of work but it really isnt that hard. I decided to change mine because the excessive whinning and gauges going crazy was a good sign it was on its way out, so rather than get stuck on the side of the road I changed mine. $300 to keep my daily on the road was fine with me.

[freeky192]

my pump is not making any new noise and it has not gotten any louder if i start to notice any of those things then ill change it

[dub_SS]

could just be the gas as well...in my ss it does the same thing when i change the gas...(running an esso gas compared to a shell gas)

[stepside2k1s10]

does it go back and forth until you change back, or does it last temporarily? I always get my gas from one particular kwik trip.

[dub_SS]

it will work fine after about 50 km of driving...

[Texashorsepower]

I had the same thing happen in my 97' Blazer. Dealership traced it back to the gauge cluster after replacing the sending unit twice and having it keep on acting up. The fuel guage it's self was going bad. Well finally I had an answer - bad part is you can't just pull the guage cluster and replace the fuel gauge as I was told - The entire cluster get's replaced with a rebuilt unit set to your odometer reading. I know some dealerships can give you the run-around on this stuff but I worked at this one and the guys are like family so I take what they tell me as 100% truth. Hope this helps all of you find another possible answer to your troubles =-)




THP

[jjwalker]

If you are going to replace the sending unit, go ahead and replace the pump so you dont have to do it later. They are cheap anyway.

Oh and most GM fuel pumps get whiney for a while before they die. They can do it for a long time, or for a very short time, depends on how lucky you are.