Fuel Sending Unit

Jonquest

Recruit
Joined
Apr 18, 2008
Messages
5
I have a 1991 Reinell 181sr. My fuel gauge is always pegged at full. I have tested my gauge and it tests fine. The next step will be to drain my tank and see if while reconnecting my gauge I inadvertenally fixed my problem. If not and my gauge remains at full, my only option is my fuel sending unit. The problem is that my tank is under the rear seat floor and there is no access panel thre to get at the darn thing. I can see the unit from my engine compartment but there is no room to take it out. Does anyone have a suggestion other than pulling my rear seats out and cutting a hole in my floor?

Thanks,
Jon
 

Haut Medoc

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 29, 2004
Messages
10,645
Re: Fuel Sending Unit

I have a 1991 Reinell 181sr. My fuel gauge is always pegged at full. I have tested my gauge and it tests fine. The next step will be to drain my tank and see if while reconnecting my gauge I inadvertenally fixed my problem. If not and my gauge remains at full, my only option is my fuel sending unit. The problem is that my tank is under the rear seat floor and there is no access panel thre to get at the darn thing. I can see the unit from my engine compartment but there is no room to take it out. Does anyone have a suggestion other than pulling my rear seats out and cutting a hole in my floor?

Thanks,
Jon
Nope, cut the hole & add a porthole thingy.....;)
 

JustJason

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 27, 2007
Messages
5,321
Re: Fuel Sending Unit

Yep... that or split the boat :)

Didn't you hear boats are built from the inside out?

How did you "test" the gauge.....
 

TommySparks

Recruit
Joined
Apr 20, 2008
Messages
3
Re: Fuel Sending Unit

I had the exact same problem. I was at the boat dealership looking around a killing time and the salesman kept talking to me and I brought up my little delima and he showed me on an old boat out back how to remove the floor. Got home and lord and behold, 10 screws later I had my floor out. I would have never figured it out myself. Your boat might be different, but I hope you have some sorta hidden access as well. And yes the fuel sending unit ($25) in the tank was bad. It was actually quite easy to change.
 

Jonquest

Recruit
Joined
Apr 18, 2008
Messages
5
Re: Fuel Sending Unit

I disconnected the wire that goes to the sending unit. Then I connected a hot wire to the ignition terminal and grounded the ground terminal. The gauge displayed had an ?Empty? reading. Then I shorted the terminal that goes to the sending unit to ground and the gauge pegged at ?Full?. As I connected and disconnected this wire, the gauge read empty and vice versa. Is this a correct method for test?

I have been looking for the "secret" access panel without success. I guess "I'm going in".

Jon
 

holbs10

Cadet
Joined
Apr 9, 2008
Messages
21
Re: Fuel Sending Unit

I dont have much input other than my fuel gauge is pegged at full too! Ive been reading posts trying to figure out how to test. Ive got power at the ignition term. on the recieving guage. Ive got good ground and I have power from the sending unit. My question is how can I easily ground my tank to the floor. Its a plastic tank that someone put in there. not the correct tank. Its just flooting around down there.
 

JUSTINTIME

Captain
Joined
Sep 2, 2006
Messages
3,284
Re: Fuel Sending Unit

sounds like the sender is grounding out
check the back of the fuel gauge first
 

JAL51974

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 26, 2005
Messages
608
Re: Fuel Sending Unit

try the teleflex webpage www.tflx there is a good diagram there for how to test a gauge and sender.
 
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