I have a 96 Chevy 1500. The gas gauge is messed up well the floater on it. It says I have a full tank but actually have half a tank. Where do I begin to find out what the problem is and fix it?

Asked by alleykat Feb 14, 2012 at 04:12 PM about the 1996 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Cheyenne 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

8 Answers

735

sounds like you need a new fuel level sender, its part of the fuel pump so save your pennies

3 people found this helpful.
355

yeah, sounds, like fuel sender in the tank - in 1996, it was a transistion year - may have to replace the whole unit with the fuel pump - or may not. One some this year model - you can replace only the sender unit. You will have to gain access to the tank unit. Check the connections - this is a problem as well. You can remove the unit and have someone watch the gauge as you move the sender up and down to help verify the problem - or simply OHM the unit to verify the problem. Could be the gauge cluster itself or broken wire between the two..

4 people found this helpful.
115

Pretty sure its the sender unit. I had the same problem on my truck, but mine was a 95.

3 people found this helpful.
735

oh, its usually also a sign that your fuel pump is on its way out

2 people found this helpful.
145

Be careful the wire hook up on the pumps are easy to snap when lowering the tank. i find it easyer to just pull the bed back

1 people found this helpful.
215

I would just be prepared to replace the whole pump because I am sure it is all one unit. Get a A/C Delco pump and new lock ring with O-Ring made on it. If not the tank may not seal around pump and you will know it when you fill the tank.

3 people found this helpful.
140

same problem here with my truck but the gauge still does not work , after replacing the pump and sending unit 2 times ,

14 people found this helpful.
50

Well this sucks.. put a newer fuel pump in my truck with my overhaul I did.. guy I got it from was such an ass.. I have put over $3,000 into a truck worth 1200 that I bought for $2,000 cus the shit he did was temporary until it broke I saw things held together with zip ties.. now my fuel gauge has been off for years but its getting worse.. I ran out of gas when it said 1/4 and so I put 10gal into my 26gal tank and it says 1/2 is there anything I can do to fix it.. I can't take it back cus fuel pump is past warranty.. please email me mayrmaverick8@gmail.com

5 people found this helpful.

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