96 Sierra fuel guage bounces as fuel sloshes

[drgerry]

It doesn't look like anyone lives here anymore . . . . I hate to see this place go . . . .

If anyone is home: my 96 6.5L fuel gauge bounces with fuel sloshing. I changed the sending unit but that didn't solve the problem. (I may have gotten a bad unit). Is there anything else I need to look for before I replace the sending unit again (that was a pain to do)?

Thanks

[DmaxMaverick]

We're still here. This is what it looks like when all the questions have been asked and answered. New questions are few.

If replacing the sender didn't change anything, suspect the gauge, or IPC (Instrument Panel Cluster). It has its own logic on the board. I don't recall the model year they changed, but the gauges may be steppers, rather than the older coil/resistor types. Either are repairable, if not electrically burned or physically damaged. An OBD-II scanner can show the actual fuel level as the electronics sees it. If if doesn't track the gauge, then the problem is the gauge. If the digital value bounces around like the gauge, then you have a sender or harness issue. Also check that the tank is secure, and not able to move (wobble in the straps). A sloshing/moving tank will also move the harness and connectors.

[DickWells]

Hi. Been waiting for someone to post that question, or, trying to remember to post it, myself. My 95 diesel Burb's fuel gauge started bouncing, back 6-8 years ago. Was swinging almost 360 degrees and, of course, failed to read anywhere near correctly. I've always half-way suspected that it is/was the little stepper(s) in the cluster, based on our son's experience with a 95 Tahoe. He was smart enough to send the cluster in and have it refurbished with new steppers and LED indicators. It was $125 IIRC. Worth every penny. But, his old man only managed to pull the cluster and put a tiny little brass screw just below the E and just above the F, to stop the swing! Well, it worked, to a degree. The needle has always stopped, tight against the F screw, and stays that way through some 150 miles of driving, and I've become fairly adept at guessing when to start thinking about a re-fill, about the time that the needle is just below 3/4's. I don't know how many times I've let the handle click off, my usual 3 times and turned to the pump and found it showing 27-something gallons. With that 42 gallon tank, I've grown quite complacent with my consumption estimates.

So, I think you've sort of answered my questions, Maverick, and, I'm pretty certain that GM was using those steppers by 95, possibly by 93. As to what will motivate the Old Fart to send that cluster in- - - ???
Maybe the fact that Jean and Lance conspired to give me a nice set of LED front light for Christmas, just might do it.

Uh? Where did the emojies and the auto-save feature go??? Just wondering. I re-wrote a good morning message , twice, the other day, while leaving the Page to look something up, only to come back and failing to find the auto-save, making 3, total, then gave up. Not a big problem, but, I'm just wondering if something has dropped out on this-here tablet gizmo?

Here's to steady gauges.