Out of storage concerns

[John M.]

This year before finally getting my 1994 LT1 out of "winter" storage a few days ago I noticed several things that concerned me.

1. The digital fuel gauge read "Reserve". I went and got 5 gallons of gas and poured it in the tank, then another 5 gallons. I didn't want to move the car not knowing what was in the tank and sputtering to the roadside on the way home. I don't keep this car at my residence. Well, 3 of the 2nd 5 gallons filled the tank to the filler. Now I know there is gas in the tank! But the gauge still reads "Reserve". Even when I push the "FUEL RESET" button.
2. The "SERVICE LTPWS" warning is lit up on the console display panel, and stays lit.
3. The "CHECK GAUGES" warning is lit up on the dash display, and stays lit.
4. The "OFF" & "AUTO" buttons on the climate control panel are inoperative.

Well, now I know the car has gas, regardless what the fuel gauge says, so I start the car. Starts right up, this gal wants to run. I take the car down the highway to smooth out any tire flat-spots. The 4 concerns listed above are still with me. I first drive home 2.3 miles away. When I restart the car my 4th concern has corrected itself and the "OFF" & "AUTO" buttons are working as they should. Now to smooth out the tires. I head for the nearest town down Highway 93, 16 miles away, which is Eleva, WI., When I get there I stop the car but do not turn it off. Now I notice all of a sudden that my other 3 concerns have corrected themselves. The gas gauge shows full, the "CHECK GAUGES" warning is not lit, and the "SERVICE LTPWS" warning is not lit.

My question is this: Is this something that is normal for a stored C4 car and can be expected if you remove the battery? Which I do for storage, but I don't seem to have trouble when I use a battery disconnect when parking the car for a shorter period of time. Does this involve the computer system relearning the system? And something we just have to live with?

Save the Wave ............ JGM

[Terry M.]

Re: Out of storage concerns

This year before finally getting my 1994 LT1 out of "winter" storage a few days ago I noticed several things that concerned me.

1. The digital fuel gauge read "Reserve". I went and got 5 gallons of gas and poured it in the tank, then another 5 gallons. I didn't want to move the car not knowing what was in the tank and sputtering to the roadside on the way home. I don't keep this car at my residence. Well, 3 of the 2nd 5 gallons filled the tank to the filler. Now I know there is gas in the tank! But the gauge still reads "Reserve". Even when I push the "FUEL RESET" button.
2. The "SERVICE LTPWS" warning is lit up on the console display panel, and stays lit.
3. The "CHECK GAUGES" warning is lit up on the dash display, and stays lit.
4. The "OFF" & "AUTO" buttons on the climate control panel are inoperative.

Well, now I know the car has gas, regardless what the fuel gauge says, so I start the car. Starts right up, this gal wants to run. I take the car down the highway to smooth out any tire flat-spots. The 4 concerns listed above are still with me. I first drive home 2.3 miles away. When I restart the car my 4th concern has corrected itself and the "OFF" & "AUTO" buttons are working as they should. Now to smooth out the tires. I head for the nearest town down Highway 93, 16 miles away, which is Eleva, WI., When I get there I stop the car but do not turn it off. Now I notice all of a sudden that my other 3 concerns have corrected themselves. The gas gauge shows full, the "CHECK GAUGES" warning is not lit, and the "SERVICE LTPWS" warning is not lit.

My question is this: Is this something that is normal for a stored C4 car and can be expected if you remove the battery? Which I do for storage, but I don't seem to have trouble when I use a battery disconnect when parking the car for a shorter period of time. Does this involve the computer system relearning the system? And something we just have to live with?

Save the Wave ............ JGM

John,
I had fuel level issues with my C6. One of the fuel level gauges had corroded and was reading low, or no, fuel. The computer and gauges went bat $hit nuts. I went out of my way to fill the tank(s) to the brim and added Barryman's fuel conditioner and stored it for the winter. When I fired it up in the spring all was well and had been since. Being proactive I now put a can of Barryman's in each Fall.

[Richard M.]

Re: Out of storage concerns

My 59 has been inactive for 3 years. A month ago after a new battery and some fresh fuel squirted in the carbs, started right up. Everythig good. Short ride in the driveway brakes pulled to the right.

Took it up the road carefully and it Fixed Itself after a few more pedal pushes, releases. I call it my most reliable vehicle. It only let me down when I forgot to keep my eyes on the fuel gauge, 3 times in 34 years!

Since you can't fix what isn't broken, I'd say keep driving around close to home for a while and wait for it to give more confidence that it's ok. If not, then you can fix it.

Rich

[Kent S.]

Re: Out of storage concerns

My 59 has been inactive for 3 years. A month ago after a new battery and some fresh fuel squirted in the carbs, started right up. Everythig good. Short ride in the driveway brakes pulled to the right.

Took it up the road carefully and it Fixed Itself after a few more pedal pushes, releases. I call it my most reliable vehicle. It only let me down when I forgot to keep my eyes on the fuel gauge, 3 times in 34 years!

