FUEL GAGE READS EMPTY WITH FULL FUEL TANK

SUBJECT: FUEL GAGE READS EMPTY WITH FULL FUEL TANK (INSTALL 2000 OHM RESISTOR IN PARALLEL WITH FUEL SENDER)

VEHICLES AFFECTED: 1992-93 "H" MODEL

THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES AND REPLACES CORPORATE BULLETIN REFERENCE NUMBER 308102.** THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO DELETE "AS SHOWN IN FIGURE 1 BELOW" FROM NUMBER 5.

APPLICATION:

----------- 1992-93 Pontiac Bonneville SSE and SSEi vehicles

CONDITION:

--------- Some 1992-93 Pontiac Bonneville SSE and SSEi vehicles may exhibit a condition where the fuel gage needle goes to empty when the fuel tank is completely full. If this occurs, the chime sounds and the "CHECK GAGES" message comes on the display. After a short period of time (30 seconds to 10 minutes of driving), the gage will recover and begin working again.

CAUSE:

----- The cause of this condition is a high resistance build-up on the fuel tank sender. The cluster interprets this high resistance (typically 105 ohms) as an electrical fault and sends the fuel gage needle to empty.

CORRECTION:

---------- The condition may be corrected by installing a 2000 ohm (2 kOhm) resistor in parallel with the fuel sender.

DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR:

Refer to section 8A-81 in the Service Manual for circuit details.

1. If the owner explains that the fuel gage goes to empty when the fuel tank is filled then begins working after some time, follow steps 2 through 9 below. If the fuel gage is at empty all of the time, follow the diagnostic procedures in the Service Manual for the cause of the condition.

2. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

3. Remove the lower rear seat cushion.

4. Locate the conduit on the left side of the car and expose the Purple (circuit #30) and Black/White (circuit #803) wires. Be careful to get the correct wires since there is also a purple/white wire in the opposite bundle.

The correct purple and black/white wires are in the wiring bundle that has the clear level ride line (ELC) in it.

5. Strip back about 13 mm (1/2 inch) of insulation from each wire. Do not cut the wires.

6. Solder one end of the resistor to the purple wire and the other end to the black/white wire as shown in the figure. A 1/4 or 1/2 watt 2000 ohm resistor is recommended. However, the resistor can be from 1800 ohms (1.8 kOhms) to 2200 ohms (2.2 kOhms). You can buy this resistor at your local electronics store.

7. Tape the connections to prevent any electrical shorts.

8. Put the wires back into the conduit, install the rear seat pad, and connect the battery.

9. Turn the ignition and verify the fuel gage works correctly.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

For vehicles repaired under warranty use:

Labour Time: 0.4 HRS

General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, do not assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.