My parents have a 2000 Impala, good car except all electrical gremlins. Anyways the fuel gauge isn't working correctly, example when starting up shows 1/4 tank backup and it has 1/2. I don't see a listing anywhere for the sender unit for the fuel gauge. Is it built into the fuel pump? Also it is almost impossible to fill the tank. The pressure is to great and causes the gas pump to shut off premature. My first guess would be the vapor canister but I see a listing for a fuel tank pressure sensor. Anyone chevy literate, I work on mainly fords since this is the only chevy in the family. Thanks in advance Eric
2000 impala problems
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JHZR2
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that fillup issue IMO isnt due to the impala having a problem.
My GF's acura has this same problem. My saab cuts out early, but not as bad, and my BMW does the same too. I think that maybe these days the pumps are set to pump faster, or have more sensitive shutoffs?
As for the gauge... good question.
I do know that the gauge in myu 98 chevy truck is more sensitive than any gauge in any other car I have. It is actually what I'd call an 'honest' gauge. It moves with slopes, but it is always right on, even during the first 100mi, when many other cars' gauges dont even budge.
JMH
My GF's acura has this same problem. My saab cuts out early, but not as bad, and my BMW does the same too. I think that maybe these days the pumps are set to pump faster, or have more sensitive shutoffs?
As for the gauge... good question.
I do know that the gauge in myu 98 chevy truck is more sensitive than any gauge in any other car I have. It is actually what I'd call an 'honest' gauge. It moves with slopes, but it is always right on, even during the first 100mi, when many other cars' gauges dont even budge.
JMH
I have a 2000 Monte Carlo, which is basically a 2 door version of the Impala. You can only purchase the fuel pump/gauge sender (called the fuel sending unit) as an assembly. When my gauge started acting up, I found a used one through usedpartsfinder.com and had them ship it to me. Much cheaper that way (about $75, IIRC). In these cars, the easiest way to access the sending unit is by flipping down the back seats, separating the trunk carpeting at the seam (it's velcroed together) and unbolting the hatch cover. To remove the sender, you just have to twist off the retaining ring. There's no need to drop the tank on these cars. It's actually pretty easy as far as car repairs go and might solve the early-shutoff problem, too. Good luck.
That's what I was afraid of. A new pump cost over $200, a junkyard has one for $66 in my area. I guess they used the same fuel pump for several models?? As far as access to it I was suspecting that was the setup they used, the only problem will the amount of dirt on the top of the tank, they live on a dirt road. Cleaning it sounds to be the hardest part of the job. Thanks, Eric
The fuel tank pressure sender won't hurt your gas pumping; it is there for OBDII and is supposed to detect leaks in the fuel tank (that could lose HC to air.) That could be one of the vent hoses, part of the charcoal canister system, or a kink in the filler hose, or a problem with the rollover backflow valve at top of the tank. Wonder if the tank shifted like in a fender bender and jarred some stuff?
The sender I got was from an '01 Impala, so they do interchange to some extent. I would expect that any W-body (Monte Carlo, Impala, Grand Prix, Regal) from a similar year would work. I wouldn't worry too terribly much about the dirt unless it's really excessive. Mine was pretty dirty, too, and I didn't get more than a very few tiny particles in the tank. Certainly nothing to worry about.
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