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!
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

gas gauge reads empty, tank wont take fuel

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 14, 2008 | 01:02 PM
  #1  
axotarra's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: NC
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
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2008 | 01:21 PM
  #2  
84redta's Avatar
Supreme Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,983
Likes: 6
From: Stamford, New York
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?
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2008 | 01:23 PM
  #3  
axotarra's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: NC
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.
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2008 | 01:40 PM
  #4  
Sonix's Avatar
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,763
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, AB, Canada
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.
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2008 | 03:44 PM
  #5  
mxcrazed's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
From: eastern mass
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.
Reply
Old Feb 15, 2008 | 06:30 PM
  #6  
Saber's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 777
Likes: 4
From: Tampa/New Hampshire
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.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2022 | 08:36 AM
  #7  
gerrym's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 83
Likes: 7
From: Suffolk, VA
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; Jun 19, 2022 at 08:53 AM.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2022 | 01:39 PM
  #8  
QwkTrip's Avatar
COTM Editor
20 Year Member
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,396
Likes: 2,067
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: gas gauge reads empty, tank wont take fuel

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




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:02 PM.