Fueling Problems

[SLeazy Rider]

I'm a new SL owner with very little knowledge of the inner workings of cars, so please bear with me. I have two fueling problems, which appear to my untrained eye to be related. First, when I am fueling the car the automatic shut-off feature on the pump keeps engaging unless I run it VERY slowly; it keeps acting like the tank is full, and shutting off the pump, unless I barely hold the trigger on the pump. This makes it take forever to fill the tank. Second, the tank is not getting completely full. Eventually, the pump's automatic shut-off feature completely engages and won't let me fill any more, even at a snail's pace. It would appear at that point that the tank is finally full. However, when I turn on the car, it shows slightly better than 3/4 of a tank. The first time I filled it up, it took approximately 16 gallons. The second time I filled it up, it barely took 15 gallons. I haven't looked in the owner's manual yet, but I suspect the car will hold a good bit more than that.

I have tried to figure out the problem by doing a keyword search on this site, but haven't found anything decisive yet. I've found a lot of threads dealing with issues with a "fuel sender". Is that the item that is causing my problem? If so, how do I correct it? How much should it cost to have it corrected by a good mechanic (realizing that I'm a total idiot when it comes to DIY repairs)? Thanks.

SLeazy Rider