Fuel Gauge no workie

[woodnknots]

I have a new(to me) 1978 Starcraft v5 22ft aluminum hull. I have verified all the electrical, except for the fuel gauge. It does not work. I followed the wires all the way back and to the fuel fill port. From there it goes down under the floor. I can't figure out a way to get under the floor without tearing all sorts of stuff up.

Is anyone familiar with this boat? I can't find any real information on it. I don't even know what the fuel capacity is. Is there a way to verify the problem without getting to the fuel tank?

thanks-Dave

 

[angus63]

Re: Fuel Gauge no workie

In a fiberglass boat, I added a 10" access port above the fuel tank to get to the pickup tube and sending unit for the fuel gage. I guess you can do the same in aluminum if there is no access now. Got the location by hanging upside down with my head in the battery compartments.
Good luck

PS Ask around to boat owners with the same or similar hull to see how they handled it.

PPS Make sure it's not the gage in the dash that's broke first before going thru the hassle

 

[jtexas]

Re: Fuel Gauge no workie

sure............key on, get a jumper wire, most any wire will do, touch one end to the sender wire terminal on your fuel gauge and the other end to a ground wire (black wire on a working gauge should do it). The needle should peg, either to empty or full. If it doesn't move, either the gauge is faulty or the wiring to the gauge (12V or ground) is faulty. Have a multimeter you can test the wiring, otherwise, use jumper wires to hook the gauge direct to 12V and ground & try again. Still no go, faulty gauge.

If it works like this, disconnect, clean and reconnect the gauge wiring - by clean I mean make the contact points shine - I use a dremel with a stainless steel wire brush but sandpaper will work just fine. Trace the wires to the other end and do the same, and try again. Still no go (works when jumped direct to 12V but not otherwise) you have bad wires needing replacement.

If the needle *does* peg when the SEND terminal is grounded, either the sender or the sender wiring is at fault. Troubleshoot in a similar fashion - bad news is you might have to disassemble some decking to access the sender - but look close for an access port of some kind, not *all* bass boat riggers ignored the possibility you might have to get in there one day.......

let us know how it goes.

 

[mikesea]

Re: Fuel Gauge no workie

take a ground wire from any source and touch the sender side terminal of the guage,assuming you have the key on and getting power to the positive side,the guage shoud regerster full when ground is applied,if not,the guage is bad,is yes,then your sending unit,which commonly goes bad,or a wire,connection at tank is your problem,I would be truly suprised if the boat builder didnt give an access port,like a removable hatch to get to the tank sender,the wire to the fil port is a grounding wire to prevent spark from static elec.while filling

 

[ezeke]

Re: Fuel Gauge no workie

My boat is a 1983 22' Starcraft Islander Outboard with a 50 gallon tank. There is a open storage area just forward of the end of the tank . The tank extends down the center of the boat and ends just short of the bilge. The tank will be covered by a section of marine plywood that can be removed. Just a guess, but I would say it is approximately 22" X 60". Otherwise, the fuel gauge sender is centered between the two ends and the two sides of the tank. Since the tank is hanging about 2-1/2 inches below the deck, you can also cut in an access panel if you want.

http://www.iboats.com/Beckson_Pry_O...25362988--list_time.1187802562--view_id.48326

The old floats on the senders have mostly given way to the alcohol in today's fuels which is why so many of them don't work anymore.

Please be extremely careful in your testing and replacement - remember where that sender is.