fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

stefan · 11-22-2010, 02:45 AM

hey guys my 03 silverado has a problem where the fuel gauge works sometimes and most of the time doesnt,i wqs just wondering if i could get some ideas on what it could be,someone said a sending unit is it possible to change just the sending unit or do i have to change the whole pump and all.thanks for any help

rwolf9653 · 11-22-2010, 01:08 PM

I would start with checking the wiring for bad spots or connections. Then move on and make sure everything is grounded properly. It sounds like you have a wire rubbing or something rather than a bad sending unit.

sub-purbs · 12-04-2010, 03:46 AM

it might be your stepper motor going bad in your instrument cluster. I had to fix it on my 04 chevy, half my guages quit working, including my fuel guage. When your fuel guage isn't working, does your low fuel light still come on? if so, sending unit is probably ok. good luck

**truckdude239** · 12-04-2010, 08:16 AM

probley the custer going out happends alot on these trucks

southbounddee · 12-14-2010, 06:22 PM

my cluster stop working as well, has anyone changed one????....

sub-purbs · 12-14-2010, 09:24 PM

I did mine on my 04 duramax...kinda. I bought a repair through ebay. I took it off and mailed to the guy, he replaced all the motors and lights and mailed it back. it was like $100 with shipping. took a couple weeks. I still drove my truck with no cluster.

southbounddee · 12-15-2010, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sub-purbs

I did mine on my 04 duramax...kinda. I bought a repair through ebay. I took it off and mailed to the guy, he replaced all the motors and lights and mailed it back. it was like $100 with shipping. took a couple weeks. I still drove my truck with no cluster.

sounds good what's that guys info??

sub-purbs · 12-15-2010, 07:45 PM

I couldn't find the info on the guy I used. If you go to ebay and search "chevy instrument repair" you'll get a whole list of people that do it. I went with someone who had done a lot and had 100% positive feed back. Be careful, some of the auctions are for the parts only and a tutorial on HOW to do it. good luck

**truckdude239** · 12-16-2010, 01:59 AM

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories

C10-Driver · 12-16-2010, 03:26 AM

I had a similar problem on my '03. I had cluster problems also but the issue with the fuel gauge turned out to be a bad sending unit.

johndawelder · 01-16-2011, 03:51 PM

I replaced ALL the stepper motors on my 04' silverado.I did them myself,took me about an hour and a half.Fairly easy though.

kSStamp0182 · 01-16-2011, 04:03 PM

if you go through the hell of replacing the SU id replace the pump too lol. but my '01 gauge is like a couple days late (like if i fill up it will take a couple of days before it shows full) but my "low fuel" warning will still light up if the gauge shows low (even tho there is fuel in the tank)
is this what yours does too? and would yall think this was my SU or cluster? all other gauges work fine, an sorry not tryina hijack just been meanin to ask on here an seein this reminded me.

60ratrod · 01-18-2011, 09:02 PM

i replaced the level sensor on my 01 tahoe because the gauge would read intermitently. fixed the intermitent read problem, but now it doesn't read all the way full so i just watch my trip od and fill at about every 250 mi. this up coming oil change i'm gonna drop my tank back down to see if i didn't f*** something up when i dropped it back in. my next step will be a pump. but by the description it sounds like its your fuel level sensor. and according to my dad they tend to do this at about 100k-150k, and he's been a gm tech since the dawn of time

southbounddee · 01-19-2011, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johndawelder

I replaced ALL the stepper motors on my 04' silverado.I did them myself,took me about an hour and a half.Fairly easy though.

how much $$$ did that run you?

foxhole · 01-20-2011, 12:48 AM

the sending units use a sort of printed circut which the arm of the float rides against. the printed circit on the card in the sending unit corrods and you loose contact in sections of it and the guage intermitently dropps to empty. usually worse when its full.

