2003 Duramax Fuel Gauge Problems

[JPW77]

Hello everyone, I'm new here and am hoping I can find some help. I drive the truck listed in my signature and the fuel gauge stays on empty with the low fuel light on and yes there is fuel in the truck. Anyway, I'm led to believe that I need a new sending unit. I've been told that a dealer can use my VIN and do a TSB search and that there is a TSB with a PDF document attached regarding fuel level senders. The PDF supposedly lists the float sender as a separate part number and it's much cheaper than the nearly $300 for the complete fuel sender and module. I've also been told that the sender without the module cannot be looked up through the regular GM parts catalog. Is there anyone here that could help me out in locating this TSB document and part number? I would be eternally grateful!

[rbarrios]

before you replace it...
I would run a bottle or 2 of Techron.
Look for the Techron fuel system cleaner that says it also cleans sulfur to help with erratic gas gauges. (im guessing some places may still have the older bottles).

Sulfur builds up on the sender- and this leads to incorrect resistance readings--- and a gas gauge that reads wrong........

so Id do that 1st and see if it makes a difference.

[JPW77]

After further research I believe the TSB's I'm looking for are these:

# TSB #040849019 -- CRANKS BUT NO START, STALL, INACCURATE/INCORRECT FUEL GAUGE READING, NO FUEL, VEHICLE IS OUT OF FUEL AND FUEL GAUGE READS ABOVE EMPTY. *TT THIS BULLETIN REPLACES PREVIOUS BULLETIN NUMBER 04-08-49-019. *TT (NHTSA ID #10011222, AUGUST 01 2004)

# TSB #3087 -- UPDATED PART NUMBER FOR BULLETIN 04-08-49-019 STALL, INACCURATE/INCORRECT FUEL GAUGE READING. *TT (NHTSA ID #10009516, JANUARY 01 2004)

Thank you to anyone that may be able to help me out!

[JPW77]

Originally Posted by rbarrios

before you replace it...
I would run a bottle or 2 of Techron.
Look for the Techron fuel system cleaner that says it also cleans sulfur to help with erratic gas gauges. (im guessing some places may still have the older bottles).

Sulfur builds up on the sender- and this leads to incorrect resistance readings--- and a gas gauge that reads wrong........

so Id do that 1st and see if it makes a difference.

Is that safe for diesel use? I'll have to look into that.

[rbarrios]

ohhhh sorry... I totally oversaw that...
Should have known... DURAMAX DIESEL.....

I dont know if techron works with diesel...
Id say skip the techron until we know its ok to use.
techron and the sulfur buildup is for regular gas...

sorry.

[steve jones]

I had a 2001 Duramax that had the same problem. I had the dealership fix it. The mechanic explained that the fuel gage sending unit, within the fuel tank, had become corroded and had to be replaced. It was very expensive, about $700.00. The mechanic told me that moisture and impurities in the fuel was the reason. I started changing the fuel filter every 10,000 miles and the problem did not return.

[scooter10572]

the level sensor or fuel sender should be available seperately and any gm parts guy should be able to look it up,although I cant say for sure but most are.some sensors are part of the fuel module and available no other way unfortunately.