Hey guys....I seem to be busy in the truck section today. Made a post earlier about idle issues with my neighbors truck. Anyway, now I need help on my friends 2000 GMC Sierra. It has the 5.3L and is an ext. cab 2wd. His fuel gauge is acting up. He starts the truck, the gauge moves up to where it should be or close to it...then drops all the way down to "E"..then a few seconds later will jump back up to where it was before. After that, it either works fine from that point on or it will sometimes act up repeatedly. Now, I had a similar issue with my 98 Camaro and it was the fuel sending unit. The car was under warranty at the time..so no big deal to me. However, his truck is not under warranty. I called a dealer that I semi-trust and they told me that it sounded like the fuel sending unit to them as well. So, 1)do you guys agree that its probably the fuel sending unit, and 2)if so, how difficult is it to drop the fuel tank on these trucks and change out the sender? He isn't a enthusiast so he doesn't know alot about cars and trucks....so I will have to help him with the change out if its something that can be done with limited tools. Thanks for reading and for any help.

 

1 - yup, I agree...

2 - I don't believe it's THAT hard, but it's not something I'd look forward to doing. I'll let the guys who have dropped them, chime in on this.

I wanted to note, that from what I remember, everyone will try to sell you a complete sending unit. I thought I recall finding a place that sold the exact part that causes this problem... the resistor or the sensor for A LOT less than a new complete sending unit.

This is back in '00 that I was researchin this before I traded the faulty truck in for another. I'll have to dig around to get this info again.

 

hey, thanks....any info you can give me....especially money saving info would be greatly appreciated.

 

Sounds like sending unit.

I just dropped my tank twice last weekend, i am pro now. lol

It's not really as much hard as it is pain in the ***. No biggie tho, make sure to get as much fuel outa the tank as u can or it will be heavy. If you look under there, u will see how to drop it. Have ur buddy help you out with it.

1: disconnect fuel fill hose
2. Disconnect Fuel and vent line from the top/front of the tank (bleed fuel pressure before doin this or ur gonna get a gas shower)
3. Disconnect evap connection (i think thats what it is)
4. Unbolt the two straps (get ur buddy to hold the tank up)
5. Slowly drop the tank, about halfway disconnect the two electrical connections.
6. Nock the retaining ring loose with a hammer and punch, and then pull the module out.
7. Replace the sender, and repeat steps in reverse.

Nate