Jumpy fuel gauge then.... nothing

[westsider97]

I put about 7 gallons of gas in my boat when i first took it out this season and my fuel gauge would read about half a tank when i was leveled out in the water and of course it would read empty as the bow would raise up during acceleration. I only burned about half that, if even that much. Next outing I put it another 5 gallons and the gauge wasnt working even at a troll so i tapped the guage and it shot up to a lil over half tank. On the third outing the gauge stopped reading completely even if i tapped it so i got under the dash checked the fuses connections ect at the guage and sender all looked ok...most resent outing i put 14 gallons just to feel secure now that i dont know when ill run out and it still didnt read anything AT ALL.. I think the obvious would be a faulty gauge and/or gumbed up float??? Just thought someone else may have had a simular thing happen and know directly what it was. Any advise?? thanks

 

[capnjoejoe]

Re: Jumpy fuel gauge then.... nothing

I Have the xact same problem, if anyone answers you let me know...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Jumpy fuel gauge then.... nothing

It is time to break out the ohm meter. Disconnect the lead at the sender and measure the sender resistance. With a full or nearly full tank the sender resistance should be about 33 ohms. 1/2 tank = 105 ohms and empty tank about 240 ohms. If those numbers are reasonable close (20 - 30 ohms or so) the sender is good. If not, it isn't. Disconnect the sender lead at the gauge and make the same test. If you get no reading, the sender line is open or intermittent. If you jumper the send line to +12V the gauge should peg full. You then know where the problem is or isn't.

 

[westsider97]

Re: Jumpy fuel gauge then.... nothing

Thank you Silvertip I will get an ohm meter and get it done. Thanks for taking the time to give instruction...

 

[mthieme]

Re: Jumpy fuel gauge then.... nothing

Sounds like either a bad connection or faulty sender.