My 96 FW ran out of gas on me today with two bars showing on digital gage. Before it ran out I had checked the owners manual and according to it I should have been able to go zero bars and get a low fuel idiot light before empty. Never got a low fuel light either. Check engine light started flashing as car was starting to gag on fumes. Now after fill it stays on steady. Anyone have similar experience? Also could anyone assist me in clearing this code? Cars seems to run fine after re-fuel.

My '95 has spells of acting stupid. Luckily, I generally fill it when it gets to the halfway or 200 mile mark, whichever comes first.
I think it's a sticky float.
The indications are that I've filled the tank at 3/4 full and put in 17 gallons!
(Check the owner's manual for tank size) :yup:
Other times I've seen half a tank and the nozzle fought with me to put more than FIVE gallons in the tank. Later I confirmed this since I drove a lot and the five gallons was realistic.
Techron additive seems to help, as does an occasional dose of Marvel Mystery Oil. Other than that, I think it means dropping the tank and replacing the float to get reliable indications.
And that means big bucks.

My Brougham did the exact same thing quite frequently. I ran out of gas several times at two bars, but I finally learned to get gas at that point. Usually it would go down to none and blink, but other times it wouldn't. Then sometimes it couldn't make up it's mind. It'd be blinking when I got home at night, then in the morning it was back up to 2 bars. I just learned to work with, though. I would know when 2 bars stayed up too long. GM gauges are known to be just plain inaccurate at under a quarter tank. Probably nothing wrong with the gauge or the float. I guess they expected Caddy owners to be wealthy enough to never let it get that low...lol.

Good luck with it, but I personally wouldn't be bothered by it. :thumbsup:

Greg

The GM B/D body cars are known for often having an incorrect fuel gauge readout...some can run to nothing and still be okay, and others have a few bars and run out.

When I bought my '95, for instance, it had 1 lowly bar on the gauge, and just pulling out of the dealer, had 0 and the light was flashing. Filled it quickly, but I can't help but think the long time (it was overly low like that for a month or more at the dealer) was a big factor in accelerating my pump burning up, wires frying and all, a month or so later when I started driving it again.

To be safe, the key idea is just to not go too far below a quarter, and re-fill. Even if there is still enough in there, you're only accelerating frying the pump that's cooled by the gas around it...which is also a common thing.

Mine's always been accurate, both before and after all the new fuel system parts, but I still stick to the 1 bar below a quarter at the LOWEST, before hitting the station.

There is a fix for it: http://www.bradley.capitalclimate.com/bbody/bbody.html

I bought the parts to fix mine, but haven't got around to doing it yet. Mine has left me stranded with 4 bars, but often I can get to 2 also.

There also was an issue like this that a pinched hose in the evaporative emissions that causes some problems like this. Opening gas cap might/should help. Supposedly mine would do this (previous owner said), but it never helped me.....

But calibrating the sender is best to do in my not always so humble opinion.... (IMNASHO)

According to what I see at the site, it's NOT trouble with the tank, it's
TROUBLE WITH THE GAUGE!
What's also very interesting is "fleet discounts" for guys going together and buying in bunches.
Anybody willing to join in and try out the thingy?
It sure as hell is a lot easier than dropping the whole flippin tank!:banghead:

Mine is not accurate at all. This is an associated problem with all other B Bodies as I recall . I never driver under 3 bars too

The fix-it kit shows a needle type kit as used on an Impala SS.
Would this same kit work with the digital dash on the FWB?
N0DIH - Am I correct in understanding that you bought one of the kits and that you believe it WILL work with the digital dash?:hmm:

This happened to me once.... 2 bars and it ran out... :( lol....

I contacted the guy with the calibrators in July to see if it worked on Fleeetwoods. Here is his reply. I couldn't find a manual so I just forgot about it.

Quote: "Unfortunately, right now I have not adapted the fuel gauge calibrator to the Cadillac platform (D-Body). HOWEVER, if you have a service manual with wiring diagrams please e-mail a scan of them to me. I can read the diagram, find the correct wire, and send you a FREE calibrator with the understanding that you let me know how it worked for you. I "think" the D-body wire is pink (B-body = purple wire). FWIW, all GM/Chevrolet cars use the same 0-90 ohm sending unit. The trick is finding the correct signal wire to tap. Are you willing to be the man?

Thank you,
Bradley Salemie"

Now, THERE'S an offer a good man couldn't refuse. Right?
I'd jump at the offer except for hernia under my right ribs that keep me from doing ANY bending. So I can't have any fun like getting under a dashboard or kneeling beside the car to trace the wires while the door swats me in the back.
N0DIH is also our resident electronics guru, so he might be another candidate for such a mission.
But my '95 just added another lovely page to these tales of screwed up readings.
Something told me to fill the tank since I didn't reset the trip odometer the last time although the gauge showed MID WAY BETWEEN FULL AND 3/4.
That should have taken - maybe - 6 or 7 gallons.
HA!
It took 12!
So something is sure as hell 'way off calibration.:tisk:

I have the parts to put in mine, just need to get there and do it. I looked at the wires some time back, they look the same as the pictures. I am betting they are the same. GM is more consistent than people give them credit for....

I have the parts to put in mine, just need to get there and do it. I looked at the wires some time back, they look the same as the pictures. I am betting they are the same. GM is more consistent than people give them credit for....

I never looked at my wires. When I get my baby back from the shop I'll look and see if mine look the same as the picture.

I'll have to document it. My FSM also shows the same color wires.