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Thread: 96-2000 Fuel gauge

  1. #1
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    96-2000 Fuel gauge

    I started a new thread so maybe we can figure out what's going on between the 96-97's and the 98-2000's. I'm going to post the information from AllData and hopefully working together through this thread we can figure it out. This first paste is for the 97 vehicles but when I looked at the 98's it's the same, they both should be 4 ohms when empty and 90 ohms when full. Please check ohms on your fuel gauge wire and post what you get here so we can move forward. Ignore the fuel pump balance module if you only have one tank.

    The pointer of the Fuel Gage is moved by the magnetic fields of two coils. The coils are at right angles to each other. Battery voltage is applied to the E-Coil (empty) and the circuit divides at the opposite end of the coil. One path continues to ground through the F-Coil (full). Another goes to ground through the variable resistance of the level sensor in the Fuel Pump and Sender (Gasoline) or Fuel Gage Sender (Diesel) for vehicles with single fuel tanks. The Fuel Pump Balance Module averages the resistance for vehicles with two fuel tanks. When the tank is low, the resistance of the level sensor is low. A large current flow passes through the E-Coil and the pointer moves toward E on the Fuel Gage. When the tank is full, the level sensor's resistance is high. Less current passes though the E-Coil and the pointer moves toward F on the scale. With two coils operating the pointer, the Fuel Gage is not affected by changes in the system's battery voltage. For vehicles with single fuel tanks, the level sensor in the Fuel Sender produces a resistance of about 4 ohms when the tank is empty. The resistance is about 90 ohms when the tank is full. A short to ground in the sender or wiring will provide a fully empty indication. An open in the circuit will produce a fully-full indication. For vehicles with dual fuel tanks, the Fuel Pump Balance Module measures the resistance of both Fuel Senders. The module averages the resistance and produces an equivalent resistance reflecting the average level of both fuel tanks. Both power to the module and a change in the input resistance are required to produce a change in the output resistance to the Fuel Gage. The Fuel Pump Balance Module responds to a very low resistance (short to ground) in one or both fuel sender circuits by considering the affected tank(s) to be empty. A very high resistance (open circuit) in either fuel sender circuit will cause the Fuel Pump Balance Module to produce a zero output (both tanks empty) signal to the Fuel Gage. The Fuel Pump Balance Module equalizes level in the two fuel tanks. Fuel is fed to the Engine from the front (primary) fuel tank. When the level in the front tank decreases to about two gallons less than the level in the rear (secondary) fuel tank, the Fuel Pump Balance Module energizes the Fuel Pump Balance Relay. This starts the Balance Fuel Pump which transfers fuel from the rear tank to the front tank. When the level in the front tank increases to about two gallons greater than the rear tank, the Balance Fuel Pump stopped. This approach tends to empty the rear tank first.


    97 GMC, 2002 LS6.

    1991 GMC Syclone #1428

  2. #2
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    BTW, from the looks of the diagnostic information the 98 should work just like the 97 without the pcm connected since the ohms are the same. The 98 pcm has fuel level input, fuel level output and a 5v sensor return. If we only knew what the pcm signal was reading. Maybe you guys could hook the old pcm up and check ohms and voltage through the pcm and also with the input and output wires connected without the pcm.


    97 GMC, 2002 LS6.

    1991 GMC Syclone #1428

  3. #3
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    ohms on the 98 is 40 empty and 248 full.
    1998 chevy 1500 with 6.0/4l80e comp cam, tune, exhaust,

  4. #4
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    ok i just pulled my truck in to the bay.started ohm ing stuff the gauge uses the old 0-90 ohms and on 98 the changed t0 the 40-248 ohms. i used my old sending unit unplugged pin 9 on pcm purple wire and attached a jumper wire to one leg of sending unit to gauge the other a ground and at an empty tank the gauge reads about a half tank and i slowly moved the sending unit arm to about a quarter and it read over full. ithen took my dvom and ohmed the sending unit out and it read 107. so thats what i came up with is that 98 and up need a 97 and older sending unit to work. i hope all this makes since. im bad at explaining things but it all works in my head lol oh and not for sure but i would say the pcm just changes the value out to work for the older head units
    1998 chevy 1500 with 6.0/4l80e comp cam, tune, exhaust,

  5. #5
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    No, this is good and what we originally expected. AllData has a technical bulletin that says to upgrade to 40-250 ohm sending unit if using a 0-90 ohm sending unit starting in late 97. Hopefully a sending unit swap will take care of the problem and life will be great! Who wants to be a guinea pig? LOL

    File In Section: 8 - Chassis/Body Electrical
    Bulletin No.: 83-83-07
    Date: March, 1998
    Subject:
    Fuel Level Sensor Replacement Procedure

    Models:
    1997-98 Passenger Cars and Light Duty Trucks
    (Listed in Application Chart)

    INFORMATION
    This bulletin is being issued to clarify that, when fuel gauge diagnosis per the Service Manual indicates the cause to be the fuel level sensor, complete fuel sender assembly replacement is NOT required.
    Available fuel level sensor service packages are indicated in the application charts and should be installed following applicable Service Manual procedures and those provided in the service packages.

    Available fuel level sensor service packages are indicated in the application charts and should be installed following applicable Service Manual procedures and those provided in the service packages.
    Last edited by NITROUS; 07-27-2008 at 09:52 PM.


    97 GMC, 2002 LS6.

    1991 GMC Syclone #1428

  6. #6
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    Allen an Jon at nelson performance got my fuel gauge working by putting in the stock pcm back in. But for some reason when accelerating it will dip down, when I let off it will slowly go back to were it should be. This isn't under heavy acceleration, just normal so I don't think its from the gas moving around in the tank.. it does it even when full.

  7. #7
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    Good deal, It would be nice to have only 1 pcm though. Can you read the output from the pcm in ohms and voltage? I know there's a 5 volt sensor return but I want to see what C1 pin 9 fuel level input and C3 pin 13 fuel level output are. Just ground one side of the voltmeter and prick the wire going to pin 9 and 13 to see what they show and please post it. Make sure the ignition is on......................LOL

    Thanks


    97 GMC, 2002 LS6.

    1991 GMC Syclone #1428

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by NITROUS View Post
    Good deal, It would be nice to have only 1 pcm though. Can you read the output from the pcm in ohms and voltage? I know there's a 5 volt sensor return but I want to see what C1 pin 9 fuel level input and C3 pin 13 fuel level output are. Just ground one side of the voltmeter and prick the wire going to pin 9 and 13 to see what they show and please post it. Make sure the ignition is on......................LOL

    Thanks
    Ill do that sometime next week, when i have access to some of those tools.
    Were is C1 pin 9 at? LOL i have no idea how to read were the pins are..

  9. #9
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    awesome post im excited to see this one pan out having no gas guage sucks and i really dont have room for 2 pcms. so i hope we can get everything figured out here.
    09 CREWCAB LTZ SILVERADO, 6.2, SIX SPEED, CAI,

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by ChevyLee View Post
    Ill do that sometime next week, when i have access to some of those tools.
    Were is C1 pin 9 at? LOL i have no idea how to read were the pins are..
    Blue connector = C1
    Red connector = C2
    Clear connector = C3
    Black connector = C4

    If you unplug the connectors you can read the pin numbers on them. You'll need to turn the ignition on and read the C3 female pin 13 connector itself first (not the pcm) then plug it back in and read C1 male pin 9 on the pcm (not the connector).


    97 GMC, 2002 LS6.

    1991 GMC Syclone #1428

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