Hey guys, I'm a newbie, finally registered tonight. I have a 2001 Silverado Ext. Cab, 4.8, with a lil over 195,000 miles on it. In the past I have come across a thread "SOMEWHERE" about my Low Fuel light situation but have yet to find it again.

My Low Fuel Light seems to have a mind of its own. It will from time to time come on by itself even if I have just filled the tank up completely. The Fuel gauge will also drop to E when the light comes on. It has been doing this for quite a while. My father has an '00 Tahoe that also does the same thing. I just wanted to get a lil input from you GM Masters. The light coming on/gauge dropping to E does not change the running of the truck either. Truck runs really great! Even with over 195,000 miles...I'm still getting a lil over 14 mpg...pulling a 5x10 lawn trailer around town and I usually do not keep my foot off the floor!

Any help would greatly be appreciated!

Doug

 

stepper motor goin bad maybe? Not sure never seen this myself.

 

I think its a faulty fuel level sensor.

 

Mine does it to, you can put it in nuetral and the gauge will try to move to where the fuel level really is. If your in park not going anywhere it will usally jump strait to empty after a while. And it will usally always be on empty when you have near a full tank.

 

same problem here, Im pretty sure the sender is going bad.

 

Yes, The sending Unit Is going Bad!!! Its integrated in with The Fuel Pump Assembly.

I have been told you can buy the sender unit sepratley, But since you have to pull the whole unit out Why not just replace the whole damn thing any way.

The other common thing Is the Plastic tube from the pump motor up to the top of the assembly springs a pin hole leak bleading off the pump pressure...

BTW, Pump out as much gas as you possibly can. Even on E there is still about 5 gallons or so in the tank to keep the pump submerged... Remeber Gas wieghs something like 7-8 pounds per Gallon. I forget the exact number but you get the Idea. I thought I was good when It was just getting to the E. BOY was I wrong.... I am not sure exactally how much was left in mine but It was some wear in the 80 -100 pound range and I did mine on the drive way with Jack stands and Floor Jack.

You can see in the picture I attached. There are little metal fingers on the float assembley. They either break off or get bent and no longer make proper contact with the switch. If I am not mistaken High resitance is full and low resistence is empty. So when there is no resistence from a defective Level it just goes to empty on the gauge...

 

sending units bad.
it happens in chevy trucks alot

 

yup sending unit is bad, mine has the same problem

 

Since it hasn't been mentioned yet. I think it's the sending unit going bad. Just change the whole pump while your in there.

 

I have A 01 Sierra C3 and it does the same thing only in park though after it's been idleing for a few minutes but rev the motor and the torque will actually make ur entire truck move so the fuel moves and it un F**ks itself back to normal haha.....i don't think it's worth replacing