2004 Malibu Gas Gauge Problem

[flr576]

Ok..Here's the deal, My fuel gauge reads full (no matter how much gas is in the car) when I first start it. After a min. or so it goes down to empty. It however did work correctly (I think) one time until I turned the car off again. I have been told that the sending unit is bad, but I want a second opinion. If this is indeed the problem, what has to be replaced?. The whole pump and all or just the sending unit. I was told that just the part would run about $600.00. Any help or advise will help. Thanks.

[wpbharry]

Nope. When the sending unit goes bad (actually, it's NOT the sending unit, it's the fuel tank being warped), as it did on my '04 Maxx, they have to replace the fuel tank. On mine, it always read 7/8, even when full. They also did some adjustment to the sending unit, I think.

Your problem, which I've read about, signals that something is likely amiss with the BCM (Body Control Module). Most folks have had this happen once, never to happen ever again.

You can do a search on "fuel guage" or "gas guage" in the Edmunds Town Hall (which has a LOT more posts about current-gen Malibus) forum " Malibu Problems and Solutions" to make sure I'm not delerious.

So far, this forum seems predominantly concerned with prior-gen Malibus, in part because they're really inexpensive on the used car market. But '04s are getting there...fast.