non-working fuel gauge

[kopy kat]

need advice on how and where to trouble shoot for a fuel gauge that registers at full all the time. '99 Sea Ray BR with 5.7 EFI / Alpha 2 system. 48 gallon tank. Thanks, Larry

 

[CntrySngr]

Re: non-working fuel gauge

Originally posted by kopy kat:<br /> need advice on how and where to trouble shoot for a fuel gauge that registers at full all the time. '99 Sea Ray BR with 5.7 EFI / Alpha 2 system. 48 gallon tank. Thanks, Larry

Sounds to me like the float in the tank could be stuck at the top in "full" position. Is it somewhere that you can get into it to take a look? There should be 5 screws on the top of the tank holding the sending unit in place. Pull that out and look to see if the unit is corroded. Mine was rusted in place. I got a new sending unit for $30, installed it myself, and its working great now.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: non-working fuel gauge

If that's not it then here is a good page to use for troubleshooting Fuel Gauge Guide

 

[jlinder]

Re: non-working fuel gauge

The guide is a good help, but for a quick check you can go to the sender and short out the sender wire to ground. This should make the guage read empty.<br /><br />If so, the sender is the problem. If not, look elsewhere (guage, wire, etc)

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: non-working fuel gauge

Actually grounding the sender wire should cause the gauge to peg up to full.

 

[kopy kat]

Re: non-working fuel gauge

Thanks for the help guys--looks like it's time for me to get out the meter and screw driver!!

 

[jlinder]

Re: non-working fuel gauge

Sorry, then disconnect the wire and it goes to one end, short it to ground and it pegs on the other end

 

[kopy kat]

Re: non-working fuel gauge

got it!!! turned out to be just a corroded wire at the sender---thanks for the advice

 

[swist]

Re: non-working fuel gauge

Glad you fixed it, but just as an aside, most boat fuel senders are junk. It's one part that seems to cost less than it should. But try to find a high quality one.