Beware of crazy fuel gage!

[sprucegoose]

Over the last couple of months I noticed my fuel gage in my 98 Tahoe acting strange. When I filled up, the gage would stay above the full mark for increasingly longer mileage. When we left for our vacation last week to SC, it was reaching all time highs. I noted once that I drove for almost 300 mi. before it went below the full mark, and then it really screams down after that point!

Well, to make a long story short, the fuel pump died once we reached our destination. Fortunately it wasn't in the middle of the Smoky Mts. somewhere! Was able to get it started again by banging on the tank while someone else cranked it over after several tries. I had it replaced at a local GMC garage down there for a tune of $530 including a new retaining ring (which was corroded beyond saving) and a new filter. When talking to the service manager he mentioned that quite often the sending unit for the gage (which is part of the fuel pump module) begins acting up before the pump goes.

Another thing that accelerates the failure is driving with less than 1/4 tank of gas on a regular basis, which my wife loves to do! Especially since the gage started acting up I'm sure this was a factor. She has been driving this truck primarily now, since I bought my Eldorado.

So, keep an eye on your gas gage, change your fuel filter regularly (at least every 30K mi.), and you'll make the pump last much longer. I have 147K on my truck now, and I attribute the pump lasting this long because of good preventative maintenence.

[PowDuck]

Good tip to watch out for. I've replaced the pump assy. in my daughter's '96 Tahoe and my other daughter's '00 Sunfire. They ain't cheap! I'll keep an eye on the guage in my '00 Tahoe for quirky behavior.

[bretzg]

Just curious if your fuel pump was noisy or noisier before it died. I have a 1999 with 80,000 miles on it and my fuel pump has always made a loud whining noise since I got it 10,000 miles ago. The dealer says they all do that and not to worry. I've had a lot of cars and trucks and never heard one this loud. It doesn't matter if it's full of gas or empty.

[sprucegoose]

No, mine never got noisey at all. A friend of mine has a son who had his pump replaced when it failed, and the replacement was excessively noisy. It was driving him crazy so he took it back to the dealer because it ws covered under warranty, and the next one wasn't nearly as bad. Not sure why that first one was so loud. Will try and find out...

[bretzg]

Thanks and I might try another dealership here in town to see what they say before my extended warranty goes out and then the pump takes a dive as that's the way it usually works.