Silverado Fuel Gauge Fix - this page is all about this very frustrating problem, talks about how there's actually two issues here and how to tell which problem you actually have..
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2000 Chevrolet Silverado Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)
I like the rest , Have a 2000 Silverado 6.0, gauge is a joke , I don't know if the previous owner had this problem , but it continues to get worse, yes I watch the odometer for fill ups ,Can't trust the gauge. When you fill it , it shows empty, then it will gradually start to work when about 3/4 full. Not sure if its a fuel pump , electrical connection or what the cause really is . I do know that on a couple of occasions , I shut my drivers door (firmly) and then the gauge worked , which makes me think a connection, sometimes in order to start the truck , I have to treat it like a carburated engine and put the pedal down 1/2 way for it to start. On occasion it will feel like its going to stumble and die at the stop light , but I watch the tach & it doesn't fluctuate enough to make me think its going to die. I am just worried that the pump (if that's the problem) will fail on me , but I wish I could be sure that's the problem before I spend the couple of hundred bucks for the pump. I do intend on replacing it myself, and might do as the one guy suggested , take the bed off instead of dropping the tank. I still and always will depend on a GM wayyyyy before a Ford or a Dodge , but NONE of them compare to a Toyota ! I would like to know if anyone did find loose connections , or is it the tank sensor, or is it just the darn pump...........still don't agree with the high pressure systems , what was wrong with the $20.00 -$40.00 electric inline fuel pumps ? It feeds my (2) 4 barrel carbs on my roadsters 350 small block just fine & I can average , YES AVERAGE 18mpg , I am done complaining.Thank You
I can't believe how many complaints there are about faulty fuel gauges on Chevy Silverado's and Chevy won't step up to the plate and fix this HUGE DILEMMA on their dime!!! But yet they have no problem taking a multi-billion dollar government bail out handed to them by the tax payers!!! JERKS!!!!! Fix this problem you idiots.
I just bought this truck from a used car dealership aon 4/13/12 and I when I saw the low fuel light come on during the test drive, I simply thought it was just that...low fuel.
Then I log onto this site and see 36 other complaints on the same issue and we all damn well know that there are thousands of owners having the same problem and GM is looking the other way. Perfect example as to why I have owned DODGE trucks for the past 12 years...They stand behind their trucks and fix their mistakes with recalls. Piss on you Chevrolet...YOU SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gas gauge is possesed by the some infernal entity that likes to see people hitchhicking down the highway with a gas can and an attitude. Like my fellow bowtie bretheren, i use the trip meter to gauge when it's time to refuel. Something this common should be addressed by the manufacturer. I hear Dodge makes a decent truck.
The fuel gauge goes from low fuel to accurate then after i come to a stop or park the low fuel light gauge comes on. Its just a pain and was wondering if I used STP fuel injection cleaner if it will work better? I have only had the truck a few months. I never noticed the malfunction with the gas gauge. The rest of the truck runs fine......so far. I think if there is a Chevy dealer that is reading this should bring this up at one of their meetings to try and correct these problems.....
We inherited this 2000 Chevy 1500 LS from my wife's father. He has had a problem with the fuel gauge for several years and when told by GM of a hefty price tag to fix it, opted to just live with the problem. When the tank is filled, the gauge goes from Full to Empty, to Full; Empty, yada yada yada. . . . When idling (with a full tank, mind you) the gauge suddenly goes to Empty, then the vehicle dies. Once restarted, it may or may not register the full tank. This is a real headache and seems to be a fairly common complaint with these pickups. Why hasn't GM recalled these fuel delivery systems?
From the looks of all the complaints..seems like GM should recall and fix this. I just got the truck from my Dad and understand how frustrated he was with this problem.
I BOUGHT THE FEB 2009 HAD IT FOR A YEAR THE REAR END WENT OUT FIXED THAT THEN TRANSMISSION WENT OUT FIXED THAT AND NOW THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND THE PLACE WHERE I BOUGHT IT WOULD NOT FIX IT I HEARD THEY HAD A RECALL ON IT
The gas gauge will read full when you first fill up the tank. After driving for a couple of minutes is will go from full to empty and the low fuel light comes on. This happens over and over until there is about 150 miles on that tank - I have the 35 gallon tank. The gauge then stays at full until there is about 350 miles on that tank then it only moves down to show 3/4 tank at about 400 miles. At 400 miles on the trip odometer I fill it back up. This is the only way I know that I will not run out of gas. This is very annoying and I know of others that are having this same problem in trucks and in the Suburbans. Definitely looks like a defect that should be corrected by GM on their dime. From what I have heard this is happening to most between 60,000 and 80,000 miles.
