If you have a broken gas guage, read this...

[laydout97]

I know alot of people on here, including me, that dont have a working gas guage. I replaced the sending unit and the guage cluster for nothing. I spent hours tracing wires and pulling the bed off to check connections. I finally found the solution to the problem.

This is called a fuel level buffer.

Im not sure how, but this controls the gas guage.



I have a 97 s10, so the location may be different for other vehicles.

This was located on the passenger side of the dash.

To access it, you need to remove the lower part of the dash that covers the ac condensor/ heater core. theres 2 7mm bolts that hold it on.

After you remove the lower piece of the dash as shown in the pic, reach up in the dash and you will fell something wrapped in foam and velcroed to the dash


Once you find it remove the the foam and the velcro to expose the buffer.


Pop the cap on the top of it off.


Next pull the buffer out, you might have to wiggle it back and forth for it to come out.


Install the new buffer, reinstall the cap, foam, and velcro and place it back in the dash.

Reinstall the cover and 7mm bolts, and your done.

I hope this helps anyone you has spent as much time as me trying to figure this out. I got the buffer from a junk yard for 5.00.

[BobOnAir]

Fock, I replaced my sending unit, but I havn't hooked up a guage to it yet to see if that was it!

[laydout97]

as i said, i relpaced sending unit, guage cluster and spent hours tracing and checking connections/wires.

[Gearstix]

my gauge said full when i got my truck. we added gas to the tank and it kept going past full. i should grab a couple of these when i go to pick a part, maybe that will fix it.

[digbmx4130]

I'm gonna have to look into this. I can't tell you how long my gas gauge hasn't worked. Is it the same for 98+?

[laydout97]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gearstix

my gauge said full when i got my truck. we added gas to the tank and it kept going past full. i should grab a couple of these when i go to pick a part, maybe that will fix it.

that sounds like the needle has been removed and put back on in the wrong position, or the float is bent. My guage didnt move at all, it went to "fuel" and stayed there. Im not saying that the buffer wouldnt fix it though.

[laydout97]

Quote: Originally Posted by digbmx4130

I'm gonna have to look into this. I can't tell you how long my gas gauge hasn't worked. Is it the same for 98+?

It should have a buffer, but im not sure if its in the same location.

[digbmx4130]

do you have full size pictures?

[laydout97]

Quote: Originally Posted by digbmx4130

do you have full size pictures?

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1208140450
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1208140473
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1208140507
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1208140529
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1208140556
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...g?t=1208140576

[digbmx4130]

thank you sir

[laydout97]

no problem

[slammedblack99]

wow thanks! i hope this works for mine! i havent had a gas gauge in soooo long

[growth]

I looked on my 2K and can't find one. Also I got the factory manual and it doesn't show anything about it. Anybody else find it on a 2K?

[fox_truth7]

my gas gauge has been wack for about 2 years now, was debating replacing the pump and sending unit

[laydout97]

Quote: Originally Posted by growth

I looked on my 2K and can't find one. Also I got the factory manual and it doesn't show anything about it. Anybody else find it on a 2K?

I have a haynes and chiltons manual, neither said anything about it. I found out about it by 502jet. he was helping me with the problem and mentioned it one night. I looked and looked and I finally found it. replaced the broken one, problem solved.

[RED ROCKET52]

This is called a fuel level buffer.

OK guys are we sure that its scientific dealership name is a fuel level buffer. And do we know for sure that 98 and ^ have this part because the guy at the dealer basically thought i was crazy when i asked about it. And i cant find it under the passenger side dash.

[laydout97]

Quote: Originally Posted by RED ROCKET52

This is called a fuel level buffer.

OK guys are we sure that its scientific dealership name is a fuel level buffer. And do we know for sure that 98 and ^ have this part because the guy at the dealer basically thought i was crazy when i asked about it. And i cant find it under the passenger side dash.

No I am not absolutley positive that this is what it is called. 502jet told me that was the name of it and like i said I am not positive that the 98+ have them, if they do have them, they may not be in the same place as the 94-97. I found mine velcroed to the top side of the dash after I took the lower panel off and reached up inside the dash.

[primerdnoma]

I'm pretty sure the name of it is right, I've replaced one before when I worked at a garage.

[cam75w/ls1]

I checked my Alldata and that part is indeed a "Fuel Sender Buffer Module" located above/behind the glovebox. I looked at the wiring on a 1998 and it's not there so I think it's safe to assume 1997 and older have these.

[RED ROCKET52]

Thanks everyone i really appreciate your posts too bad the 98 and ups dont have them because i dont want to replace the whole sending unit and i dont think my gauge is bad because it still goes from full to empty so it moves at least.

[Dr. Steve]

**** that shit, clock the mileage...

It is too much for me to ask to have a working gas gauge...Really.

[tuckn20s]

did this make your gauge go past full ant sit there

[sonomanator]

is this only if it doesnt work at all or is it if it move around from e to full

[laydout97]

Quote: Originally Posted by tuckn20s

did this make your gauge go past full ant sit there

yes it went to "fuel" like 90* to the right and it sat there, no movement.

[laydout97]

Quote: Originally Posted by sonomanator

is this only if it doesnt work at all or is it if it move around from e to full

im guessing doesnt work at all, but it may be the cause of it going from full to empty at random.



I dont know if anyone else has seen this but when you buy a new fuel pump, most of them come with a new connector. You may be able to buy the "improved" connector at the dealer. That may be the problem with the floating needle. The old plug is a square plug. The new one is a flat plug.

[sonomanator]

idk its not even a big deal but if it would fix it i would do it but im not going to try unless i know for sure thanks for this tho i may try it.

