2001 Silverado Erratic Fuel Gauge

[Murphster05]

Hello All,

I have a 2001 Silverado 5.3L 4WD. About 40k miles ago the fuel pump decided it didn't want to work anymore, so it got replaced. Now, my fuel gauge is out of its mind. I have read that it could be a sending unit, or it could be an issue with the gauges. I checked the invoice, I got an Airtex fuel pump, which is apparently not as desirable sadly. Is there a way to check where the problem might be? Is there a way to somehome diagnose if it is the sending unit or the gauge cluster without spendind a couple hundred bucks at a shop?

Thank you for your help / thoughts.

[j cAT]

if you have an airtex pump that lasted 40,ooomi you are very lucky.

on the fuel pressure guage. if you hit the bottom of the tank directly under the fuel pump and the gauge starts jumping or then reads the correct amount , then this would be the fuel pump.

I would replace this anyway and install a delphi or ac delco fuel pump.

it is all in one. pump/fuel sender/evap pressure sender.

with the truck bed , remove the bed. remove bolts [8] then lift rear bed portion 1.5inches. then unbolt 6 bumper bolts and remove bumper. disconnect fuel filller studs and the rear lighting connectors . slide the bed back 2 ft. not all that hard a one man job.

[Murphster05]

J cat - thanks for the feedback. When I called the shop that installed it, and based on a google search for the part number, the fuel pump is the airtex, bummed to hear that it is such a pile. So far, it is still pumping fuel, but sounds like it could quit at any second based on this information... I will check tapping the fuel gauge to see if that is the cause, would be nice to know regardless before changing anything up.

Again, thanks for the diagnoses help.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Murphster05

J cat - thanks for the feedback. When I called the shop that installed it, and based on a google search for the part number, the fuel pump is the airtex, bummed to hear that it is such a pile. So far, it is still pumping fuel, but sounds like it could quit at any second based on this information... I will check tapping the fuel gauge to see if that is the cause, would be nice to know regardless before changing anything up.

Again, thanks for the diagnoses help.

sorry to hear that you did not instruct the repair shop on using the reliable fuel pump. I hope you have some sort of warrantee .

since the pump is loud I would have them replace it . it is defective . It is going to fail in a short amount of time.

thanks for the up date.