Also applying to the starting issues listed on here. Unlike when a fuel pump typically goes out, this truck would still start. Last winter, started when it felt like it. For some odd reason, and this still baffles me, heat under the hood made a difference. It was very cold in Michigan last winter, so I put a heat lamp under my hood at night (which coincidentally led to blow the a/c intake hose lol!) being that it's parked under a carport. This did in fact make a difference. Replaced plugs, plug wires, and fuel filter. Tried Heet, and other additives. Finally this winter replaced the fuel pump. Gauge works properly and starts like a champ. If you have this problem go to RockAuto.com, fuel pumps for this vehicle run around $250.00 and these guys have them with next day shipping for $200.00
Purchased a 2000 chevy silverado new at 15000 km fuel gauge started to fliker GM sold me a few bottles of something that was to remove the gum and it would work ok now I have 85000 km and it is geting worst all the time I really don't have a working gauge now.
Update from Jan 21, 2010: I purchased a bottle of injector cleaner good for 5 tank full and used the full bottle in one tank full seems to work I will let you know for how long.
i can fill the gas tank completely full...the gas indicator reflex that the tank is empty until i drive a few miles then it jumps to FULL...then back to EMPTY...this continues for five or ten minutes then the gas indicator stays on full as long as i drive the vehicle...once the vehicle is turned off and restarted the problems resumes all over again...FULL-EMPTY-FULL-EMPTY....this should have been a RECALL by GM some times ago....i have ALWAYS been a GM person...but having second thoughts about them now.....too bad !!!
Had this problem since I bought it. Wasn't too much of a problem at first because I drove it daily, after gas went up so high I bought a 4 banger now I only drive it occasionally and I never have any idea how much gas I have. Please GM bail ME out.
Very annoying !! The fuel gauge doesn't work. I never received anything in the mail about recall, only heard of the problem from the dealership, and they never offered to fix it.
Keep Chevy "THE HEART BEAT OF AMERICA" by fixing these problems:
Tail gate Cables fixed - Recall
Front L hub fixed - warranty but fixed myself.
Transmission housing seal leak - warranty
Transfer Case assembly replaced - warranty $200 deductible
Ok we bought this Truck brand NEW in 2000. Our only complaint has been the fuel gauge is never correct! I have over 150k miles and this is the main problem....it's not so bad but if you are going on long trips in can be annoying if you don't really know how much gas you have!
We write down the mileage and keep track that way.
Other then they, we love this truck. If you take care of it, it will take care of you!
Every time my tank is full, the gauge reads empty. It is intermittent in the way that it reads in the interim until the tank is empty. I use the Trip Meter to make sure I don't run out, but I think GM needs to be held accountable for bad parts when the issue is this ubiquitous! GM, do the right thing. Recall the sending units and replace them!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I like the rest , Have a 2000 Silverado 6.0, gauge is a joke , I don't know if the previous owner had this problem , but it continues to get worse, yes I watch the odometer for fill ups ,Can't trust the gauge. When you fill it , it shows empty, then it will gradually start to work when about 3/4 full. Not sure if its a fuel pump , electrical connection or what the cause really is . I do know that on a couple of occasions , I shut my drivers door (firmly) and then the gauge worked , which makes me think a connection, sometimes in order to start the truck , I have to treat it like a carburated engine and put the pedal down 1/2 way for it to start. On occasion it will feel like its going to stumble and die at the stop light , but I watch the tach & it doesn't fluctuate enough to make me think its going to die. I am just worried that the pump (if that's the problem) will fail on me , but I wish I could be sure that's the problem before I spend the couple of hundred bucks for the pump. I do intend on replacing it myself, and might do as the one guy suggested , take the bed off instead of dropping the tank. I still and always will depend on a GM wayyyyy before a Ford or a Dodge , but NONE of them compare to a Toyota ! I would like to know if anyone did find loose connections , or is it the tank sensor, or is it just the darn pump...........still don't agree with the high pressure systems , what was wrong with the $20.00 -$40.00 electric inline fuel pumps ? It feeds my (2) 4 barrel carbs on my roadsters 350 small block just fine & I can average , YES AVERAGE 18mpg , I am done complaining.Thank You
- Mitch B., Monroe, MI, US