2002 LeSabre gas gauge seems to failing. Is there an easy fix I can do m myself?

[Apollo]

As the title says, my gas gauge started failing today. The tank is more than 2/3 empty, but the gauge went from showing that yesterday to indicating an almost full tank this morning.
I'm hoping there's an easy fix that someone like me can pull off, as opposed to something more complex requiring a real mechanic.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[HotZ28]

You can replace the gas gauge sender & fuel pump assembly (recommended) through an access hole in the hump of the trunk. It will require some flexibility on your part to get in the trunk and remove the access hole to replace. If you are not that flexible, you may need some help from a "real mechanic".

 

[DonP]

As noted above, the fuel level sending unit, attached to the fuel pump assembly in the tank, is a likely cause of erratic readings. If strapped for cash, you can replace only it for about half the price of a full assembly with fuel pump.

However, be aware that the servo/stepper motor that drives the gauge pointer is also known to failure and cause erratic readings. How do you tell which it is? If your DIC includes a "remaining fuel" or "remaining miles" display it can help narrow the problem. If the gauge is erratic, but the remaining miles display is not, it is likely the servo/stepper motor in the instrument panel. If both are erratic in about the same way, it is likely the sender unit.

Replacing the sending unit is not difficult and covered by several old threads. The hard parts are fitting in the trunk, releasing the locking ring that holds the assembly in the tank, and the likely hood of spilling some fuel in the process.

Repairing the instrument panel is more difficult requiring some electronics technician skills (including PC board soldering). Also addressed in several old threads.

 

[Chameleon]

My problem is the stepper motors. You can tell because- when you shut the car off, all needles should go down to a nice Zero position- not below or above by much. My motors work but they are sticky now so they don't return to zero (fuel and temp)
I will remove my dash and then the instrument panel, desolder the little plastic motors and pop new ones in- being careful to spin them by hand counterclockwise until the read zero. It will take most of the day so I don't knwo how much a shop would charge. Good luck- these stepper motors are very common faults with LeSabres.

 

[GerGa]

As the title says, my gas gauge started failing today. The tank is more than 2/3 empty, but the gauge went from showing that yesterday to indicating an almost full tank this morning.
I'm hoping there's an easy fix that someone like me can pull off, as opposed to something more complex requiring a real mechanic.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

It's probably the fuel sensor judging by how the needle moves all over the place. I've had two GM cars of similar years that did that. There is this thing on the fuel pump with brushes that wear out. There is an inexpensive fix detailed on the pontiacbonnevilleclub forums by buying a kit made for a GMC Yukon. Our fuel pump uses the same sensor part. The Bonneville uses the same fuel pump as our Lesabre as well. In fact most of the Bonneville uses the same parts, they are both H-bodies.
Go the this thread of common problems and scroll down to "Fuel gauge has a mind of its own".
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/2000-2005-other-than-gxp/topic25362.html

Threads on fuel pump removal:
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=456
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3463

The kit for the Yukon is #15824379 and only $30 on amazon right now. Only one part of the kit is needed. It's easy to do because our cars have an access door in the trunk to the fuel pump.