Hunting gas gauge

[Bobby56]

My 2000 5.3 Silverado recently began doing this: at idle, the gas gauge will drop below zero regardless of how much fuel is on board. When I put it in drive and get underway the gauge will return to the correct amount.
What's up?

[Bobby56]

Okay, after more searching here I learned how common this problem is. What's the current thinking, pull the bed or drop the tank? And are there any new sources for pump and sending unit?

[rjeffery]

Pump and sending unit are one unit. Definitly go with OEM, I paid around $300 for mine. I dropped the tank which wasn't too bad, took about 1/2 a day. I didn't have the equipment or the help to pull the bed, and didn't want to mess with realigning it or possibly damaging it.

[harryd2]

Bobby, I had a similiar problem with my Silverado. My gas guage would not show anything. I need to replace the sensor within the gas pump. I opted to buy the entire pump ($300.00). I installed the pump by removing the bed. There were 6 bolts holding the bed in place, very easy to access and remove. You will need help moving the bed from the truck frame. My son and I moved mine. Once the bed has been removed the gas pump is right there in front of you. It also was easy to remove and replace. My Silverado has a 6' bed. I don't know if 8' beds have more bolts holding the bed down. I also have a Haynes repair manual I used to help guide me through the process. If you don't have a repair manual I would suggest you buy one. They are not 100% accurate but do provide good and important information.

[masapell]

One quick question about removing the bed: I have a bedliner. Does this need to be removed, or do you just access the bolts from below?

Sincerely,
Matt

[harryd2]

The bolts have the rounded head. Directly under the bolt head is the square portion that fits into the square notch within the bed. Then comes the threaded part of the bolt. You take the nuts off from under the bed. You can remov the bed with the liner in place but if the bolts pop out of their holes under the liner then you will have to remove the liner to reposition the bolts.

[masapell]

Originally Posted by harryd2

The bolts have the rounded head. Directly under the bolt head is the square portion that fits into the square notch within the bed. Then comes the threaded part of the bolt. You take the nuts off from under the bed. You can remov the bed with the liner in place but if the bolts pop out of their holes under the liner then you will have to remove the liner to reposition the bolts.

Gotcha! Thanks for the info.

Sincerely,
Matt

[BlenderWizard]

Originally Posted by harryd2

The bolts have the rounded head. Directly under the bolt head is the square portion that fits into the square notch within the bed. Then comes the threaded part of the bolt. You take the nuts off from under the bed. You can remov the bed with the liner in place but if the bolts pop out of their holes under the liner then you will have to remove the liner to reposition the bolts.

So, are you saying they're carriage bolts, or did I read that wrong?

[harryd2]

yes they are carrage bolts.