Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!

gas gauge reads empty, tank wont take fuel

Old 02-14-2008, 01:02 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
axotarra's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: NC
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 95 pontiac firebird
Engine: 3.4L crap box
Transmission: 5 speed
gas gauge reads empty, tank wont take fuel

Hey all,

So, my fire chicken is sick again. 5 days ago, I knew my car was empty, the gauge was working everything was fine. I go to the gas station and put 5 gallons in my tank, and then the gauge drops to below empty. I thought maybe the float was messed up or something, so I set my odometer so that I would know how many miles I could drive.

Yesterday, I go to fill up again (the tank is freakin empty mind you) and I can't put more than 4 gallons in until it begins to overflow! My car now reads empty and will only accept 4 gallons or less without overflowing.

Help...
Tarra
Old 02-14-2008, 01:21 PM
  #2  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (34)
 
84redta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Stamford, New York
Posts: 1,983
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 3 Posts
Car: 80 SE/TTA;88 T/A GTA;86 T/A
Engine: 4.9L Turbo; LT1; empty
Transmission: TH350; T56; empty
Axle/Gears: 3:23 disk; 4:10 disk ; 3.42 disk
Re: gas gauge reads empty, tank wont take fuel

is it possible someone vandalized your car and put something in the filler?? Is this on your fourth gen?
Old 02-14-2008, 01:23 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
axotarra's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: NC
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 95 pontiac firebird
Engine: 3.4L crap box
Transmission: 5 speed
Re: gas gauge reads empty, tank wont take fuel

its a 1995 firebird 3.4L v6 and I believe its a 12 gal tank... I dont think anyone messed with it. I am a nerdy girl with little to no frenemies.
Old 02-14-2008, 01:40 PM
  #4  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (1)
 
Sonix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Posts: 10,763
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Car: 1982 Trans-Am
Engine: 355 w/ ported 416s
Transmission: T10, hurst shifter
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, true-trac, 3.73
Re: gas gauge reads empty, tank wont take fuel

Uh, 4thgen.org ?
Fill the tank up, then shake the car, see if the float drops or something. Listen for the slosh to give an idea as to how full it REALLY is.
Old 02-14-2008, 03:44 PM
  #5  
Member
 
mxcrazed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: eastern mass
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 87 firebird none soon
Engine: None
Transmission: none
Axle/Gears: 2.73 10 bolt
Re: gas gauge reads empty, tank wont take fuel

my jeep does this the air isn't venting right IMO but i don't know how to fix that, maybe someone will chime in on that. For now pump slower like really slow it will all get in there,probably.
Old 02-15-2008, 06:30 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Saber's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Tampa/New Hampshire
Posts: 777
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Car: 91 camaro RS, 87 T/A
Engine: 350 TBI, 305 TPI
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen 3.42/BW 3.45
Re: gas gauge reads empty, tank wont take fuel

This happened to my sisters Grand Am recently. For some reason the tank would overflow and wouldnt accept more than 2 gallons. It wound up being a fuel pump, Why it would only take 2 gallons is beyond me but a mechanic replaced the pump and everything worked fine afterwards.
Old 06-19-2022, 08:36 AM
  #7  
Junior Member

 
gerrym's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Suffolk, VA
Posts: 83
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
Car: '89 GTA Convertible
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3:27
Re: gas gauge reads empty, tank wont take fuel

Had a similar issue lately with mine. Fill neck was backing up unless I held the pump's nozzle just right and pumped very slow. Short of dropping the tank... .or a maybe a bore scope. ??

Last edited by gerrym; 06-19-2022 at 08:53 AM.
Old 06-19-2022, 01:39 PM
  #8  
COTM Editor

iTrader: (22)
 
QwkTrip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,886
Likes: 0
Received 1,852 Likes on 1,268 Posts
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: gas gauge reads empty, tank wont take fuel

Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Stevo
Body
8
02-26-2006 01:10 PM
86birdHT
TPI
3
09-03-2005 03:06 PM
Dante93GTZ
Tech / General Engine
4
08-15-2003 02:57 PM
SilverSub122
Electronics
4
02-12-2003 10:09 PM
86FirebirdV8350
Electronics
1
01-19-2003 08:15 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: gas gauge reads empty, tank wont take fuel



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:39 PM.