Gas gauge does not work

TRULYTAMMY85

MEMBER
2008 PONTIAC G6
3.9L
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
141,000 MILES

I purchased the vehicle listed above used (GT model) a few months back from an auction. The gas needle is always pointing to empty even when I have just filled the car with gas. Even on a full tank the gas light remains on and needle points to empty. The car cranks/starts just fine, drives and shifts just fine, and I have absolutely no issues at all, but the gas needle simply does not work. The check engine light is on and was on when I purchased the car but the light is solid and not flashing. I am finally in a financial position to take it to a dealership but I would like some kind of insight on what it could possibly be before they give me an estimate or try and charge for something that it could not possibly be. Thanks!

3 Replies

HARRY P

MECHANIC
2,292 POSTS

Unfortunately this is one GM's pitfalls. There is a sensor in the fuel tank, attached to the fuel pump assembly, that reads the fuel level and sends a signal to your dashboard. The fuel gauge sending unit is a common problem. You will need to remove the gas tank, pull the fuel pump, and replace the sensor on it. It is possible that the problem is in the wiring, but I doubt it. Personally, at 141,000, I would go ahead and replace the whole pump assembly. It will probably quit running within the next couple of years anyways, so you might as well save yourself the money of dropping the tank again. This job will probably cost about $500.00 to $700.00 at the dealership.

If I were in your shoes, I would just top off the tank every one hundred miles or something like that until the pump itself goes out.