Guys and Gals,
I A have 1997 Z28 that I just bought "thought I would try the Camaro world".
Any way it has ran out of gas twice at 1/2 tank at first I thought it was the guage but after the second time I realized I only put 9 gallons back in...Bad sensor,bad pick up, or some weird alien in the tank ????? I would appreciate any help with this matter..

 

has the cluster face been changed? I just changed mine and temp and tac gauges
are off a bit. If they've been changed, you might have to adjust them.

 

Not that im aware off but it shouldnt run out with 140 miles on the tank ...

 

How's the engine run? If it's running really bad, it can use a full tank of fuel in 140 miles. Where was the needle on the gauge pointing when it ran out? Do you know if the fuel pump has ever been changed? Its fully submerged in the tank, and would only fail to pick up the fuel if it was the wrong pump or had been installed incorrectly?

 

It runs great only problem is the 210-215 degree temp in traffic but as i read on here that is normal .Dont know if the fuel pump has been changed or any other work has been done..The guage the first time was between 1/4 and 1/2 this time just under half..the car has 120000 miles on it but was as clean as they come you can eat off the motor...Confused because I only put 9 gallons of gas back in it plus the gallon of gas to get to gas station..It didnt run bad only shut off I stopped got it refired and went a 1/4 of amile and shut off again put a gallon of gas in it started right up and got to the gas station.

 

Fuel pump might be starting to fail...

 

Good point , I would think it would have troubles at a full tank also or I would have trouble with starting and full throttle response ???

 

It's not un-common or un-heard of for some GM sending units to fail (the float inside the tank that tells the gas gauge where to read). And the fuel pumps themselves are known to fail as well, so chances are, if you need a new sending unit and/or fuel pump, since they're one complete unit, you'll solve all the problems at once!

But first, in terms of how much mileage you get to a tank, did you start from completely FULL and only got ~140 miles on the tank, then the car quit?? It's "possible", but that's pretty bad mileage. If you know you have lots of fuel, but the car still quits, then it does sound like it could be the fuel pump failing.

 

Be careful.. if it is actually 'running out', as that tends to kill the fuel pump since it uses the fuel to cool it during operation..

 

If you only put 9 gallons in after you ran out of gas then Id think the pump isnt fully submerged in the tank.

 

Thanks guys all of that sounds like great advice I guess I should just replace the fuel pump and hope that solves the problem ..To answer your questions I filled it from half tank, guage said full ,set tripometer ran 140 miles ran out than put in 9 gallons back in...I have only had the car for about a month and so I never let it run under 1/2 tank , except for the first time I drove it and it did the same thing, I thought the guage was just off

 

Ok talked to my mechanics in the back, of course they are bike mechanics but anyway they suggested changing the fuel filter and running a fuel cleaner through a tank of gas ,and also un hooking the battery to reset everything !!!!

 

Changing the fuel filter is an excellent idea, easy/cheap to do and if nothing else, just to eliminate it. You could also put a fuel pressure gauge on it.

 

My 92 does the same thing! It runs out at 1/3 tank and when you feel it up, it doesnt hold near as much as it is supposed to. I have been wondering about this also.

 

Chop...you gave a possible hint when you said you filled it up to the "Full" mark. When you fill these puppies clear to the top they generally show way over full. My needle goes up so far...it's almost full and 1/2. When I get down around 1/2 (apprx. 250 miles)...I fill it up again. She sometimes takes 11 gallons. Fill it ALL the way up...not just so the needle is on "F".
Drive On !!...
Fast Freddie