[MARS2878]

i know what im trying this weekend
im tired of the random needle jumping
sounds like a cheaper solution than gauge replacement

[n8rsk8r]

so why is it the needle jumps so much? Is it because of the float/sensor deal? I got gas last night.. drove home and got back in the truck today and it reads more than it did last night

[mister880]

Quote: Originally Posted by n8rsk8r

so why is it the needle jumps so much? Is it because of the float/sensor deal? I got gas last night.. drove home and got back in the truck today and it reads more than it did last night

mine does the same thing. it's an 01 - it will jump around alot. if i go start my truck right now - it will say empty, even though i know i have a 1/4 of a tank.

[n8rsk8r]

Quote: Originally Posted by mister880

mine does the same thing. it's an 01 - it will jump around alot. if i go start my truck right now - it will say empty, even though i know i have a 1/4 of a tank.

EXACTLY! What a crappy design/part

[npor]

was there any visible damage to your fuel level buffer?

like any burn marks on the circuit board or anything?



here is what my fuel gauge does.
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y28...t=MVI_3363.flv

[LM_67_Nova]

In my 2000 S10 the gauge will register from past full down to a little past 1/2.
The dam thing will act like it is working fine while driving around, shows 1/2 tank and around 200 miles on the trip meter.
Get it home and try to start it the next time out and it will be out of gas. Have to get the 5 gallon can out and put enough gas in it to get to the station.

[laydout97]

Quote: Originally Posted by npor

was there any visible damage to your fuel level buffer?

like any burn marks on the circuit board or anything?



here is what my fuel gauge does.
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y28...t=MVI_3363.flv

your guage looks normal. does it go over to "fuel" or just to the "F" mark? yes, there was a burned spot on the buffer.

[npor]

no matter how much is in the tank, it always reads full.

even when i was on the side of the road with a truck that just ran out of fuel, it'll still tell me its full.

[laydout97]

could be the buffer, but mine went to "fuel" and it didnt move at all, even when you switched the key on and off. You could pull the buffer out and look at it very closely to make sure that it doesnt have a burned spot in it.

[BJRay21]

My gauage is very much broken, minus the fact when ya turn the key on it ALWAYS says I have a half a tank and then it goes to full and remains there sometimes going over and under full. But it is a lie because I ran out on said full tank. The guy I bought it from is going to replace the tank and pump and everything, should I have him look at the buffer too?

[laydout97]

Quote: Originally Posted by BJRay21

My gauage is very much broken, minus the fact when ya turn the key on it ALWAYS says I have a half a tank and then it goes to full and remains there sometimes going over and under full. But it is a lie because I ran out on said full tank. The guy I bought it from is going to replace the tank and pump and everything, should I have him look at the buffer too?

you didnt state what year your truck was so...
94-97 have him check it.
98+ doesnt have it.

[sps2112]

My gas gauge went out about a year ago i also have a 97 but mine went out do to the fact that i was lazy and took my truck to a shop to have a system put in and they arched the ground and my gas gauge was bent from there on out! but it pulled it out and now i cant find anywhere that sells it is it a dealership kinda thing and how much does it cost?

[laydout97]

Quote: Originally Posted by sps2112

My gas gauge went out about a year ago i also have a 97 but mine went out do to the fact that i was lazy and took my truck to a shop to have a system put in and they arched the ground and my gas gauge was bent from there on out! but it pulled it out and now i cant find anywhere that sells it is it a dealership kinda thing and how much does it cost?

what are you looking to buy. the buffer or needle?

[sps2112]

the buffer and if you could do you know were all the chassis grounds are?

[laydout97]

you can get one from a junkyard or the dealer. I got mine from a junkyard for 5bux. I dont know where all the chassis grounds are.

[Faskev]

I have a 2000 Sonoma 2.2L and every once in a while the needle bounces from full to empty and the "low fuel" light comes on. The gauge never reads accurately. Are guys with the 98+ finding they have to replace the fuel sending unit?

[laydout97]

Quote: Originally Posted by Faskev

I have a 2000 Sonoma 2.2L and every once in a while the needle bounces from full to empty and the "low fuel" light comes on. The gauge never reads accurately. Are guys with the 98+ finding they have to replace the fuel sending unit?

I really dont know about the 98+ guys.

[x95SDimex]

Okay, I wonder if mine is the buffer too. When the truck is off, the fuel guage is still pinged to "fuel" (way past F). I got a 4.3. Do you think it'll be the same as you're 2.2?

[laydout97]

yes if its a 97 or below

[x95SDimex]

Quote: Originally Posted by laydout97

yes if its a 97 or below

Yeah, I got a 95. Sweet. I'll check it out.

[S-10_man66]

OMG thanks this is gonna help me alot I just ran out of gas right in front of a Gas station so i was kinda lucky. I just bought my truck 3 days ago too. Im gonna go see if I can find one of these tomorrow, but it kinda sucked to see how much gas this thing takes for the first time. 68.00 bucks

[ivybandit]

I filled mine the other day and not dry, $53.

[spencersa]

see i have a 99' and my prob is when i go to astop at a stoplight , it goes to empty realy fast and then right to full , but when i have half a tank it will move around alot. like bounce around EVERYWHERE between 1/4 -full . so for all the 98 ^ people. i heard you have to replace the fuel level sensor or sending unit which just so happens to be apart of the FP. so you have to rplace the FP and that will solve the prob. i say pass and deal with it lol

[sps2112]

does anyone know if its in anything earlier than 97 like a 96 or 95 tryin to look through the junk yards and cant find a 97. or what about a v6 model?