Maxxd07 · 01-20-2011, 01:36 AM

I put my money on the sending unit, more common than the stepper motors. Replaced lots of these when I worked at a Chev dealership.

pamoffa · 02-03-2011, 02:31 AM

The intermittant aspect sounds like another post (the sending units use a sort of printed circut which the arm of the float rides against. the printed curcuit on the card in the sending unit corrods and you loose contact in sections of it and the guage intermitently drops to empty. usually worse when its full) . I had a problem with my buick regal gas gage as well it was all over the place, I replaced the pump. The unit I took out had a really loose fuel level sensoring unit, the rivet that held it close to the cuircuit board wasn't so good, it wasn't making contact with the dam circuit board all the time. can they make it any cheeper. it seems that if you have to get in there anyways it only make sense to replace the entire pump which may include the fuel gage sensor. my regal had about 180k during the repair

jimjimjim · 02-07-2012, 11:27 PM

Costs about $30 bucks to get all of the stepper motors, maybe a little less. Some guys will throw in some dash bulbs as well. I followed the directions at http://usedcarsit.com/content/chevro...rument-cluster and did mine in an hour or so.

11-22-2010, 02:45 AM	#1
stefan New Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: texas Posts: 118	fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado hey guys my 03 silverado has a problem where the fuel gauge works sometimes and most of the time doesnt,i wqs just wondering if i could get some ideas on what it could be,someone said a sending unit is it possible to change just the sending unit or do i have to change the whole pump and all.thanks for any help

11-22-2010, 01:08 PM	#2
rwolf9653 more ideas than money Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: spring grove, pa Posts: 1,068	Re: fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado I would start with checking the wiring for bad spots or connections. Then move on and make sure everything is grounded properly. It sounds like you have a wire rubbing or something rather than a bad sending unit. __________________ Randy 1948 Chevy 3100 5 window 1966 Chevy C30 Dually 1967 Chevy K10 1972 Chevy K20 1972 Chevy C10 1972 Chevy K5 Blazer 1987 Chevy V10 2003 Chevy Suburban

12-04-2010, 03:46 AM	#3
sub-purbs Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: gilbert, az Posts: 21	Re: fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado it might be your stepper motor going bad in your instrument cluster. I had to fix it on my 04 chevy, half my guages quit working, including my fuel guage. When your fuel guage isn't working, does your low fuel light still come on? if so, sending unit is probably ok. good luck

12-04-2010, 08:16 AM	#4
truckdude239 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lewisville, Nc Posts: 10,238	Re: fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado probley the custer going out happends alot on these trucks __________________ David fuller Ase Certified Mechanic Click here to help support our board!! 1971 Chevy c-10 under going a 4.8l LSx swap Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421305 2007 Honda Accord my daily 145kmiles 2002 Honda Accord 4 door With 330k(sisters car) 2005 toyota Avalon 228k( brothers car) 2002 Sububran 5.3 245k 2000 Tahoe 5.3l 378 General manager for Marco's Carwash & lube

12-14-2010, 06:22 PM	#5
southbounddee Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Gainesville, fl Posts: 187	Re: fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado my cluster stop working as well, has anyone changed one????.... __________________ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=385860

12-14-2010, 09:24 PM	#6
sub-purbs Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: gilbert, az Posts: 21	Re: fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado I did mine on my 04 duramax...kinda. I bought a repair through ebay. I took it off and mailed to the guy, he replaced all the motors and lights and mailed it back. it was like $100 with shipping. took a couple weeks. I still drove my truck with no cluster.

12-15-2010, 07:45 PM	#8
sub-purbs Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: gilbert, az Posts: 21	Re: fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado I couldn't find the info on the guy I used. If you go to ebay and search "chevy instrument repair" you'll get a whole list of people that do it. I went with someone who had done a lot and had 100% positive feed back. Be careful, some of the auctions are for the parts only and a tutorial on HOW to do it. good luck

12-16-2010, 01:59 AM	#9
truckdude239 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lewisville, Nc Posts: 10,238	Re: fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories __________________ David fuller Ase Certified Mechanic Click here to help support our board!! 1971 Chevy c-10 under going a 4.8l LSx swap Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421305 2007 Honda Accord my daily 145kmiles 2002 Honda Accord 4 door With 330k(sisters car) 2005 toyota Avalon 228k( brothers car) 2002 Sububran 5.3 245k 2000 Tahoe 5.3l 378 General manager for Marco's Carwash & lube

12-16-2010, 03:26 AM	#10
C10-Driver Chevy Truck Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 1,176	Re: fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado I had a similar problem on my '03. I had cluster problems also but the issue with the fuel gauge turned out to be a bad sending unit. __________________ . 1970 Chev C/10 SWB, 355 SBC, 700R4, 3.73 Posi, Air Ride (Click to view Build Thread) (SOLD) 1978 Chevy C/10 SWB 1970 Pontiac Lemans .

