92 caprice classic...

When i turn and have 1/2 - 1/4 tank of gasoline, the engine cuts out, or dies completely...I dont mean evasive manuevers here i mean turning onto another street etc. What could be the problem? Also the gas gauge is funny...looks like is too full upon filling (needle goes up past top and out of site), then occasionally works somewhat, boucing sometimes, as well as dropping to show gas level then raisin back to top and out of site again...fortunately, when 1/2 tank or less the neddle usually stays down on correct reading. Any help is appreciated..
Scott

Wassup man. I also have a 92 Caprice that does the same thing. I'm no mechanic but I heres what I think. We are rolling on a 21 gallon tank. The tank is long and skinny. When it gets half empty (mines actually does it at about 1/4, but not all the time) and you turn, all the gas momentarily moves to one side of the tank,away from the outlet which goes to the engine, which would cause the engine cutting out or what I call a "stall". Depending on how hard you turn and for what amount of time your turning, it could cause it to die, because gas is not getting to the engine.

The gas gauge problem is related to the same thing. Because of the shape of the tank and however the sensor is setup on the inside, when space gets in the tank, the gas moves and swishes around. I notice when I brake, the gauge moves one way and when I take off it moves the other, Same way with going up and down hills. Only when you are stopped or driving on level ground will you get an accurate reading. So that has to do with however the gauge or sensor is set up inside the tank to measure the gas.

The gauge rising to the top beyond the top line? I chalk that up as they drew the top line wrong.

Overall, I don't think it hurts performance or the engine. I've owned mine for almost 5 years. The stalling probably looks like your shifting a manual to other drivers. The dying out is what I have a slight-problem with because it's embarrassing, especially in mid-turn. But no biggie.

Now what you may want to do is change out your fuel filter. You can get one for no more than $10 and do it yourself. It's located on the passenger side rear somewhere around the wheelwell. After I changed mine, the stalling and dying out happens alot less.

BUT!! I say again, I'm not a mechanic, I'm just going off experience. Somebody else will either back what I'm saying or make me look like a complete idiot. But I think I'm right.

Good luck man

dirt & water

anyone interested in a 92 classic, white (old ladies car, literally) has almost 50k on it, 305, a few small dings (she liked mailboxes) but otherwise pristine shape...asking $3500 well worth it too...

Where are you located?

Several possibilities:

You have trash in the tank clogging the pickup

Your in-tank fuel pump is weak/failing (very possible if the car ran out of gas more than once or twice)

The fuel pump/sending unit assembly was incorrectly installed.

The proposed fix:
Run it as low on gas as you can, and remove the tank from the car. Remove and replace the fuel pickup/pump/sending unit assembly with a new one.

Install the new unit "correctly" and reinstall the tank.

That would solve a bunch of problems. Good luck

I had my sending unit replaced recently when I had my gas tank replaced. The tank was so old it was leaking at the seams. Replaced tank and sending unit. The sending unit was expensive; the cheapest one I found was $320 and the one I got was $458 (my situation was time sensitive, so I couldn't wait for cheaper unit to ship; expensive one was from local Chevy dealer). So if you are going to buy a sending unit, be prepared to pony up the cash.

Where are you located?

sorry i didnt watch the forum...
have since sold the car and replaced with a 2005 Tundra Double cab...
never own another GM...
toyota and honda are by far more reliable...