02 Lesabre Gas gauge issue

Can anyone provide me with some advice on why the gas gauge in my 2002 Lesabre bouncing around all of the time? When I fill it up it does show as being full but then as it goes down between a half and 3/4 it starts to bounce all around, sometimes it shows full when I know it isn't and then it also drops to empty when I know it isn't. This is the kind of thing that I know I will get whacked for if I bring it in to get fixed w/o a good idea as to what it is......Can anyone help?

 

common problem on those cars. most likely it's a bad float in the gas tank. if you decide to have it fixed consider replacing your fuel pump also, if it's the original pump and you have over 70k on your car. run the fuel as low as you can without running out of gas, makes the tank a lot lighter to R&R. good luck.

 

My car has 66K on it, any idea what that would run if I had to have it done at a shop? My work schedule is not going to provide me with much free time to get to that myself.

 

a lot of variables involved for a price. depends if an independent shop or a dealership does it, where they get the part from, how much their hourly shop labor is. you might be able to let the fuel pump go, but keep in mind to replace your float, they have to remove the fuel pump and transfer it to the new float. sooner or later those fuel pumps all go. make some calls, and get some estimates before you decide who to bring it to. i'd say about 300.00 dollars for just the float and labor, maybe 500.00 dollars for the float and fuel pump. if you go that far have the fuel filter changed if it's been longer thah a year. good luck

 

Got a 2000 and at 90k did the same. Just learned to live with it as it is a hassle to drop the tank and buy a new fuel pump assembly, around $300. I just use the trip odometer and track the miles used between each fill up. Figure if the pump starts to go then I'll correct it. But now I got 193,000 on it, just won't die (a good thing) runs great and I haven't run out of gas.

 

Our '01 was an easy fix, there's an access plate in the trunk. The only hard part was getting the locking ring back on without breaking some plastic ears off.

Sending Units and Window Regulators - 2 examples of GM cheaping out on their parts/design.

 

Can you tell me more about the process through the trunk?

 

pull the trunk carpet there should be an access plate with a few screws in it that will give you access to the top of the tank and the fuel pump assembly(MODULE) will come out through that hole take everything out of the trunk make sure you have some rags and try not to spill fuel all over the trunk you also may be able to get just the sensor for the module it is the electrical part that the float is connected to and not have to replace the complete unit. call your local dealer to get the sensor part#88963639
$225 is LIST they should sell you one for about $159

you should change the fuel filter every 15000 miles and the pump will last the life of the car also try never to run below 1/4 tank of fuel the fuel surrounds the pump and helps keep it cool.

also if you are going to do this yourself the locking ring that holds the moduel to the tank i a pain in the a## to get off and back on it can be done with a small punch and hammer. try to do it with 1/4 tank the less fuel the less mess you will make of the trunk

i have been a buick dealer guy for 25 years hope this helps

Jamie

 

jamie, how long has buick been putting this access cover in the trunk? i knew a lot of the foreign cars had this cover.

 

john pretty sure the year was 2000 for lesaber and 99 for park ave right when those bodys changed to the next style i would have to check for the century and regal i have been a manager since 96 so tough to remember everything esp 10 years ago