2004 Chevy Astro fuel guage

Tiny
TBONE188
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 CHEVROLET ASTRO
Electrical problem
2004 Chevy Astro 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

I just filled up my Astro with gas. This is the first time because I just bought it. The gas guage showed almost empty, when I filled it it only came up to a little over half a tank. Where is the problem more likely to be? Is it in the guage or would it more likely be in the tank?
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Thursday, March 25th, 2010 AT 9:02 AM

21 Replies

Tiny
TOOOMANYTOYS
  • MECHANIC
  • 513 POSTS
This vehicle is common to have fuel level sensor issues. Which is in the fuel tank. Sometimes if the level sensor is bad it will set a trouble code. Have the vehicle scanned to see if any codes are set.
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Thursday, March 25th, 2010 AT 9:13 AM
Tiny
WCP69
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 CHEVROLET ASTRO
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 170 MILES
My fuel gage is reading empty when I know there's gas in the tank. The engine turns over but doesn't start. I added 5 gal. Of gas just to make sure I wasn't really out of gas. The gauge nver moved and the engine still doesn't start. Then I looked into the fuse box and rhought that it might have been the relay switch, so I replaced that. And the same problem occurred. No gauge reading and no start. Is there something else I could check? I will note that I drove home from work and moved my van ro another parking spot about 3 hours before it wouldn't start again. I will also note that my duel pump was replaced in February 2011
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
PROTECH1980
  • MECHANIC
  • 901 POSTS
Your going to have to find out what is missing (spark,fuel pressure, pulse) go to this link to assist you: https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
IFU1992
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 CHEVROLET ASTRO
My gas gague jumps around and almost never reads the correct amount of fuel. My computer doesn't show the correct amout of miles either. I have already put fuel system cleaner in it to see if that would fix it. What can I do to fix the problem?
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Take the fuel pump connector loose. Use a resistor on the proper wire terminal, see if the gage reacts properly? Purple wire with white tracer and solid black wire, use proper resistor in between the two terminals, key on. 250 ohm resistor, the gage should show full. 40 ohm resistor, the gage shows empty. If the gage reacts properly, the sending unit in the gas tank is suspect. Radioshack sells resistors, they are cheap.
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Have the trouble codes checked, manufacturer specific as well as generic.
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WOPPERSAGE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 CHEVROLET ASTRO
  • 4.3L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 230,000 MILES
Going down the road most of the dashboard warning lights come on and then temp and fuel gauges go to zero? However it runs okay.
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,699 POSTS
Have the charging system professionally load-tested. In particular, the full-load output current must be close to the rated value of the generator, and "ripple" voltage must be low. GM has had a real lot of trouble with their generators since they redesigned them for the '87 model year. It's common to go through four to six replacements in the life of the vehicle. If the generator fails its tests, to reduce the number of repeat failures, replace the battery at the same time unless it is less than about two years old. These generators develop huge voltage spikes that can damage the generator's internal voltage regulator and diodes, and interfere with computer sensor signals. The battery is the key component in damping and absorbing those spikes, but as it ages and the lead flakes off the plates, it loses its ability to do that.
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MICHELLE426
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 CHEVROLET ASTRO
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 250,000 MILES
My gas gauge hasn't been working for over two years and I hate not knowing how much gas is in there and having to go by mileage, I always end up doing it wrong and running out of gas! I cant keep doing this because I have kids and I just cant run out of gas any where with kids in the car. This van also has no reverse or first gear but still drives fine and the engine still sounds great. I can deal with the no reverse ive done it pretty much since ive gotten the car, it went out while driving it though. I just need to fix the gas gauge
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
The fuel gauge problem can be a couple things. However, usually the float rheostat goes bad and sends a bad signal. The bad part is the float is part of the fuel pump (not cheap) and the fuel tank needs removed to replace it. Please keep in mind, there are other things that could cause it. None of which are cheap. The rheostat sends a signal to the body control module (BCM) and then it sends the signal to the gauge. Either could be bad too.
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ILOVEMYJEEP
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1999 CHEVROLET ASTRO
1999 Chevy Astro 6 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic

the fuel gage vibrates while van is running all other needles ar stationary I dont get it at all can any one help its got a touch more than 144000 on it
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RLRSGR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Check the ground wire for the gauge. This sometimes happens with a loose or bad connection.
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
The fuel sending unit is part of the pump assembly. They have been known to go bad. Also, check to see if there are any lose connections on the pump wiring harness and check for good grounds.
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DAYVALM
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • CHEVROLET ASTRO
My 1998 Astro LS rear wheel drive, about 115,000 miles, 4.3L has a weird fuel gauge needle vibration. It vibrates side to side a very small but noticeable amount, and quite rapidly. The fuel pump went out last summer, so I replaced the entire pump assembly, rather than just the pump, in hopes that maybe the sending unit was faulty(replaced with AC Delco), but it still vibrates, and doesn't matter how full the tank is. Any ideas?
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JEFTFIELDS
  • MEMBER
  • 74 POSTS
Sounds like the resistor might be causing your problem, the res, is on the back of the gauge, if that dont fix the problem I would say its the gauge it self.
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GERARDOS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 172,000 MILES
My 1997 Chevy Astro fuel meter got stucked on the 'full' posission, this means that, when I run out of gas, my gas gauge it would still show 'full', this problem has cause me getting out of gas and stuck on the road. What can be the problem, Can you please help.

Thank You. Gerardo.
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,938 POSTS
Hi there,

T you for the donation,

This will be a faulty sender unit with is located in the fuel tank, you will have to get the fuel tank removed and there is a special tool required to unlock the sender retainer before it can be removed, the fuel pump will be mounter with in the sender assembly so this will have to be transferred to new unit.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
IHADURMOMMA09
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,243 MILES
97 chevy astro van gas gauge reads full flickers with turn signal reads empty when it is empty and now wont start can hear fuel pump come on
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Now wont start can hear fuel pump come on

Do below to determine if its a fuel or spark problem

Get a helper disconnect a sparkplug wire or 2 and ground it to the engine atleast 3/16 away from ground-have helper crank engine over-do you have a snapping blue spark? If so-you have a fuel related problem, Do you hear the fuel pump come On when you turn key on? If not check fuel pump fuse and fuel pump relay if okay-check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, coil's resistances, cap and rotor, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, cam and crank sensors and computer Note: If it doesn't apply disregard it and keep testing
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KROICE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO
Hello I have a 1997 chevy Astro van, and the fuel is not reading out, so we dont know if we have a full tank half a tank or what, we have changed fusses, we also took it to the shop because the whole dash board was not reading out, like the gear you put it in the speedometer the fuel. The people at the shop said they where able to repair everything else but the fuel. I was thinking the fuel float was stuck. It is an automatic. Any help would be appreciated. And any help to fix it at home.
Thanks.
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Sunday, August 18th, 2019 AT 9:26 AM (Merged)

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