Gas gauge reading wrong
 

Just a quick question, my gas gauge reads half and then barely goes down and all of a sudden it's goes to empty... This isn't a sign that the fuel pump is going out is it?

my guess would be sending unit. but on most 2nd gen trucks the sending unit & pump is one assembly and you have to replace the entire part. i've also heard that an unaccurate gas gauge can mean a slowly dieing fuel pump. one or the other but like i said if you gotta replace both of them because they're one part you're killing 2 birds with 1 stone.

:icon_ditto:

Yes they are one unit, I've heard it could mean a dying fuel pump also. Just wanted another opinion.

I recently bought a 2002 ZR2 with the same problem so I used the same fix we use on the Corvettes that misread the sensors. Get some Chevron Techron Plus and start pouring a can in with each fill up for about 3 to 4 fill ups and the problem usually resolves itself. It fixed my ZR2 in 3 fill ups.
You have to use the Techron Plus occasionally after that to keep the sensors clean. Good Luck.

I was going to say the same thing. The fuel level is measured by a simple rheostat. The exposed contacts are vulnerable to dirt / water etc that may find its way into the gas tank. I'd be willing to guess an eraser and some alcohol to the contacts would work wonders.

From the fuel level sending units that I have seen, an eraser won't do much to help them read correctly. All of the ones that I have seen that were bad had the "fingers" (contacts that swipe up and down on the rheostat grid) broken off of them.

As far as whether that is a sign that the pump is about to go, that is pretty hit or miss.