Soldier frustrated with his dream.

[shimokawa]

Hello,

First of all, I'd like to say that this is an incredible forum, with a tremondous amount of wealth and knowledge. God knows that I wish I could have

been a part of it much sooner and under different circumstances.

Since I was a little boy, playing "Test Drive", on my Commodore 64 - I have always wanted a 'Vette. The childhood dream, of always being able to hit

the accelalator, drive one of the fastest production cars, and fly down the road; has always been with me. And while nowadays, my adult responsabilitys

have taken over, I still wanted that car I've longed for in that video games. Simply, to own a Corvette, was on my top 10 list of things to do before I

die.

I'm a soldier in the US Army. I just returned from my fourth deployment; 3 in Iraq, and 2 weeks ago, Afghanistan. I've been saving up to get a 'Vette

for about that long. Last week, I finally got it! From a CarMax dealership here in Nashville, of all places. I looked around in a 50 mile radius for

almost a week straight before finding a great deal for the price.

'07 Corvette - 24000miles

$28,098 is what I paid for it. Cash. Off the lot. The car was all mine.

And quite frankly,

I've been disappointed ever since.

Not more than 2 days after I drove the car, the fuel gauge dies to E, the "Service Fuel System", "Fuel Low", and Check Engine light comes on...I get hit

with the dreaded fuel gauge thing. I only know this now because of this forum and others like it. Just as a side note; I drove nothing but GM since I

was born. 2 Cameros and 3 Cadillacs. Never had this issue with any of them. Never met anyone with this kinda fuel gauge problem on any other GM

product. But yet, according to the reading I'm doing, this issue with Corvettes dates back to the C5!!????? And the internet is plagued with people

making this complain about thier Vettes. You'd think GM would have this fixed. People are buying brand new $60,000 ZO6's and are getting gauge faults

that were identified back in the 90's. My last car - or truck, rather - was a 03' Cadillac Escalade. I drove it to the next Ice Age, over 100,000

miles. Not one problem. You think for $60,000 GM could install a working fuel gauge. It's no wonder they are having issues staying afloat.

Anyways, the car is still under warranty...No problem...I'll take it to the local Chevy dealer, get it fixed. They tell me, it got a DTC P0226 and the

fuel level sensor voltage was normal so they had to reset the PCM (I still don't know what that stands for) as per service bulletin. This is where I

started my research.

Now mind you...my fuel gauge was reading E when I was going to take it to the shop. So, natually, I filled it up just before I took it over. And when

I took it out of the shop it was reading at half a tank, and everything else was normal. I thought, "Did the mechanic drive my ride for half a tank of

gas???". But the mileage wasn't off so I figure he must have had to get into the fuel cell in order to diagnose the issue and drained half the tank in

the process. I can deal with that.

Not more than 20miles later the same issue pops up again...exact same symptoms. This time I'm driving in between citys. I pull over to a gas station

off the interstate and fill it up. Thinking, "It was just reading half a tank right before the gauge died, maybe the gauge was incorrect in the first

place, the dealer shop never fixed the problem, AND I really don't know how much fuel is in the tank!" $1.67....that is how much I could fit into the

fuel tank. A bucks worth of gas. Feeling like an idiot for bothering the cashier for a gallon of gas, I drive off into Nashville.

40miles later...right outside of town...in the middle of the interstate...Car dies. Won't start. The engine sounds like it is getting no fuel. It's a

saturday, about 8'oclock at night. I get the car towed to the CarMax. Thier floor manager says the service department will look at it on monday.

It's monday. After a day of playing phone tag with the service department. Their mechanic says that "I ran out of gas", but that the check engine

light is on, giving him 2 codes, didn't know what they mean so...he had to send the car off lot to the Chevy dealer to diagnose the problem. I'm

thinking, "I just put gas in the car - and it was FULL!" He said that this morning he put like a few gallons of gas in the car and it fired right up.

I'm just an infantryman in the Army - I figured the mechanic should know what he's talking about...But you have my word, I filled that Car up twice in

60 miles...both to F.

I don't want to get the run around on this issue until the warranty on the car expires...which is still in another year, but nontheless...

I read the bulletin...you guys have a copy posted at http://corvettemechanic.com/forum/c6...uel-gauge-ffs-

05-06-04-041a.html and it states that if every thing checks out, replace the left tank level sensor.

I also done some reading and found out that the 'Vette has 2 fuel tanks...and that a pump tranfers between right and left...

what if...since the fill port is on the left side and the nozzle wouldn't let me put gas into it, maybe it's full. And since the gauge was reading at a

half a tank when picked it up from the dealer the first time the left side was indeed full but the right was empty. Maybe the valve and pump is not

transfering fuel levels across the cells? And while it sat for the weekend at CarMax fuel bled into the right side.

All I know is this...If the Chevy dealer comes back and says that they had to reset the PCM and I'm good to go...I'm going to be irrate.

Whether or not, this is the "Fuel gauge Gremlin"; or some other more intricate problem...I want the problem fixed.

What can I do to get them to fix the problem? Replace the left tank level sensor? Is the Fuel gauge Gremlin unfixable? I can't believe that.

Thank you in advance for listening to my rant and answering my questions. After 4 deployments, I get so frustrated at somethings that seem so simple to

workout,

SSG David Barnes
US Army Pathfinder, 101st Airborne Division
FT. Campbell Ky.

[froggy47]

You are in the right place, soldier. Techs will help you thru it here. Vette is not without it's annoying little issues, but when they are all set right, you are in for some thrills. Be safe & hang in.

:)

[motorman]

having owned a 97,99,02,05 and now a 08 i found if you NEVER over fill the fuel tank this will not happen. when the gasoline pump at the station shuts off STOP trying to add any more gasoline to the tank. i used to do this to my 97 and i found out if i followed this rule i never had the problem again. lucky maybe.

