Fuel/Gas Gauge Problems & Questions

behind the spare tire well slightly to the passenger side. egg shaped with a handfull of screws holding it on.

cool after work im all over that!

Did you get this fixed? I'm still trying to battle this problem and need to know if the 98-99 sending unit sensor will work on a 97

no not yet, i stopped using low octane fuel and it seems to be more acurate,

Bumping this thread. I'd really like to get my gas gauge fixed. If I fill the tank up it reads normal until about 3/4 of a tank then just freezes there. Alot of fluctuation as well

Have you measured the resistance of the fuel sending wire at the dash cluster plug? I forget which way it goes but it should read 90 ohms at a full tank and 0 ohms at an empty tank, or vice versa... Make sure that is reading correctly before replacing the cluster. Otherwise... get a cluster from Ed Morad or junkyard etc.

If you don't go below a certain point in resistance, i.e. it never goes below 40 ohms, then you need to check the wiring to the tank, and the sending unit.

Most likely, it's the sending unit to begin with, unless you've already ruled that out.

Mine does that too. it will stay on full tank from about full tank to about a quarter. Once i get down to a quart tank of gas it will start reading 3/4 or even half a tank on the gauge. When it gets to about 1/2 on the guage that's when i know I only have about 2-3 gallons of gas left. I have just learned to put up with it. and when the guage drops to 3/4 of a tank i just stop and fill it up again. Think mine would be the sending unit or the wire?

Most likely the sending unit, but you should still check the resistance of the wire and make sure the terminal on top of the tank is clean.

Hey guys! It's been about a year and a half since I've been around. Holy hell, this forum has grown! Not sure where to put this post but I changed the fuel pump and all is running well but my fuel gauge is off. Did I do something wrong with the level position or do I have a sensor out? Suggestions??

You needed to push the level down straight , you know the thing with that bag on it. I'm sure that's your problem,bang under tank maybe it will drop?

I haven't put the trunk back together yet so it won't be too bad to get back into. Yeah, a full tank of gas and it's only reading a quarter tank.

Take it back out,make sure the arm, is all the way down before installing.You'll be good!!!

My gas gauge is broken!  When the tank is half full the gas gauge needle goes all the way to full.  I talked to the Buick dealership about fixing this problem he informed me that it is better to keep tracking my gas mileage and not fixing the problem because I would have to get a new gas tank.  Has anybody else had this experience?  What recommendations are there?

Oh Yeah I own a '98 Riviera w/supercharger

I would have figured it would just need a new sending unit that goes into the gas tank. Don't see why you would need a new tank itself.

Also if you do a search on this site for gas gauge. You'll come up with a bunch of threads and I would think one of them would be helpfull.

Don't see why they'd say you need a new gas tank either...unless for some reason all the Rivieras in your area rot out. The fuel level sensor is broken. I believe you can buy just a new level sensor, remove the fuel sending unit, and replace it.

I've never looked and don't remember for sure, but can't you get to the sending unit stuff from the trunk?

New tank is not needed. The whole assembly can be pulled out from the trunk area.

Here is a write-up showing the part you need to replace:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t4779-write-up-fuel-pump-tank-sending-unit-replacement

I do have a working sending unit I can sell you, but it needs a new pump ($60-100), or will need to transfer your existing pump over (personally I'd just replace it with a new pump and not worry about yours failing later on).

darulerrick wrote:

My gas gauge is broken! When the tank is half full the gas gauge needle goes all the way to full. I talked to the Buick dealership about fixing this problem he informed me that it is better to keep tracking my gas mileage and not fixing the problem because I would have to get a new gas tank. Has anybody else had this experience? What recommendations are there?

Only reason you'd need a new tank is if the locking ring in the current one is too badly corroded. You can check for yourself by removing the cover plate in the trunk (under the trunk carpet) and having a look at it. If it's rusty that's not a terminal illness unless it is so corroded that it might break when you remove the pump.

[a mild snark follows] The real issue is probably that being essentially a seventeen year old model (Riv came out in '94 as a '95 model) at least one of your dealer's mechanics was still in training pants when your car was built... and he does not know how to fix it. Another issue is the typical way to fix this is to replace the entire pump and sender assembly and they are ExPenSive. You can, however, get the components separately (the sender, the pump motor) from a full-line ACDelco parts dealer. Do you think you can do a search? because there's some helpful stuff on this site about this already.

Albertj

I appreciate all the answers I will try each to see what exactly is the problem. Thanks again!

I had a Z24 Cavalier that did the exact same thing. I gave the car to charity when i got the RIviera.

The sensor is part of the pump and it's better to replace the whole thing?

My guage is wack. I don't trust it. Sometimes it says full sometimes half sometimes it might be acurate. But I am playing it safe and filling up 6 gallons and getting 100 miles before the next fill.

You can replace just the Fuel Level Sensor, and it's way cheaper.

Delco p/n for the Level Sensor is 25335941 and lists for $214

Delco p/n for the whole module including the Level Sensor is 19180114 and lists for $578.42

I'm sure you can find these parts much cheaper online or aftermarket.

and knowing is half the battle....

Thank You this is very very informative! will save me a whole a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$!

darulerrick wrote:

Thank You this is very very informative! will save me a whole a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$!

Well I certainly hope you've fixed the problem considering this thread is almost 2 years old lol.
Unless, of course, you're being completely sarcastic. I would totally understand