Since you can't fix what isn't broken, I'd say keep driving around close to home for a while and wait for it to give more confidence that it's ok. If not, then you can fix it.

Rich

The key to that = no computers! Gotta love our old cars!

[Patrick H.]

Re: Out of storage concerns

John,
I had fuel level issues with my C6. One of the fuel level gauges had corroded and was reading low, or no, fuel. The computer and gauges went bat $hit nuts. I went out of my way to fill the tank(s) to the brim and added Barryman's fuel conditioner and stored it for the winter. When I fired it up in the spring all was well and had been since. Being proactive I now put a can of Barryman's in each Fall.

This is why on CF the recommendation is not to fill your tanks prior to storage. It seems to hasten the demise of the fuel level gauge.

[James G.]

Re: Out of storage concerns

I use a BATTERY TENDER trickle charger on my 96 POLO Green. It came out of frozen Montana winters where former owners said the Battery Tender keeps the computer happy. I Drove it only 210 miles this record hot covid summer. Everything is perfect, ready for cool winter driving.

[Terry M.]

Re: Out of storage concerns

This is why on CF the recommendation is not to fill your tanks prior to storage. It seems to hasten the demise of the fuel level gauge.

My advise to fill it all the way up came from a now-retired Chevrolet Powertrain Engineer (he wasn't retired at the time). I trust him much more than the internet. On top of that his method worked and has continued to work for about five years. I'll stick with what works for me.

[Mark E.]

Re: Out of storage concerns

My advise to fill it all the way up came from a now-retired Chevrolet Powertrain Engineer (he wasn't retired at the time). I trust him much more than the internet. On top of that his method worked and has continued to work for about five years. I'll stick with what works for me.

I also keep tanks full. The idea is to minimize air, and hence moisture, in the tank.

[Mark E.]

Re: Out of storage concerns

With other modern cars I've owned, sometimes strange things happen after reconnecting the battery. Mercedes has a battery reconnect sequence to help ensure proper rebooting. If the owners manual doesn't say anything, try a couple of engine start/stop cycles if this happens again.

Every year, driving a car becomes more like using a computer.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Out of storage concerns

My advise to fill it all the way up came from a now-retired Chevrolet Powertrain Engineer (he wasn't retired at the time). I trust him much more than the internet. On top of that his method worked and has continued to work for about five years. I'll stick with what works for me.

True for the old cars, not for the new ones. See link and video below:

https://villagevettes.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=2155&club_id=214221&item_id=856099

I also keep tanks full. The idea is to minimize air, and hence moisture, in the tank.

See above including video.

[Terry M.]

Re: Out of storage concerns

Work has slowed down.

As I understand the problem with fuel level senders is that some have their resistance wire at the top of the tank. If the tank is not full the exposed wire is corroded by additives in the fuel. Some of those additives are volatile and their fumes rise to the top of the tank. I know the C6 fuel level resistors are at the top of the tank. I suspect the C4 is as well, and probably the C5 also.

In the case of the C6 there are two fuel tanks with two level sensors. If the signal to the computer doesn't agree on each tank (within some degree of accuracy) the fuel gauge indication is driven to empty, and the low fuel level warning is illuminated on the DIC. The female (I generally use a less flattering term, but this is supposed to be a family group) in the dash then warns of low fuel level, and there is nothing one can do to quiet her. Chimes ring constantly as well. I was told all of this is designed to "encourage" one to get the car serviced. Service is to remove the fuel tanks and replace both senders, which also includes the fuel pumps. Since the rear suspension and torque shaft must come out to get the fuel tanks out one is looking at a $1500 labor bill and substantial parts bill (based on the experience of other C6 owners with the same issue). I know if the tech is agile the fuel tanks can be removed without the rest of the drivetrain, but the flat-rate charge is based on removing the drivetrain. I thought the effort to fill the tank and add a ten-dollar fuel additive was worth a try. It worked for me.

[Terry M.]

Re: Out of storage concerns

True for the old cars, not for the new ones. See link and video below:

https://villagevettes.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=2155&club_id=214221&item_id=856099

See above including video.

Paul is very sharp, and knows his stuff. Maybe it is the Berryman's, but I will still stick with what has worked for me.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Out of storage concerns

I use Techron at least once a year in the 08 just to be sure. Cheap insurance.

[Richard M.]

Re: Out of storage concerns

The key to that = no computers! Gotta love our old cars!

So true. Off topic a bit but on the flip side I just picked up this '20 GMC item and it's very unlikely to fix itself if something goes wrong. Complex, but amazing features and functions.

Rich

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[Patrick H.]

Re: Out of storage concerns

So true. Off topic a bit but on the flip side I just picked up this '20 GMC item and it's very unlikely to fix itself if something goes wrong. Complex, but amazing features and functions.

Rich

So far, I have found new cars to be somewhat easy to fix.
Plug in cheap diagnostic tool, interface to phone.
Code tells you what is wrong with vehicle, fix part.

At least, that's the way it has been on the 08 Corvette, 13 GMC and 14 Mazda so far.
But, I've had very little go wrong.