Fuel pump problem?

[Louise1980]

Hi, I have a VXII Lumina, just reached 200,000k.
The fuel gauge has been doing weird things lately, I'll fill it up and it drops suddenly, saying I've got way less fuel than i should have. There arent any obvious fuel leaks, oil or other leaks. All the usual maintenance things have been attended to/checked, I check oil/coolant/transmission fluids regularly.
Now the car feels like it's surging/lagging occasionally. It doesnt happen all the time, and always starts fine. It idles normally too.
The fuel economy seems to be worse recently than it was too. It isnt overdue for a service, it was last serviced in June.

The other thing is a shuddering steering wheel, not while using ABS or anything like that, only when I'm on the freeway and have to slow down from 120 to 90 or something similar.

I bought the car only 8 wks ago from a private seller, got it inspected beforehand and there were no problems- I thought it was a really good buy at $5000, immaculate condition inside and out. But I have limited $$$ to fix any problems with this car, and crossing my fingers it is something relatively minor,
I was thinking that a fuel pump problem seemed logical, or a blocked fuel filter maybe? A quick google search seemed to show that fuel pump/gauge problems are a common problem with commodores.

What do you think? I'm getting it inspected next monday, but i'd like to hear some outside opinions before i'm told what the problem/s are, in case they do the cliched "lets rip off the chick who doesnt know about cars" thing (as many of my friends have unfortunately experienced)

Thanks in advance!

[87LAG]

sounds like the fuel gauge sender is at fault here i changed mine but you gotta be a bit handy with tools as the tank has to come out...

good luck

ps sender and pump is about $300 - $400 from holden.

[MikeCuzzy]

Ok go over the problems one by one:

Dodgey gauge: More than likely it is the fuel sender, Commodores have the most unreliable fuel gauges of all time.

Poor fuel economy: Unless you've changed your driving habits or have been in town more, could be any number of faults, but I'd drive it for a bit more and try to carefully manage your fuel to work out if it's the car or if it's your fuel. Try buying 91 from a 1 servo and then buy another tank from another servo. See if there is any difference, also try to work out your consumption. Anthing less than 15L/100km in any vaguely built up area isn't too bad.

Suddering at 120kph: Could very well be out of balance wheels, especially if when at 90 there is no problem. Best bet would be to take if for a Wheel Balance and Alignment, should be no more than $60.

As for the occasional surging, I'm not sure, could be any number of problems. Fuel filter maybe, spark plugs and leads, o2 sensors anything really. Next time it happens take note of exactly what was happening and what you were doing with the car, might help narrow down the fault.

Mike.