Truck died, fuel gauge at 5 o'clock

[mddimond]

I was warming my 1995 tahoe up getting ready to go pick the kids up from grandmas house for about 20 minutes. When I got in my truck and started to back up it died. I noticed the fuel gauge is way over the FULL marker, at around the 5 o'clock position. I tried starting it and it won't start. Dead in the driveway now.

Does anyone have any idea what the problem might be? I'm guessing it's going to be something I sure as hell don't want to have to go lay in the snow to fix but will probably have to. My guess from my first google is it's probably the fuel pump. I also seen someone say something about a stepper motor? Any ideas?!

Thanks for any help at all!

 

[jutte73]

probably fuel pump.. take the gas cap off have some one turn the key on and listen in the gas take and listen for a humming noise, no noise no fuel pump. also you can try, may not be a good idea with it being cold, but hitting the gas tank with a hammer a few times while trying to start it may be able to get the pump motor to kick over too...

 

[ezdaar]

sending unit and FP went out.

Have fun and do a write up.

 

[ravingmadman]

I'm so sorry, you poor bastard.
http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5067

 

[AtomicHoe094]

I'm so sorry, you poor bastard.
http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5067

geez, nice way to welcome the guy to the forum lol


Welcome to the forum man, sorry about your luck.

 

[drowndindreams]

there goes the pump....

 

[mddimond]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm sure it's the fuel pump. I don't hear it when I turn the key forward and usually do.

From what I've learned the sending unit is attached to the fuel pump, so that makes sense about the fuel gauge being in the wrong position. I guess.

Pretty craptacular deal. I tried hitting my gas tank a few good times but that didn't work. Even if it did, all it'd be good for is turning my truck around so I can back it into the garage to drop the tank.

 

[SunlitComet]

It sounds like it shorted causing your gauge to go haywire. I agree on just replacing the unit and since you seem to live in the cold keep your tank topped off to reduce condensation problems. Maybe even switch gas stations or brands.

 

[mddimond]

My first post on this website was about my thermostat replacement, and I broke what I now know is called the ground strap.

I ghetto rigged it a little to ghettoly, and it fell apart.

Now that it's fixed, my truck starts and the fuel gauge reads correctly. Not a broken fuel pump or sending unit.

Thanks for the replies anyways.

 

[SunlitComet]

That would do it. When you lost that G103 ground it diverted power from the pump and relay and sent it up the fuel gauge to the only ground it could find. At least for the '95 models. Should have caught that myself originally.