fuel level sensor issues

Discuss your 2000-2005 Bonneville SE, SLE, SSEi, Buick Le Sabre 00-05 and Buick Park Avenue 97-05. Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.
Post Reply
02 bonnie beast
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 62
Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2014 8:33 am
Year and Trim: 2002 ssei

fuel level sensor issues

Post by 02 bonnie beast »

hi all, i was kind of hoping that maybe someone has experienced this issue and knows where to look. i am hoping that someone has the pin out for the wires on the plug for the level sender in the tank. i have replaced the fuel pump module, and i still have a very erratic fuel gauge that never reads the right level. it's either way too high, or empty, no matter what level is actually in the tank. after buying the car, i found all kind of nut shells, and acorns, in every nook and cranny in the car. i am wondering if the mice or red squirrels, or whatever they were, didn't chew into the wiring harness somewhere and that is causing my issues. what else would cause these issues other than messed up wiring?
User avatar
nos4blood70
Certified Bonneville Nut
Certified Bonneville Nut
Posts: 9522
Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 6:11 pm
Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
Location: Chicago, IL

Re: fuel level sensor issues

Post by nos4blood70 »

Sounds like that could be a stepper motor issue. Does the fuel range in miles in the DIC measure erratically as well?
-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 250k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 101k miles
Image
02 bonnie beast
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 62
Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2014 8:33 am
Year and Trim: 2002 ssei

Re: fuel level sensor issues

Post by 02 bonnie beast »

nos4blood70 wrote:Sounds like that could be a stepper motor issue. Does the fuel range in miles in the DIC measure erratically as well?

no that all registers properly. at least i think it does. i have a tech 2, and have tested the gauge cluster and all the gauges function. i have replaced all of the stepper motors, and bulbs as well. the only two that are doing screwy things are the gas gauge, and the oil pressure gauge. it usually always reads way above 100 psi. but i believe that that is the sending unit
User avatar
1tinindian
Posts like an LG3
Posts like an LG3
Posts: 363
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2013 2:26 pm
Year and Trim: 2004 SLE Premier Edition

2005 GXP
Location: Rockford, Iowa

Re: fuel level sensor issues

Post by 1tinindian »

When you replaced the fuel pump module, was a new fuel level sensor also installed / come with the FPM, or was the old level sensor reused?

Leon
Image
2006 GTO
2005 GXP Bonneville (his) (SOLD)
2004 SLE Bonneville (hers)
2004 SLE Bonneville (sons)
2006 GXP Grand Prix (sons)
1998 SLE GMC Sierra
1991 Yamaha FJ1200
1983 Trans Am (SOLD)
1979 Trans Am
02 bonnie beast
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 62
Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2014 8:33 am
Year and Trim: 2002 ssei

Re: fuel level sensor issues

Post by 02 bonnie beast »

brandy brand new
MrPOPE
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 87
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2014 8:02 am
Year and Trim: 2004 Bonneville SE

Re: fuel level sensor issues

Post by MrPOPE »

The Stepper motors in the dash for Bonnevilles go bad almost all the time. if CAN be the sender from the pump... but its thats new and the guage is still all over the place... the guages is bad.... really common problem
User avatar
bobgto65
Posts like an L36
Posts like an L36
Posts: 866
Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 7:52 pm
Year and Trim: 2002 SSEi
2004 Bonneville GXP
Location: Maryland

Re: fuel level sensor issues

Post by bobgto65 »

you can run continuity tests on the wires or pull up the carpets inspect them.
bobgto65
Image
2004 Bonneville GXP 62,000 miles purchased 04/13
2009 G8 GXP PBM, M6 9580 miles, no mods, sold 08/15
2009 G8 GT SBM 36,000 miles, modded 430 whp
2002 Bonneville SSEi 203,200 miles (sold 3/2014)
02 bonnie beast
SLE Member
SLE Member
Posts: 62
Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2014 8:33 am
Year and Trim: 2002 ssei

Re: fuel level sensor issues

Post by 02 bonnie beast »

issue solved. i traced the harness down out of the tank area and found a break in one of the wires. spliced and heat shrinked, it works good as new.
Post Reply