Fuel Gauge Problem

I had the same problem last week on my chevy malibu 98. I disconnected my battery for 5 minutes (that is the only thing I did!) and when I restarted the car, I got the same problem than you. I red on the net that somebody suceed to use a paperclip to fix it (there is small hole in the dash for the milleage counter to pass the paper clip). He did let the car running to be sure that the needle was going up and pull the needle.

Hope this help.

the gauge is ran off of electrical currentsome how you had a serge
which threw your gauges for a loopits most common for spedo
gauges but the fuel gauge it gettin popular
Steve C

Did not happen to us that way. The gauge just reversed itself. No battery
hook-up, no ignition on with battery disconnected. Went backwards on its
own.

gas gauge stop working on 97 corvette

Wow, this happened to me also, the battery was pulled and the gauge wwent backwords. Took it to a mechanic he wanted 350.00 to fix. Im going to try the paper clip....

Thanks for the info.

Jim,

What was the recall on the wipers? I have not had anything on this,
and I have been complaining about the wipers/windshield wash position since
I got the car. In my view, it's a design flaw with the windshield wash
positions, as it is not very good.
Just wonderingI have on 02 Malibu

Werner

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I would let the dealer do it. I have heard of other cases of this happening
on Malibu's.

We had the same problem about 2 years ago Went to fill up and noticed that
the fuel gauge needle was stuck below the pin that it normally rests on.
Dealer wanted $800+ to replace the instrument cluster as cluster gauges are
not individually replaceable. I balked about the cost and they removed the
cluster, pulled the needle off and put it back to where it should be. Cost
$80. It appears to have done the job, anyhow a fuel gauge only shows which
way the fuel is going (in or out) and GM fuel gauges have never been that
accurate.

...
Hi

After leaving the dealer for some unrelated (?) work on
windshield wiper recall, I noticed that my fuel gauge needle
was stuck below the pin that it normally rests on when not
activated. When the car was turned off, needle dropped straight
down. Now dealer may not be able to take a look until after the
holidays. Car is original 1997 Malibu. A couple of questions.

1. What are odds that the empty warning will still work if the
needle is acting as above?

2. Any reason to think that working on wiper mechanism would
affect fuel gauge?

3. It sure looks as though problem is simply that needle is on
wrong side of resting pin. If so, could this perhaps be repaired
by pretty much anyone, or should I wait for the dealer?

Thanks very much and happy holidays!

Best wishes
Jim

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James M. Clark (204) 786-9757
Department of Psychology (204) 774-4134 Fax
University of Winnipeg 4L05D
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2E9
CANADA http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/~clark
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Fuel Gauge Problem

This is a problem you should not have to pay for...What happened is
someone hooked your battery up with the ignition switch on...or the
turned the key and the battery wasnt hooked up properlyThus goes the
needleThey can use a pieace of wire and stick it through the whole
where the reset isThere is no getting around this one that is the
only way to jump a needle..
Steve C

Group: alt.autos.chevrolet.malibu Date: Mon, Dec 22, 2003, 9:46am From:
(jim??clark)
Hi
After leaving the dealer for some unrelated (?) work on windshield wiper
recall, I noticed that my fuel gauge needle was stuck below the pin that
it normally rests on when not activated. When the car was turned off,
needle dropped straight down. Now dealer may not be able to take a look
until after the holidays. Car is original 1997 Malibu. A couple of
questions.
1. What are odds that the empty warning will still work if the needle is
acting as above?
2. Any reason to think that working on wiper mechanism would affect fuel
gauge?
3. It sure looks as though problem is simply that needle is on wrong
side of resting pin. If so, could this perhaps be repaired by pretty
much anyone, or should I wait for the dealer?
Thanks very much and happy holidays!
Best wishes
Jim

James M. Clark ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? (204)
786-9757
Department of Psychology ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? (204) 774-4134 Fax
University of Winnipeg ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? 4L05D
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2E9 ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??
CANADA ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??
http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/~clark

Hi Steve and Group

Thanks very much ... worked like a charm (only a long paper clip
rather than a piece of wire). Saved me a lot of wasted hours
tomorrow even if they didn't find some way to charge me.

All the best for the season!

Best wishes
Jim

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James M. Clark (204) 786-9757
Department of Psychology (204) 774-4134 Fax
University of Winnipeg 4L05D
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2E9
CANADA http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/~clark
=