[froggy47]

Here's a off the wall suggestion, free. Disconnect batt. for say 10 min & reconnect & see if it resets anything. Also b4 you start up ck batt volts on the dic. Should be AT LEAST 12.5 (per Paul, thanks!)



:)

[BruceF]

Welcome to the forum and Thank You for your Service.

While it does sound like a fuel transfer problem, that the techs here will help you with, another issue could be the previous owner(s) used lower quality gas that may have fouled the sensor. Try and use a Top Tier gas, if you can. Here's a thread on it:
http://corvettemechanic.com/forum/c5...6-04-047f.html

Regardless of the tech issue, just to cover your bases, plan on putting in a 20oz bottle of Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus (make sure it says plus) in your next 2 tanks of gas. Alternatively, you can use GM's Fuel System Treatment Plus 88861011.

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
Please PM me your VIN privately so we me do preliminary research.
And also, the system is NOT THE SAME AS C5, so please understand, its much different.
No, if you had a crushed crossover tube, you would have a MYRIAD more problems than just a fuel tank sensing unit issue.
And the P0226 is not a good DTC number.
Allthebest, c4c5

[shimokawa]

Originally Posted by motorman

having owned a 97,99,02,05 and now a 08 i found if you NEVER over fill the fuel tank this will not happen. when the gasoline pump at the station shuts off STOP trying to add any more gasoline to the tank. i used to do this to my 97 and i found out if i followed this rule i never had the problem again. lucky maybe.

1) From my understanding, the gauge gremlin stems from sulpher additives placed by the fuel manfactuer. These additives react with the metal used in the fuel sensors. I do have a bad habit of "topping off"...comes from filling up HUMVEES and Bradley IFV's. Does filling the tank up to the neck contribute to this problem? Perhaps, the metals that get fouled are at the top of the tank sensor?

Originally Posted by BruceF

Welcome to the forum and Thank You for your Service.

While it does sound like a fuel transfer problem, that the techs here will help you with, another issue could be the previous owner(s) used lower quality gas that may have fouled the sensor. Try and use a Top Tier gas, if you can. Here's a thread on it:
http://corvettemechanic.com/forum/c5...6-04-047f.html

Regardless of the tech issue, just to cover your bases, plan on putting in a 20oz bottle of Chevron Techron Concentrate Plus (make sure it says plus) in your next 2 tanks of gas. Alternatively, you can use GM's Fuel System Treatment Plus 88861011.

2) I've just started this regime before the car died. Initially though, I was under the impression that the Techron had to be added with every fill up. But, I've also read that it can be as little as once every oil change. How often should I add it? I use Shell gasoline only; 93 oct. premium...even when I was driving the Escalade. But the since I'm "new" back in the US from Afganistan - I've noticed that the Shell stations around me have this new addetive...some sorta nitrogen....they also use 10% ethenol...has this been proven just as effective?

Originally Posted by c4c5specialist

HI there,
Please PM me your VIN privately so we me do preliminary research.
And also, the system is NOT THE SAME AS C5, so please understand, its much different.
No, if you had a crushed crossover tube, you would have a MYRIAD more problems than just a fuel tank sensing unit issue.
And the P0226 is not a good DTC number.
Allthebest, c4c5

3) Thank you for all your help...I'll be sending that VIN to you. I'm kinda confused cause I understand that the C5 and C6 systems are different...something to do with FFS (Don't know what that means either)...BUT they experience the same problems??? What do I need to do different then what is recommened by most C5 owners with this problem? Should the garage replace my left fuel tank level sensor as indicated in the orignal bulletin? Also, I've double check my service invoice from the dealership's Goodwrench..."DTC p0226, tested fuel level sensor voltage. Tested normal. Reprogram PCM per bulletin." I'm starting to feel like some of these mechanics don't know what they are doing when it comes to my car....or they're not being upfront about something.

I appreciate all of your help. I'm expecting a call from the service shop this morning, and I appreciate be armed with all of the knowledge that you guys are giving me!

Thank you Again,
SSG David Barnes
US Army Pathfinder, 101st Airborne Division
FT. Campbell Ky.

[froggy47]

Originally Posted by shimokawa

I'm starting to feel like some of these mechanics don't know what they are doing when it comes to my car....or they're not being upfront about something.

Mostly you are correct here, exception to all the great techs on this forum. There is a whole lot of "on the job training" that goes on with Corvette, and yours/mine can often be the first one that any given tech has worked a given problem.

Dealer/service manager is never going to tell you, "We'll give it our best shot, but we have never done this repair before". No one wants to admit they are under trained for what they are about to attempt.

That is the beauty & the value of this forum. Stick with it. At least you may be able to go to a dealer with some documentation & direction on what the fix should be. Or even DIY.

:)

[shimokawa]

Ok, so it's tuesday. The Goodwrench guys tells me that they are on the problem. I made it clear to them that I want the issue fixed...even if that means tearing apart the entire fuel system.

On a side note....some one told me that if you fill the gas tank with the car running, or with the battery on / accessories...it'll cause the fuel gauge to malfunction...

True?

[ToolGuy]

I think you may be confusing the C5 gas gauge issue with this. The C5 I think you are finding info in is related to sulfer from the gasoline, building up on the sending unit, which causes irradic readings. Cheap fuels and or storing the car over the winter months can also cause this. One bottle of Chevron Techron fuel system cleaner usually fixes this. Again, just speculation but I wonder if a lot of the C5 info you have read about was this.

Sorry you have had issues already but you can also try another dealer if you want to for future repairs or if it is not fixed right the first time.

Never heard issues about overfiling a C5 but on other vehicles, if it is overfilled and or spills over, you run the risk of the fuel going into the EVAP container and the vehicle does not like that.