Need help with boat gages

[mav6759]

Re: Need help with boat gages

I'm going out right now to see, but I think you are right about the sender unit. I was playing around with negitive prong on the sending unit, just wiggling it and I saw the gauge move to zero and back to full a couple of times. I also noticed that the negitive prong was a little lose. I don't have a omh's meter, but I'm going to pull the pink wire right now and see.

 

[mav6759]

Re: Need help with boat gages

I just pulled the pink now red wire, and the needle went from Full to Empty, meaning that my sender is bad in the tank. I think.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Need help with boat gages

No it doesn't. It means the problem is NOT with the pink wire or the gauge itself. You need to stay on track here. Did you fix the negative connection? Disassemble the ground connection, make it shiny clean and tighten securely. Loose or corroded wiring connections is what causes things to fail. Did you look at the threaded connection to see if the fiber insulating washer was in place that insulates the post from the metal shell of the sender. If it isn't, then it's possible the pink wire is grounding to the shell of the sender. Don't just "assume". Look, test, and then replace if necessary. How much fuel is in the tank?

 

[mav6759]

Re: Need help with boat gages

OK after further investigation, here is what I found. On the sender there is a single little white wire, (I'm trying to upload pictures of it now) that sends the single to the gauge telling the gauge to read Full or Empty. I accidently move this little white wire and the gauge went to Empty. I moved the float and the gauge responded as I moved the float. Note I have to position or wiggle this little white wire a certain way inorder for the gauge to work properly. The wire seems to be connected, I'm assuming there is a break in the wire somewhere. Can this little white wire be replaced.

 

[mav6759]

Re: Need help with boat gages

Here is the picture of the sender and the wire, i spoke about.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Need help with boat gages

If you know how to solder - yes the wire can be replaced but it doesn't have to be. Look very carefully at the picture and pay close attention. #1 in the picture is the white insulator I spoke about. It is what separates the sender post from the metal shell. #2 is the bottom of the threaded post. #3 is a metal loop that goes under the threaded post and also connects to the white wire. Now look carefully at it. It appears to be touching #4 which is what??? It is a bracket that fastens to the metal shell so you have a short between the post and shell which is what I have been convinced all along is the problem. Someone cranked on the threaded post so hard it spun and caused that metal loop to make contact. Fix it and the gauge will work.

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Need help with boat gages

I know almost nothing about boat wiring. After reading this thread, all I can say is it is one FINE example of someone (Silvertip) taking the time, having the patience and going beyond the call of duty to help a fellow boater! Kudos to IBoats and Mr. Silvertip!

 

[mav6759]

Re: Need help with boat gages

I am not going to say how really good you guys are, because I'm not going to let it go to your heads. (LOL) But WOW, you guys are amazing. I just wanted to thank you for your time, and the time you took with me to explain things so that I can understand. This is my first boat beside my old jon boat I had since I was 15. I received over 30 private emails from this site expressing how close they were watching you’re every answers. I had some to admit that they didn't want to seem dumb by asking some of the questions I was asking. Hey, The only dumb question is the question you don't ask. So you guy help out over 30 individuals while help me. Thank you so much, and if any of you guys are every in the Atlanta, GA area, send me a email, I'm buying dinner. ON to the next Project... By the way the gauge works GREAT...

 

[NYBo]

Re: Need help with boat gages

I snapped this shot of Silvertip advising another iboats member on how to fix his vehicle:

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Need help with boat gages

We do get lucky once in awhile!

OK - we have the fuel gauge working. Now lets go after the other gauges. Just start a new thread.