2003 Duramax fuel gauge problem
 

Help...
2003 Chevy 2500 Duramax. Fuel gauge is reading empty. Has fuel. Went and added 15 gallons, and needle never moved. Light is on for low fuel, and on display for miles left, it has ---.

Truck has set for about 2 weeks, and when I got in it to go to the track last night, that was what I found. I tried shutting it off a couple of times, but no better. When you turn the key on, needle moves up a very little, but when you crank it, it bounces back to the E line.

The dealer replaced the entire dash a couple of years ago, when the speedo went out. Everything else seems to work fine. On display, the instant economy is still figuring the MPG, etc.

Any ideas?

thanks,

Ken

Re: 2003 Duramax fuel gauge problem
 

Check with your dealer, might still be under warranty, had mine replaced couple years ago (2004 GMC Duramax) fuel and oil pressure guages acted strange.
GM sent a recall notice out for this problem

Re: 2003 Duramax fuel gauge problem
 

Mine was the opposite. When it started acting up the guage would read half a tank but it was empty. Was the sensor in the fuel tank and I am pretty sure it was warranty at the time.

Re: 2003 Duramax fuel gauge problem
 

Sounds like the stepper motor for the fuel guage went. Common problem I see alot of them. Generally, if the Fuel Level Sensor goes, the guage will still read just when you have half tank reads empty, full tank reads half, you could be going down the road and it will go from half to full. If the needle dosent move at all, generally going to be a cluster problem.

Re: 2003 Duramax fuel gauge problem
 

Check with your dealer even if you are out of warranty. GM knows there is a problem with the stepper motors. I have been having very good luck getting gauge clusters warrantied at my local dealer for my customers.

Re: 2003 Duramax fuel gauge problem
 

Have the same problem with my 2005 Duramax. Replaced sensor in tank and it was like new. Except for my wallet was a lot lighter.

Re: 2003 Duramax fuel gauge problem
 

Easily diagnosed, however does require some specialized skills and tools. MPG calculation has no input from fuel gauge, need to see what info is being sent to PCM for fuel level if it's reporting low fuel level to PCM then that info is passed on to the cluster. Haven't seen any diesel powered vehicles with this issue however most every day I replace the fuel level sensors for gas burners, the contacts wear off from rubbing on the "card" loses contact and presto no voltage feed back so it reads empty. bottom line take it in and have it properly diagnosed first and save some agravation. Joe

Re: 2003 Duramax fuel gauge problem
 

Thanks all. I moved to Dallas couple of years ago, and have not bought anything since moving, so I do not have much leverage with any local dealer... I will just have to go and be nice :)...

I do appreciate the help and suggestions.

Ken

Re: 2003 Duramax fuel gauge problem
 

Ken,

Let us know how it turns out. I have a 2005 that the speedo does not work.

Re: 2003 Duramax fuel gauge problem
 

Mike,

Go see a dealer about the speedo. They replaced mine a couple of years ago with about 80K on it. No questions, did not cost a penny. It was not my original dealer either, as I had moved. Shop manager told me they know there was a problem with several years of them, and they were just fixing them.

I am traveling with work, so might be a few days before I can get to a dealer about the fuel gauge.

good luck

Ken