2002 Buick Fuel gauge

[Gatores]

My daughter has a 2002 Buick Century. The fuel gauge doesn't work. It will read Full or Empty but once in awhile somewhere inbetween but not accurately. It doesn't move gradually as you use the gas. Any clues? Thanks!

[Jeremy airjer W]

My first thought is the sending unit. A quick way to check these is unplugging the connector to the fuel pump module. install either a variable resistor or a couple different resistors like a 150 ohm and a 60 ohm (variable and individual resistors are available at your local radio shack) in series with the purple wire. One end to the purple wire one end to ground. wait a couple seconds to see if the gauge goes to a different level other than full or empty. If it does the sending unit is bad. If it doesn't that there is an issue with wiring or the gauge itself.

[berdman]

Very common for the sending unit to go bad on these Buicks. Replaced wifes Le Sabre and folks have the same issue. Not sure on the Century but the Le Sabre had a door in the truck to open to get to the sending unit on top of gas tank. You can order them on-line.

[Gatores]

As far as I have been able to figure out it is my sending unit, but I dont know if a Century is different from an Lesabre but my sending unit is part of the fuel pump. The only way to replace it is to replace the entire fuel pump. Any know if I am correct on that? I do have the cover in the trunk to accesss the pump.

Thanks

[Big Buck Buster]

Some fuel level senders are available separate. You will still have to pull the pump assembly out to replace it.

I have never had a century with an access hole in the trunk. This would be news to me if there was one. The fuel tank sits under the rear seats. Tank will have to be dropped to replace.