I've dealt with this for a while, but kinda want to fix it. My gas gauge currently doesn't work and always reads as empty. I can use the odometer as a guess, and just fill up when trip hits 200 miles. I would however like a more reliable way to know. I'm not able/willing to drop the tank for this slight inconvenience. Is there any quick fixes out there that may have a chance at solving this problem?

 

Only way to remedy it would involve dropping the tank... sorry...

I've heard of ground issues in the pump harness causing erratic fuel level readings, that requires dropping the tank to get to the harness and check continuity...

Most likely cause, the level sensor on the side of the pump is shot. This happened to my 04. I ended up dropping the tank and replacing the level sending unit which worked great and I was excited!... only to have the pump go out completely one week later, to the day... So keep that in mind if you want to try and replace just the sending unit, consider going ahead and replacing the entire pump assembly so you won't be dropping the tank twice like me...

In the picture below is the arm that has the float on it in the tank. The little metal tabs shown contact the sending unit and swipe across it, which then sends the signal to the computer and shows on your gauge. Notice the one on the left has clean, fully intact metal contact prongs. The one on the right, my original, not so much... they just swiped so much over the years that they wore themselves off...




The first time I dropped the tank, I was on my back in the driveway...





When the pump went out a week later, I used a lift at work lol made it MUCH easier... still a PITA though...

 

Being a collage student money is always in short supply. I can't afford a name brand pump like ACDelco, and I would defiantly rather only drop the tank once. When I looked at the pumps on rock auto it looked like they had the sensor included with them, is this true? Has anyone had experience with after market versions? If I have to put a couple $100 into this I'd rather just deal with using the odometer, haven't ran out of gas yet. Closest I got was 2 gallons left in tank, but I also went over 300 miles on the trip.

There is a friend of the family though that has a car lift and every tool I could ever imagine. If he is available to help me drop the tank I might just do it over spring break.

 

Yes a new pump assembly will come with a level sending unit

 

Going thru same ****...


Is dropping the tank a PITA?
was planning to do this in my driveway...


any tips?

 

Looking at RockAuto...they got AC Delco pump (MU1733) for $150...I'm assuming that's everything needed right?
Advance Auto down the street has exact same pump for $320...smh..

 

If you are going to drop the tank don't waste you money on a cheap pump, unless you want to replace them frequently. There is a way to get to the pump without dropping the tank, but it involves cutting a hole in the floor of your blazer. I wouldn't not recommend this since there is a gas tank below.

 

Agreed. If it's just a dead gas gauge and the pump is still functioning, I would suggest waiting and ordering a good Delphi pump so that when you do put it in, the truck is set for another 15+ years. Mine left me stranded so I didn't have the luxury of ordering the Delphi pump that I wanted to, so had to source one locally, cost me about $260 from a local parts store, lifetime warranty at least, but from a brand that I don't particularly care for so chances are I'll be in the tank again at some point...

LOL well yeah there's always that route I suppose...



Honestly dropping the tank really isn't all that hard, it's just time consuming to do it right and reassemble everything correctly. Making sure you don't bend too far and kink the hard plastic lines, making sure the O-ring sits properly for the pump on the tank, so on and so forth... After the 2nd time, I can drop my tank in probably 15 minutes lol. The hardest part about doing it in the driveway (aside from laying on your back...) is getting the truck high enough to get the tank out once you drop it.

 

So what pump is best recommended...Delphi or AC Delco?


Looking at RockAuto Delphi pumps and it says something about different pin connectors?


Whats that about?

 

I hear most people have the best luck with Delphi, but I also haven't done any more research on it since when I put the pump in my 04 :P

There's an updated plug that comes with some, requires cutting off the original one on the harness and attaching the plug they supply. They give crimp connectors and heat shrink in the box for the plug swap, I would highly recommend soldering and heat shrink though if you have to change the plug. I think it depends on the year of the vehicle. My 04 (although not a Delphi fuel installed) came with the new plug, but it was the same plug my 04 already had, so I didn't have to do any cutting and splicing. But that may not be the case for say an 01 and the plug may have to be changed. I'm sure someone could chime in and tell the facts about that.