01-16-2011, 03:51 PM	#11
johndawelder Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Loudon,TN Posts: 101	Re: fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado I replaced ALL the stepper motors on my 04' silverado.I did them myself,took me about an hour and a half.Fairly easy though.

01-16-2011, 04:03 PM	#12
kSStamp0182 LSX addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tyler, Texas Posts: 262	Re: fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado if you go through the hell of replacing the SU id replace the pump too lol. but my '01 gauge is like a couple days late (like if i fill up it will take a couple of days before it shows full) but my "low fuel" warning will still light up if the gauge shows low (even tho there is fuel in the tank) is this what yours does too? and would yall think this was my SU or cluster? all other gauges work fine, an sorry not tryina hijack just been meanin to ask on here an seein this reminded me.

01-18-2011, 09:02 PM	#13
60ratrod yes, i do Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Spokane, wa Posts: 2,734	Re: fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado i replaced the level sensor on my 01 tahoe because the gauge would read intermitently. fixed the intermitent read problem, but now it doesn't read all the way full so i just watch my trip od and fill at about every 250 mi. this up coming oil change i'm gonna drop my tank back down to see if i didn't f*** something up when i dropped it back in. my next step will be a pump. but by the description it sounds like its your fuel level sensor. and according to my dad they tend to do this at about 100k-150k, and he's been a gm tech since the dawn of time __________________ ERROR 404....... SNAPPY COMEBACK NOT FOUND _______________________________________________________________________________________________ -60 Chevy C10, dead 350/good th350 combo, sitting on a 76 c10 blazer frame, built from 11 different vehicles "the abomination" -07 gmt900 silverado 1500 lt xcab z71, granite blue -81 suzuki gs650g "shelah"- current project -81 kz1000m1 csr "sarge" -next project (just beautification) -07 kawasaki vulcan classic vn900

01-20-2011, 12:48 AM	#15
foxhole Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: victoria BC Posts: 226	Re: fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado the sending units use a sort of printed circut which the arm of the float rides against. the printed circit on the card in the sending unit corrods and you loose contact in sections of it and the guage intermitently dropps to empty. usually worse when its full.

01-20-2011, 01:36 AM	#16
Maxxd07 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: ND Posts: 520	Re: fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado I put my money on the sending unit, more common than the stepper motors. Replaced lots of these when I worked at a Chev dealership. __________________ Name: Les ---------------------- Couple 80s Couple 70s One 68

02-03-2011, 02:31 AM	#17
pamoffa Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: massachusetts Posts: 130	Re: fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado The intermittant aspect sounds like another post (the sending units use a sort of printed circut which the arm of the float rides against. the printed curcuit on the card in the sending unit corrods and you loose contact in sections of it and the guage intermitently drops to empty. usually worse when its full) . I had a problem with my buick regal gas gage as well it was all over the place, I replaced the pump. The unit I took out had a really loose fuel level sensoring unit, the rivet that held it close to the cuircuit board wasn't so good, it wasn't making contact with the dam circuit board all the time. can they make it any cheeper. it seems that if you have to get in there anyways it only make sense to replace the entire pump which may include the fuel gage sensor. my regal had about 180k during the repair Last edited by pamoffa; 02-03-2011 at 02:41 AM.



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02-07-2012, 11:27 PM	#18
jimjimjim Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: north augusta, sc Posts: 2	Re: fuel gaquge not working 2003 silverado Costs about $30 bucks to get all of the stepper motors, maybe a little less. Some guys will throw in some dash bulbs as well. I followed the directions at http://usedcarsit.com/content/chevro...rument-cluster and did mine in an hour or so.

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