Careful With The Pontiac
My car is special, it's a 1996 Grand Am, and the gas gauge basically tells me whatever it wants to. For about the first half of the tank (according to the gauge) it makes me feel like I'm getting great gas mileage, then it plummets drastically until resting about 1/4 inch above the empty line. The light never comes on, and I end up running out of gas if I don't fill up quick. Basically I go by how many miles I have driven on the tank to determine if I need gas instead of relying on the gauge. Guess what, I ran out of gas today, Bad gas mileage this tank I guess.
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My 1999 Pontiac does the same thing. I use the trip odometer and get gas as close to 200 miles as I can. I have put 12.5 gallons in. Not sure of the capacity.
My 2000 Grand Am does the exact same thing. I fill up and for half the week it looks like my car has been parked. Completely full. Then it goes down faster than a back alley lady of the night. That's ok. I'll be rid of it soon.
I had a Pinto that did the same thing, gets down to around 1/4 tank and you better find a gas station or its time for a walk. LOL
I have (had)two Old's Cutlass' and a Pontiac Firebirds that do (did) the same thing. I think it's a GM thing. Hopefully there newer stuff is more accurate.
My Mom has owned 2 Grand Slams, one an 88 and the other a 90, they both did what yours does. Perhaps Pontiac bought Chinese gauges?
Hah yeah – My 2000 Grand AM GT does this – Takes about 100 miles to get down to 3/4 tank; and by the time I hit 200-230 miles I'm down to 1/4 – horrible gauges.
We have a Chevy Venture that accurately shows the gas in the tank until you get close to a quarter of a tank, then it turns unpredictable moving from below E to above FULL to Half a tank to (we think) accurately reading what is there, then to above FULL. We know that if the gas gauge ever shows a little above FULL, it's time to get some gas!
My 2003 grand am gt does this as well! I fill it up and drive from Oshawa to Toronto and back to Oshawa and the gauge doesn't move an inch! The next day I drive to Toronto from Oshawa and the gauge goes from full to 3/4. this keeps up until it gets to almost empty then it seems to go for ever lol