2005 Chevy Malibu Fuel Gauge Shows Empty When Really Tank Is Full

“Hi, I have a 2005 Chevy Malibu 6cyl 3.5 4A. my car’s low fuel light came on yesterday. i filled the tank with #87 gas and before i could get out of the parking lot the fuel light came on and the needle went back down to empty. the needle was up to the full mark. also the fuel range low came up and flashed back and forth between the words fuel range 446 miles (which is what it usually says when it is full). a little down the road the engine light came on and stayed on – it is yellow. i checked the cap to make sure it was on tightly. please advise, thanks!”

It has nothing to do with the cap. Either the sending unit inside the gas tank has broken, OR you have a computer programming problem. Some of those Malibus need the main computer reprogrammed because their software is incorrect and it can cause the gas metering to go haywire. That is just a simple plug in software fix. So check with the Chevy dealer, give them you VIN number, and if they say there’s a software fix, get that done. If not, you’re looking at a pretty big expense repairing the gauge system, as the gas tank needs to be removed to access the parts and check them.